- May 21, 2026
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The puck has been dropped on the 2026-27 NCAA Women’s Hockey season, and there’s a lot to be excited about this year and beyond.
There are a number of talented players looking to end their college careers on a high, ensuring their status as future PWHLers. While the class might not be as deep as that of the 2026 group, there are still several big names that are going to be stars for years to come.
Let’s take a look at my early-season top 15 players to watch for this season.
Ever since she burst onto the scene in Columbus, Joy Dunne has been on every team’s mind. The younger sister of former PWHL defender Jincy Roese has been at the top of the 2027 class thanks to her ability to be one of the nation’s top scorers, and has been a key part of the Buckeyes’ success. She was a solid secondary piece in OSU’s 2024 national championship run, but has quickly become the team’s go-to scoring threat. Last season, along with winning an Olympic gold medal with the United States, the Missouri native finished tied for fifth in the country in goals (23) and eighth in points (51).
Now, heading into her final year, the Olympic gold medalist is looking to solidify her status as the No. 1 prospect heading into next year’s draft.
There’s an honest chance that we’ll have Buckeyes go 1-2 in the 2027 draft. Jocelyn Amos is just that good. Sure, many focus on Dunne’s accomplishments, as she has seen more time on the world stage than Amos. However, that hardly takes away from what the Ontario native can do. After a career-best sophomore season, Amos’ production took a little dip last season, but she managed to score 48 points in 37 games, ending up tied for 11th in the country.
What makes Amos tough to stop is her speed, as well as her ability to be reliable at both ends of the rink. In a PWHL where defense is almost more important than offense, Amos fits the criteria as a future star.
This will undoubtedly be the best goaltending draft class in PWHL history, and Eve Gascon (for now) is at the top of the list. Sure, she might not have the championship pedigree as a netminder that I’ll talk about later on, but how Gascon has been able to keep Minnesota Duluth relevant after Emma Soderberg graduated proves how good she is. She’s been able to crack Canada’s national team roster a couple of times, and is certainly leading the next wave of talent after Ann-Renee Desbiens and Emerance Maschmeyer move on.
If she wants to beat out her counterparts to be the first goaltender taken in the 2027 draft, Gascon is going to have to be on her A-game every night in the ever-tough WCHA. Anyone who has ever seen her play knows the potential she possesses.
The Badgers lost a lot of players after winning a second straight NCAA title last spring. Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards, Lacey Eden, Vivian Jungels…gone. However, Cassie Hall leads a very strong returning class, putting Wisconsin in a great spot to win a 10th national championship.
Hall is fun to watch, as her speed and release have made her a top scoring threat on a stacked Badgers team. The Michigan native has only improved as her career has worn on, posting career highs in goals (24), assists (24) and points (48) last season. With the opportunity to play on the top line every night, Hall can further prove that she can be a big-time offensive weapon at the next level.
To the naked eye, it might seem strange to have last year’s leading goal scorer so low on the list, but that’s because Lamarche still has room to develop in order to become a complete player. The Sudbury native posted an impressive 42 goals in 41 games, finishing third in the nation with 64 points. While she carried the Bobcats’ scoring attack, her lack of defensive play sets her back a little. I know she has the ability to become a marquee player in the PWHL, and one more year of college hockey can do that.
Also, if Lamarche can truly prove herself, she can inch closer to squeaking her way into Hockey Canada’s door. If she can prove that she can be a 30-goal, 50-point player in college, it’s hard to think Daniele Sauvageau won’t be giving her a call in the near future.
There have been few goaltenders who have been as efficient over the course of a college career as McNaughton has been in Madison. Ever since her rookie season, she has been the backbone for the Badgers, putting up dynamite numbers every year. While she has had an outstanding team in front of her, the Olympic gold medalist has been able to show that she can be come up clutch when her team needs a big save.
In her three years, McNaughton has lost six games…SIX. She’s a huge reason Wisconsin has won back-to-back national championships, and is going to be seeing more playing for Team USA on the international stage as soon as Aerin Frankel calls it a day.
As good as “the big four” in Wisconsin were last season, Kelly Gorbatenko was right there in the mix as one of the team’s most important assets. The Barrington, Ill. native has steadily improved in each of her first three seasons in Madison, coming up with a career-high 28 goals and 50 points last season, finishing ninth in the country in scoring and fourth in goals.
There are many things to like about Gorbatenko’s game. For one, she is tough. Standing at 5-foot-11, she isn’t afraid to play physical in a WCHA where body checking is pretty much encouraged. She uses her size to create scoring space and has the hands to be one of the best finishers in college hockey. With this being a sizeable transition year for Wisconsin, she’ll have a great chance to steal the spotlight and potentially challenge for a top-five spot in next year’s draft.
Similar to Gorbatenko, Ava Lindsay has been viewed as a supporting character in Minnesota, as players like Abbey Murphy, Josefin Bouveng and Nelli Laitinen had garnered the most attention. However, the Minnetonka native started to show that potential that made her a star in high school. Last season, she set career highs in goals (15), assists (28) and points (43), finishing second on the Golden Gophers in points behind Murphy.
Like most athletes, the challenge for her will be to prove she can consistently perform at a high level. No longer will teams be seeing her as a supporting character, and PWHL teams are going to want to see what Lindsay can do when she’s put up against the opposition’s best every single night. She certainly has the skill set to drive Minnesota’s offense once again.
