2025 PWHL Draft: Top prospects you may not know

If you have been checking out The Ice Garden or any other PWHL coverage lately, you have seen the most notable names eligible for the draft happening next week including: Casey O'Brien, Haley Winn, Abby Newhook, Hannah Murphy, and Kristýna Kaltounková.

There are 199 eligible players in the draft this year and they have been written about at The Ice Garden in various stories including in the NCAA series about the top players at each position, forward, defense, and goaltender. There was also a long list of other top prospects overall this week.

Now we look at top prospects that you may not know. Hopefully by the end of this you'll enter draft day knowing a bit about a lot of these players! I even included honorable mentions which were players that had decent seasons or stand out in some way that I didn't want to not mention all.

If you'd like to leave a comment and share your favorite player that others may not know about, please feel free!

NCAA:

There are a lot of NCAA eligible players in the draft and as previously mentioned we have covered them at each position and in another prospects story but why not bring you even more!

Forwards:

Emma Gentry - St. Cloud State University

Gentry was a co-captain in her last year at St. Cloud. A product of Michigan hockey, Gentry began playing against boys when she started playing the sport and found a way to make a name for herself when she did play with other girls. That led the 22-year-old to carve out a path for herself as one of the best Huskies forwards. She has finished top three in points in every season at St. Cloud. That comes with a team that struggled in the earlier seasons of her career, and in a conference that is unforgiving with how challenging it is. Gentry finished with no less than 18 in four of her five seasons with the Huskies. She was a mainstay on the power play and ranked in the top five in faceoff wins in the conference. She also finished top-10 in the conference with shots on goal with a total of 138. Gentry represented the USA at the U18 World Championship in 2020 where she won a gold medal and did so again at the Six Nations tournament in December helping Team USA to another first place finish. What stands out about Gentry is how smart she is on the ice, how she can read plays, her reliability, and her drive. She's always putting pucks on net and finding ways to score even against the best defense. She's a great skater, and those skills can amount to a great addition in the league.

Makenna Webster - Ohio State University

Webster played on two talented NCAA teams. She began her career with Wisconsin then transferred to Ohio State. She's had spectacular offensive seasons at both schools too. This season she was named an alternate captain, finished with 35 points in 30 games and also made an appearance in another national championship, her fourth in her five years of collegiate play. She's a two-time national champion and she is also a two-time medalist with the U 18 USA team having won a gold and silver medal. But that's not all, Webster is also a field hockey player. She transferred to the Buckeyes to be able to play both sports and that takes a lot of energy and training and discipline especially while still being in school. That alone is enough to put a team confidence into Webster. Playing two sports at the same time shows she can handle any sort of workload and that her passion will carry where she needs to go.

Kiara Zanon

The 22-year-old played at both Penn State and Ohio State. She won a national championship in 2024 and also represented Team USA at the U18 World Championship along with Webster. Zanon has recorded great offensive numbers in college. She scored no less than 30 points in her three years at Penn State even finishing her last season there with 49 points in 38 games. With the Buckeyes, she put together a 41 point season followed by a 32 point season this year. Even on a high scoring, national championship bound team, Zanon still finds ways to stand out and put up high numbers. She was a Top-10 Patty Kaz Finalist in 2021 and 2023 while at Penn State, She was also named the 2021 HCA National Rookie of the Year. She finished her career ranked third among active NCAA players in career assists with 116 and fourth in career points with 191.

Maddy Samoskevich - Quinnipiac University

Samoskevich wasn't on my radar at first. I recognized her last name because of her twin brother Mackie (who just won the Stanley Cup) but enough about that, I was enlightened by TIG writer Melissa Burgess who wrote in The Ice Garden's Mock Draft that Samoskevich made the switch from defender to forward her final year with the Bobcats. Being able to play two different positions like that takes mental preparation, it's not something that a player can switch on and off without notice. It went well for Samoskevich as she finished this season with 22 points, the most she's had in her collegiate career. She finished her career with 84 points in 168 games. Even if she doesn't play as a center, she still has the capability of being an offensive defender which is a great skill to have in a league this tough.

