Top Six NCAA Defenders in the 2025 PWHL Draft

The PWHL draft is just weeks away and here at The Ice Garden we are looking at the top names in the NCAA in each position available at this year's draft.

Here we'll look at the top five - nope, six defenders from all over NCAA Division I hockey who are hoping to have their name called by one of the now eight teams in the league on June 24.

The list doesn’t reflect in what order the players may be drafted and isn’t listed in any particular way just the few names that stand out the most.

Haley Winn and Nicole Gosling - Clarkson University

The two defenders have identical stats and accolades and were a defensive pairing at Clarkson so it felt right to not separate them. The PWHL can do so, but I won’t.

Haley Winn might just be one of the first defenders out of college to be chosen in this year's PWHL draft. She finished the 2024-25 season with 46 points and 99 blocks. That's almost 100 blocks in one single season! She won two end of season awards including ECAC Player of the Year and Defender of the Year. She was named to the CCM/AHCA All-American team along with her teammate and fellow prospect Nicole Gosling.

Winn has also represented the United States in international play as she won a gold medal in April at the Women's World Championship. She also participated in the 2024 Six Nations Tournament, the 24-25 Rivalry Series, and two Women's World Championships where she won silver and gold.

In her career at Clarkson, Winn finished with 151 games played, 130 points, 483 shots on goal, and 298 blocks.

What makes Winn stand out is she plays the game well in all aspects and while she also incredible stats she also has recognition from her teammates including being named Most Valuable Person, an award given to a member of the team that represents the championship culture and someone who is an invaluable member of the team.

Nicole Gosling finished this season with 39 points and 77 blocks. The London, Ontario native collected numerous conference awards throughout her time at Clarkson including being named to the ECAC All-Rookie team in her first year where she was also a finalist for Rookie of the Year and Defender of the Year. In her later years, Gosling was named to the ECAC Second Team twice. She also won ECAC Defender of the Year in her senior season after the 23-24 season.

Gosling also represented Canada internationally having played in the U-18 Women's World Championship twice and represented Canada at the World Championship last year.

In her career she finished with 176 games played, 148 points, 594 shots and 21 power play goals.

Gosling, who is the cousin of Sceptres forward Julia Gosling, has the stats and the recognition to be someone who can easily transfer her collegiate skills to the pro level. She also has the experience with Team Canada which has allowed her to develop her game even more.

Nina Jobst-Smith - Minnesota Duluth

Jobst-Smith was a co-captain in her final year at Duluth. The 23-year-old right shot defender finished the season with 32 blocked shots and 18 points. She recorded three blocked shots in a game twice and blocked four shots in a game against Minnesota State this season. She's been a mainstay on the blueline her entire collegiate career and helped the Bulldogs reach the NCAA Tournament for the fifth year in a row.

Like others on this list, Jobst-Smith also has international experience representing Germany in the Women's World Championship and in the Olympic qualifier games since the 2019-20 season.

Jobst-Smith finished her career with 172 games played, 67 points, 13 goals including five power play goals, and 179 blocked shots.

She stands out because of the trust and leadership she's carried throughout her time with the Bulldogs. She's been a mainstay, she's reliable, and consistent in her skills and that is something that will help her as she begins her professional career.

Dayle Ross - St. Cloud State University

Ross is a quietly good defender. The right-shot defender wrapped up her senior season putting together 15 points, most by any defender on the Huskies team. She also recorded 46 blocks this season. One thing that stands out about Ross is her wicked strong shot. Don't let the two goals scored this season fool you. Ross is constantly trying to get the puck into the net - which is how she finished with 103 shots on goal.

But blocking is one of her strongest skills. In her freshman season she recorded eight blocked shots in one game followed by two straight seasons of at least one game with six blocks. She was the blocks leader in all the NCAA in the 22-23 season, and broke the single-season record for St. Cloud after blocking 104 shots that same season.

She's sneaky good and a sleeper pick in my mind. One of the four captains for the Huskies this season leaves St. Cloud with 142 games under her belt, seven goals, 33 assists, and 269 blocks.

What makes Ross stand out is her defense and her puck shooting abilities too. She's a natural leader and someone who plays the game with an acute understanding that will make whatever team she is on better.

Rory Guilday - Cornell

A gritty and physical defender, Guilday finished the season with 38 blocked shots and nine points. She was part of a Big Red team that put together a great season by winning the ECAC title for the first time since 2014 and appearing in a fifth Frozen Four in a tournament that heavily favored other conferences. She recorded three blocked shots in Cornell's 1-0 win against Duluth to reach the Frozen Four earlier this year.

She was recognized at the end of this season by being named First Team All-Ivy and Third Team All-ECAC. She was named First Team All-Ivy last season as well and was named to the ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team and USCHO All-Rookie Team in her freshman year.

Guilday has also played internationally for the United States. She appeared for the US once in the U-18 World Championship where she won gold. She's also been on the World Championship team from 2022-2024 where she won two silvers and one gold. She's also played in the Rivalry Series and at the 2024 Six Nations Tournament where she also brought home some hardware.

She ends her collegiate career with 106 games played, 53 points, and 172 blocked shots.

The physicality Guilday brings to the ice is what will have her off the board in this year's draft. Any team would be silly to pass up someone with that level of grit and tenacity.

Tamara Giaquinto - Boston University

Another sleeper pick this time out of BU. Giaquinto helped lead the Terriers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 10 years. Giaquinto led all BU defenders this season with 57 blocked shots and was tied for most points by a defender with 18. She also recorded six power play goals.

Gianquinto recorded eight shots on goal in one game against Holy Cross which helped her finish the season with 102 shots on goal. Giaquinto also recorded a season-high five blocked shots against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

She's also received a lot of recognition as she finished this season with numerous awards including Hockey East Defender of the Year, Hockey East All-Tournament Team, and Hockey East First Team All-Star.

Giaquinto leaves the Terries after playing 144 games and collecting 15 goals, 44 points, and 242 shots on goal.

Giaquinto has a great skill set but most of all a sick one timer that honestly would look cool being used against teams in the PWHL.