Meet the Boston Fleet's 2025 Training Camp Invites

Earlier this week, every PWHL team announced its 2025 training camp rosters. The Boston Fleet will bring 32 players into camp before paring it down to 23 rostered players and three reserves for opening night. 21 players are already signed for the season, while 11 others join as camp invites, including the four remaining unsigned 2025 draft picks. Competition will be fierce in camp, but general manager Danielle Marmer said via a press release that she selected each player with a vision for how they can contribute to the team in mind.

“As we enter our third season, we’re proud of the training camp roster we’ve assembled,” Marmer said. “Each player was selected with a clear vision of how they can contribute to our team, with careful consideration given to experience, potential, and competitive character. Given the condensed nature of camp, we know the pace will be demanding, and we’re eager to see how this group responds and helps define the next chapter of the Fleet.”

Now, here's a little bit about each of the players that will be battling for a contract at the Fleet's training camp.

Forwards

The Fleet’s forward camp invites are facing an uphill battle in camp. Thirteen forwards are already under contract for the season, which means that realistically, the only spots that are still open without a fight are on the reserve list. However, many of the Fleet’s forwards are not on guaranteed contracts, so there is a chance for these invited players to force one of those signees out of a job, or at least onto the reserves.

Kelly Babstock - Babstock is the lone camp invite to have actually suited up for the Fleet, and one of just two who have played in the PWHL. She’s spent the past two seasons swapping between the Fleet’s full roster and reserve list, appearing in 13 regular-season games and tallying one assist, plus eight playoff games in 2024. Babstock has a knack for getting herself into trouble, having been suspended twice last season for a total of three games, and racking up 15 penalty minutes across her 21 career games. However, the Fleet have made it clear that they love what she brings to the locker room, so it’s no surprise to see her invited back to camp. It would also not be a complete shock to see her on the reserves again, even if it's perhaps ill-advised to play her in a game.

Olivia Mobley (2025 Draft Pick) - The Fleet selected Mobley in the third round of the draft this offseason, valuing her size and versatility. She posted a career-high 19 goals last year in her graduate season at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and boasts good speed and a great shot. She has the toolkit to be a solid depth player in the PWHL, but might need some seasoning first, so it's hard to imagine her landing above the reserve list to start the season.

Julia Nearis - Nearis is the only Fleet camp invite who spent last season overseas. The Beverly, MA native skated for HV71 in the SDHL last season, tallying 13 goals and six assists in 31 games. She previously spent four NCAA seasons at Boston University and one at Quinnipiac University, where she produced a combined 43 goals and 45 assists in 140 games. She’s currently playing for HV71 again, making it perhaps unlikely she’ll sign anything but a full player contract, and again, those aren’t readily available. That said, Marmer showed with Shay Maloney that she knows what she’s doing when she brings in Quinnipiac alums, so you can’t count Nearis out just yet.

Abby Newhook (2025 Draft Pick) - Selected by Boston in the fifth round, Newhook might prove to be one of the best value picks of this draft. The St. John’s, NL native is an excellent leader and a highly skilled, versatile player. Her point production at Boston College wasn't eye-popping (55 goals and 58 assists in 142 games), but she plays a strong two-way game that should translate well into a bottom-six role in the PWHL. Given how pleased Marmer was that she was able to select her so late, it wouldn't be a shock to see Newhook earn some sort of contract out of camp.

Defenders

Competition will be fierce for defenders at the Fleet’s camp, although there is slightly more hope for them than there is for the forwards. Six of the 11 defenders coming to camp are already under contract, which means there is likely one full roster spot up for grabs, plus a reserve slot. However, with most of these defenders boasting similar skill sets, finding a way to stand out and seize those spots will be a challenge.

Mia Biotti - Biotti tallied one goal and six assists in 29 games in her senior season at Harvard University. The 6’0” defender is a strong leader who was selected to captain the Crimson through a rough season as the team continued to work through the fallout of the Katey Stone scandal. Her size makes her an attractive prospect for the physical PWHL, but she’ll likely need time to adjust to the pro game. Still, her Cambridge, MA roots will make her a solid candidate for a reserve slot.

Riley Brengman (2025 Draft Pick) - Brengman doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but she plays the kind of game that should translate well to a depth role in the PWHL. The Ohio State University alumna is speedy and can eat up big minutes, and she isn’t afraid to throw her body on the line. She's a low-maintenance shutdown defender, and given the Fleet liked her enough to draft her, it's probably safe to say that heading into camp, she has the inside track to the last full contract.

Olivia Muhn - Another low-maintenance defender, Muhn is a smooth skater who tallied two goals, 11 assists, and a team-high 45 blocked shots in 32 games in her senior season at Yale University. The Burlington, ON native was also a leader in the community during her four years at Yale, culminating in becoming the first recipient of the Women's Project Rousseau Community Service Award, an ECAC award that honors “excellence and impact in community service.” It's hard to say whether she'll show enough in camp to earn a spot, but with how much the Fleet value having a strong culture, it's easy to see why Marmer would want to give someone like Muhn a chance.

Julia Shaunessy - Shaunessy is no stranger to Massachusetts, hailing from Marshfield, MA and spending the past five seasons at Boston University. An alternate captain for last season’s Hockey East champion Terriers, she set a career-high in points, tallying two goals and 16 assists in 38 games. However, her PWHL upside lies more in her 6’1” frame, which often got her in trouble in the NCAA but could be an asset in the physical PWHL. Like many others on this list, Shaunessy may need a little time to adjust to the pro game, but she arguably has the most upside of any of them, so she’ll be a strong candidate for at least a reserve slot.

Olivia Zafuto - Zafuto was a reserve player for the Fleet last season, although she did not get into a game. She spent the inaugural season with PWHL New York, suiting up for 13 games and recording one assist.  The 28-year-old perhaps has less upside than some of the others on this list. However, she’s a known commodity to Marmer and the returning coaching staff, and she has proven her worth in a reserve spot before, so that could give her a leg up.

Goaltenders

The Fleet’s top two goaltenders are signed heading into camp, and it's hard to imagine either of their invitees stealing a spot away from them. However, the good news for them is that Marmer has given her third goaltender a full contract in the first two seasons, so they’ll be battling it out for more than most of the other camp invites.

Kaitlyn Ross - Ross is coming off five excellent seasons (plus one redshirt year) at Mount Royal University in USports. The 5’7” goaltender appeared in 16 games last season, going 12-4-0 while sporting a 1.15 GAA and 0.946 SV%. She leaves the program as the most decorated goaltender in its history, setting school records in wins, saves, and shutouts. The jump from USports to the PWHL is much more drastic than that from the NCAA, but it might be easier for goaltenders to make than skaters. Just looking at the numbers, Ross has the upper hand for the third goaltender spot, but her competition is a draft pick who was the No. 1 on an NCAA super team, so it won’t be an easy road.

Amanda Thiele (2025 Draft Pick) - Thiele was the Fleet’s last pick of the draft, and it came as a bit of a surprise. Her save percentage dropped during each of her five years at Ohio State University despite the team being a superpower, while her goals-against average rose every year except her senior season. Last season, she appeared in 29 games, going 20-7-2 with a 2.21 GAA and 0.887 SV% to show for it. The 5’10” goaltender has potential, but she’ll need time and coaching to reach it. Still, as a draft pick, she likely has a bit of an edge on Ross heading into training camp.

PWHL training camps open on Nov, 7, with national team players reporting on Nov. 9 after the international break. The Fleet's first on-ice session is scheduled for Nov. 10, with preseason scrimmages set for Nov. 15 and 17.