I know some people are higher on some defenders than I am this year, but that doesn’t take away from the potential that Laney Potter brings to the table. She’s a steady presence on the blue line who can jump into the rush from time to time. She’s delivered back-to-back 26-point seasons with the Badgers, including notching a career-high 10 goals in 2025-26.
With players like Harvey and Edwards moving onto the PWHL, Potter is expected to be Mark Johnson’s top rearguard heading into her senior season. There’s no question that the Cranberry Township, Pa. native can log heavy minutes, and the fact that she can be used in just about every situation makes her one of the most valuable defenders in this draft class. If she can continue to develop her scoring touch, while maintaining her status as an effective shutdown blueliner, Potter is going to be a very sought-after player next summer.
If you were to ask me two years ago where Bergmann would be on this list, I think I’d have her as the top goaltender of the 2027 class. However, it’s been hard to see her outperform Gascon and McNaughton, especially since she plays behind a very well-structured defensive Big Red program.
That said, Bergmann has all the tools and potential to see significant playing time at the next level. Even while she stands at over 6 feet tall, the Detroit native moves extremely well, taking up a lot of the net. She is very comfortable playing in big moments, something she has shown at Cornell as well as the U.S. women’s development team. Her numbers took a dip last season. Granted, it’s hard to match her 2024-25 performance,s where she went 25-5-5, with a 1.35 GAA, a .943 SV%, and 10 shutouts. Yet, with a Big Red team expected to be in the running for the ECAC title, Bergmann will have ample opportunity to bolster her draft stock.
It can be tough to stand out in a conference that is as tightly contested as the ECAC, but Emma Pais has been a pleasantly fun player to watch over the course of her career. She went from playing alongside names like Danielle Serdachny and Kristyna Kaltounkova to being tabbed as the Raiders’ go-to offensive weapon.
What makes Pais such an intriguing and promising future PWHLer is how she has been able to put up solid numbers, despite playing on an ever-changing lineup. She has averaged close to 35 points in each of her first three seasons, coming close to hitting the 20-goal mark. She’s dynamite on the power play, but can also be known to create a plethora of chances at 5-on-5. Some might not think the London, Ont. native has what it takes to be a first-round pick, but if she ends her college career with another impressive season, Pais will be high on draft boards.
If there’s one thing Doug Derraugh can do, it’s find and develop exceptional defenders. After Rose Dwyer and Alyssa Regalado moved up to the pro ranks, Piper Grober is poised to be the next beneficiary of the former Canada head coach’s teachings.
The Toronto native has proven to be a responsible asset for the Big Red since she stepped onto campus in 2023. What has made me realize she has potential to be a big-time player at the next level is what she showed during her junior season. After scoring no more than 11 points in her first two seasons with the program, Grober exploded for nine goals and 25 points. This came thanks to an elevated role in the lineup, with some power play time added to her workload. I’m excited to see what she can do in her final year with Cornell, as she can be a reason why the Big Red make a push to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
I told you this year’s goaltending class was stacked.
Truth be told, I don’t think many of us had Uma Corniea as a notable prospect through her first two years with the Tigers. She was good in a 1B role, but it wasn’t until last season that the Edina, Minn. native had her time to shine. She went 16-11-0 in 26 games, delivering a .935 SV% and a 1.79 GAA that placed her tied for ninth in the country. She was a key reason Princeton ended up as ECAC co-regular-season champions, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years.
Like Bergmann, Corniea is going to have to stand out if she wants to squeak her way into the first round of next year’s draft. That said, with talented goaltending being a premium in the PWHL, there are a lot of teams that are going to keep a close eye on her.
Another Wisconsin defender expected to pick up the slack after a notable exodus on the blue line, Ava Murphy is a player that many have been keeping tabs on, waiting for her moment to shine. In a way, she’s very much like Vivian Jungels – not the most offensively gifted, but unlikely to get beat in her own zone. With more minutes coming her way this season, I think she can show an even broader audience what she’s capable of.
The Kitchener, Ont. native is also an underrated puck mover. She’s very calm with the biscuit in her own end, and can help set up her teammates in the offensive zone as well. With the expectation that she’ll play alongside Potter, I’d like to think Murphy’s numbers will improve in her final season in Madison.
While we’ll have to wait a couple of years before Stryker Zablocki joins the PWHL, Sammy Taber is, right now, the best Hockey East has to offer heading into the 2026-27 campaign. The Eagles captain saw a slight dip in production last season on a team that was rebuilding after some notable names exited the program. Yet, the 21-year-old has averaged over 30 points over the course of her career with Boston College, and has proven to be a dual-threat offensive asset, expressing solid playmaking ability while having a knack for putting the puck in the back of the net.
What gives Taber an edge over some other players is that she has international experience, having won a bronze medal with the United States at the 2023 U-18s, but that she’s also willing to stick it out at B.C., where others have elected to transfer to better programs. That’s something commendable about the young forward.
Read more women’s hockey stories at DFO
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There are a number of talented players looking to end their college careers on a high, ensuring their status as future PWHLers. While the class might not be as deep as that of the 2026 group, there are still several big names that are going to be stars for years to come.
Let’s take a look at my early-season top 15 players to watch for this season.
1. Joy Dunne (F, Ohio State)
Ever since she burst onto the scene in Columbus, Joy Dunne has been on every team’s mind. The younger sister of former PWHL defender Jincy Roese has been at the top of the 2027 class thanks to her ability to be one of the nation’s top scorers, and has been a key part of the Buckeyes’ success. She was a solid secondary piece in OSU’s 2024 national championship run, but has quickly become the team’s go-to scoring threat. