Top Five: NCAA Goalies Who Should Be On Your Radar for the PWHL Draft

I think by now we can all agree that the PWHL Draft has not yielded a ton when it comes to the net. After all, there are only so many spots to go around, and most teams would much rather go for the flashy goal scorer or the dynamic blueliner, knowing the wealth of talent at the goaltender position will not go ignored in training camp.

Still, we’ve seen some steals for certain teams, like Corinne Schroeder for New York and Gwyneth Philips for Ottawa – and of course, let’s not forget first-ever goalie pick Nicole Hensley, who can add back-to-back Walter Cups to her lengthy resume now. With eight teams now in the mix and a few interesting names coming out of the NCAA, I’ve decided to take a look at some goalies I think could well be a difference maker down the line for a playoff contender (or a spoiler, for that matter). 

Sanni Ahola, St. Cloud State University 

NCAA Career Stats: 84 GP, 35-43-5, .917%, 10 SO

Why You Should Pay Attention: I’ve been high on Ahola for a few years now, and for good reason. Those numbers above were produced in the offense-heavy WCHA, on a team that didn’t score a lot, against current and former national champions on a weekly basis. She’s proven she can handle a heavy workload, and that combined with her sound positioning, excellent lateral movement, and ability to come up with a huge second save, should make her a strong candidate for any of these teams looking to add depth to their net. 

Hannah Murphy, Colgate

NCAA Career Stats: 101 GP, 73-16-1, .937%, 18 SO

Why You Should Pay Attention: To me, Murphy and Amanda Thiele are two sides of the same coin – solid netminders who have benefitted from a strong, offensively-minded team in front of them. Thiele just missed this list, and I tend to be a little more harsh overall on goalies who play for these types of teams. I cut Murphy a little more slack, mainly because the Raiders of 2024-25 were nowhere near as deep as seasons past, and yet Murphy’s numbers stayed more or less the same in her senior campaign as they were prior. It’s a testament to how she’s been able to adjust to a higher workload and more shots against, in my opinion. 

Callie Shanahan, Boston University

NCAA Career Stats: 68 GP, 32-28-6, .918%, 6 SO

Why You Should Pay Attention: Like Ahola, Shanahan had the curse of playing on a team that couldn’t figure out its offense. Unfortunately for her, the Terriers also struggled defensively – and she still dragged them kicking and screaming to the top of Hockey East and to the national tournament. She has a really good combination of skill and mobility in a nearly six-foot-tall package, something I would certainly drool over if I were a PWHL GM. My one note would be for the team that signs her to make sure she can stay healthy and consistent, as 2024-25 was the only season Shanahan managed to start more than 13 games.

Abbie Thompson, Long Island University

NCAA Career Stats: 62 GP, 23-28-2, .898%, 7 SO

Why You Should Pay Attention: Thompson made the leap from Bemidji to Long Island and, for her trouble, posted seven shutouts and a sparkling save percentage in her grad season. Her overall performance and the as-yet fledgling status of NEWHA may prohibit her from getting looks until very late in the draft, if at all – it’s more likely she’ll have to wait till training camp. But I still think she can impress. I would definitely throw her a bone for a camp at the very least.

Megan Warrener, University of Connecticut

NCAA Career Stats: 56 GP, 38-10-2, .940%, 13 SO

Why You Should Pay Attention: Even in a limited role as backup to powerhouse Tia Chan, Warrener has quietly built a case for herself as a netminder you want to keep in your back pocket. Those numbers certainly don’t lie, and the hockey world has taken note, as she’s been in the chatter for National Goalie of the Year in the past for her efforts. She’s calm in net, and her puck tracking skills make it so you can’t get a whole lot by her either on the initial shot or the rebound.