Abby Hustler - St. Lawrence

Hustler played on a St. Lawrence team that finished 21-11-5 and made it to the NCAA playoffs. She was an alternate captain and finished this season with 39 points in 39 games. In her career, she notched 158 points in 154 games including 55 points in her junior season. She was averaging more than a point per game in each season with the Saints. Hustler has been recognized in college by being named a Top-10 Patty Kaz Finalist in 2024, she was also named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team and was Second-Team All-ECAC in 2024. Her physicality and scoring touch are two useful skills she can bring to the PWHL.

Skylar Irving - Northeastern

Irving played 152 games at Northeastern and finished with 99 points. In her last two seasons she combined for 68 points. She earned All-Hockey East Second Team honors at the conclusion of the 24-25 regular season. She also was named to the Hockey East Third Team All-Star in 2024 and Hockey East All-Rookie Team in 2022. Irving has great moves and can score from anywhere on the ice but there's something about her scoring from up close that just looks so cool.

Olivia Wallin - University of Minnesota Duluth

After three seasons at Penn State, Wallin transferred to Duluth for her last two years where she slotted in nicely. In her first year with the Bulldogs she played in 39 games and finished tied for third for most points on the team. This season she recorded 40 points tied for first on the team and finished as the assists leader with 24. Wallin also had 122 shots on goal throughout the season. She was named the HCA National Player of the Month in February after tallying 15 points of six goals and nine assists to end the regular season. Wallin made an appearance in the playoffs with Duluth as well where she recorded two assists in the team's win against Sacred Heart. Wallin being able to dish out helpers really improved when she moved over to Duluth and it's that ability to find teammates on the ice and make plays that stands out.

Vanessa Upson - Mercyhurst University

Upson finished her career as a Laker with 147 points in 148 games. That was split between 65 goals and 82 assists. This season she had 43 points in 38 games. She also added 55 blocks on top of that. Upson was named to the AHA All-Conference First Team this season and in her career also received All-CHA First Team honors in 2022 and two more All-CHA Second Team honors. She was also the 2021-22 CHA Rookie of the Year. Upson seems to just shoot the puck, it doesn't seem like she's thinking about it and that ability to not second guess a shot and to be able to set herself up for a shot quickly and easily is a nice skill to posses.

Honorable mentions: Morgan Neitzke, Olivia Mobley, Anna Segedi, Madison Mashuga, Maddi Wheeler, Tyra Turner, Millie Rose Sirum

Defenders:

Nicole Vallario - University of St. Thomas

Vallario is probably one of the most well-rounded players in the NCAA ranks due to her playing in the SWHL-A league before even beginning play with the University of St. Thomas. She played 70 games in the league along with a wealth of experience with the Swiss national teams including the U18 team and the World Championship team that she has been a part of for six years. This season with the Tommies she tallied 10 points along with 42 blocked shots. Vallario stands out because of her pro play in the Swiss league. She has already played against other pro players in Switzerland and at the World Championship and played in arguably the toughest conference in all of the NCAA. That makes her a great candidate for a the PWHL.

Hanna Baskin - University of Minnesota Duluth

Baskin was a two-time selection of the USA Hockey National Development camp before starting at UMD. In her first season with the Bulldogs she appeared in 28 games including the national championship game. She's had a steady climb in offense every season since finishing this last season with 22 points in 38 games while also recording 51 blocks. She was also an alternate captain for the Bulldogs in her final season. Baskin has a great shot and works to find space to shoot from too. There's something about a lane right down the middle of the ice that tends to lead to a Baskin goal. See for yourself.

Mia Tsilemos - RIT

Tsilemos finished fourth in the Atlantic Hockey America conference with 81 blocks. Yes, that was good for fourth! But that is still a jaw dropping high number especially in 37 games. In her career she finished with 290 blocks. She also recorded two goals and eight assists this season. The 23-year-old is not afraid to lay it all out on the line and can continue to be stellar defensively.

Ava Rinker - UCONN

The 22-year-old appeared in 26 games for the Huskies and served as an alternate captain in her final season. She finished with 20 points and 53 blocked shots. She recorded her first career multi-goal game earlier this season against Boston University. She was also honored with a selection to the All-Hockey East First Team All-Star. Rinker is a talented skater who reads the game so well and always seems to make a smart play without much effort.

Tamara Giaquinto - Boston University

I said previously that Giaquinto is a sleeper pick at defense. She led the Terriers in blocks with 57 and was tied for most points by a defender with 18. She also finished this season earning Hockey East Defender of the Year, Hockey East All-Tournament Team, and Hockey East First Team All-Star. She also has a gnarly snipe.

Dayle Ross - St. Cloud State University

Ross was named co-captain of the Huskies in her final year where she quietly put together a 15 point season, most by any defender on the team. She also added 46 blocks this season. Ross has a great, hard, shot and she's always putting pucks on net which accounted for her 103 shots on goal this season. Defense is her strongest skill. She was the NCAA blocks leader in the 22-23 season with 104 blocked shots. Ross has always been a gem on a St. Cloud team that goes through struggles. Ross can make a great steal and be a great choice for any PWHL team lacking blueliners.

Note: I wrote about Ross and Tamara Giaquinto in my Top NCAA Defenders piece that you can check out here.

Honorable mentions: Olivia Muhn, Taylor Larson, Marina Alvarez, Riley Brengman, Jamie Grinder, Meredith Killian

U Sports:

U Sports is the top university level of hockey in Canada and there are a number of players from the Canadian system eligible for this year's draft once again. We covered top prospects already but here are some you should know before Tuesday's festivities.

Kaitlyn Ross - Mount Royal University

Ross is a goaltender who wrapped up her career at Mount Royal University. She won the National Championship in 2023 helping backstop the Cougars in the gold medal game by stopping 29 of 32 shots faced en route to the program's first championship and was named Championship MVP. Ross' career in net ends with a 1.40 goals against average, a .937 save percentage with 70 wins and 33 losses in 108 games and was named Second Team All-Star.

Ross is easily one of the best goaltenders available in the draft. Her numbers are excellent and she's coming off another solid year in net where she appeared in 27 games and finished the season with a 1.25 GAA and a .943 SV% those are some stellar numbers.

You can read more about Ross and her hockey journey here.

Maude Pépin - Bishop's University

Pépin finished up her career by winning a championship with Bishop's University. The 25-year-old played five years at the school and put together great numbers in her last three seasons. She finished this championship season recording 27 points in 20 games. Her points per game average sits at a 1.17. She was honored with Second Team All-Canadian at the end of the season. In the playoffs, she tallied three assists and a goal in six games. Pépin was part of a Bishop's team making their first ever appearance in the U Sports playoffs so she has experience helping a team grow through challenges and finding success.

Malory Dominico - Nipissing University

The 24-year-old forward played five seasons with the Lakers. She recorded 100 points in 114 games. She earned First Team All-Star honors in the 22-23 season after scoring 15 goals in 26 games. In that same year she began the season with a seven game point streak. The following season she broke the program record at Nipissing when she scored four goals in a game. She was also chosen to represent Canada at the FISU World University Games in Italy where she won silver earlier this season. Dominico is a great player with scoring prowess which is never a bad thing.

Honorable mentions: Makenzie McCallum - UBC and Emily Baxter - Toronto Metropolitan University

SDHL:

The top women's league in Sweden has quite a few names on the eligibility list again this year including some that are back after going undrafted last season. Here are some you don't know but should.

Mathea Fischer - SDE HF

The Norweigan forward has played in many different places. She played in her home country before playing at the Ontario Hockey Academy for two years before beginning her U Sports career with the University of British Columbia in 2015 before turning pro and playing the SDHL for the last 5 seasons. In those years she also played for Norway's U18 teams, at the D1A World Championships, and even in the Olympic Games qualifiers. Fischer has seen it all and played it all too. To top it all off, this spring she captained Norway to their first appearance since 1997 at the Women's World Championship. The 27-year-old has put together some great seasons with SDE HF including in the 23-24 season where she finished with 32 points in 36 games. She only appeared in 10 games for the team this season but I don't think that's something that should be focused on especially after she declared for last year's draft so the PWHL knows about her. She's reliable, she has the experience, she's a leader, and she's played against the best players both internationally and in Sweden. I think Fischer is a steal for any PWHL team looking for a player to make a jump.

Darcie Lappan - MoDo Hockey

Another player who went undrafted last year, Lappan signed with MoDo for this season where she recorded 17 points in 32 games. Her playing career includes three years at Colgate and two years at Clarkson. Those are two very talented college hockey teams to develop and hone skills with. Now with a pro year on her resume maybe the tides will change for Lappan and she can show she's continued to grow even after being passed over.

Courtney Vorster - Leksands IF

Vorster is a 25-year-old defender who won a silver and bronze medal with the Canadian U18 team before beginning play at Quinnipiac University. With the Bobcats, she played 132 games and recorded 124 blocks. Eighty four of those blocks came in her last two seasons in Hamden, Conn. She's played with Leksands for the last two seasons and was named captain this past season. There she recorded 11 points in 63 games. But hear me out, putting her body on the line is what a good defender does and having a defensive defender in the PWHL isn't a bad idea to have in front of a goalie.

Honorable mentions: Gabby Jones, Naomi Rogge, and Marah Wagner

SWHL-A:

This is the premier league of women's hockey in the Swiss Women's Hockey League system in Switzerland with eight teams in total. Here are some of the draft names that stand out that you may not know about.

Maggy Burbridge - HC Fribourg-Gottéron Ladies

The 24-year-old finished her first season of pro hockey in Switzerland. She recorded 34 points off 17 goals and assists in 28 games. The Canadian forward made her way to the Swiss league after playing college hockey at Robert Morris for two years before transferring to St. Francis Xavier University where she played three years. In her second year at St. Francis she tallied 47 points in 24 games. In total, Burbridge scored 51 goals and 48 assists for 99 career points while at St. Francis X. She captained the team and also helped them to three appearances at the U Sports championship tournament. Her offense along with her leadership and the year of pro hockey under her belt should make her a sleeper pick in the draft.

Lauren Dabrowski

Burbridge's former teammate at St. Francis X, Dabrowski also played on this season's HC Fribourg-Gottéron team. The defender tallied 22 points in 28 games good for third on the team in points. Her 14 assists also had her in third for most on the team. The left-shot defender played one season of NCAA hockey at Lindenwood before transferring to St. Francis. Dabrowski was unfortunately a contract casualty when the PHF folded two years ago. She signed with the Metropolitan Riveters but that contract was then voided. She then chose to play in the SDHL to start her pro career. With SDE HF in the 23-24 campaign, she finished with 19 points in 36 games. The offensive defender looks to tie up a loose end by finally playing pro hockey in North America and her point production should make her a great candidate.

Shailynn Snow

In between Burbridge and Dabrowski for top three in points on HC Fribourg-Gottéron sits Shailynn Snow. The 24-year-old finished this season with 30 points split evenly between goals and assists. The forward represented Canada at the U 18 World Championship in 2019 where she won a gold medal. She played four years at St. Lawrence before finishing her collegiate career with Robert Morris in the 23-24 season. She finished top three in points there. She also finished top three in points in her last season with St. Lawrence. Snow has played with some and against talented players in her career. That exposure both at the NCAA level and in Switzerland is sure to be a help as she looks to transition to hockey in North America.

Elizabeth Lang - HC Davos Ladies

Alright, someone on a different SWHL -A team! Lang is a 25-year-old forward who most recently played for HC Davos Ladies. Her first season pro went very well as she finished with 53 points in 28 games. Incredible! Before playing in Switzerland she played five years at the University of Calgary. Her best season there coming in her final one where she put together a nice 30 points in 28 games. In her career as a Dino, she was named a 2024 U Sports Second Team All-Canadian, 2024 Canada West First Team All-Star, and a 2020 Canada West First Team All-Star.

She's also good friends with fellow draft hopeful and teammate Joelle Fiala who so happens to be next on this list.

Joelle Fiala

Fiala is a right-shot forward who played at Robert Morris University in her early college career. In the two years there she played in 61 games and notched 23 points. She then moved over to the University of British Columbia where she played for three years. Her numbers improved there as she had her best offensive season in 22-23 when she finished with 24 points in 28 games. Her first season pro with HC Davos saw her make a jump in numbers when she finished this season with 41 points in 28 games. With her experience in the NCAA, U Sports, and in the Swiss League, Fiala has the chance to show her great numbers can continue in the PWHL.

There you have it. Those are all the players I think are top prospects in the PWHL draft that you should know about. Let's see who ends up where.

See you all on draft day!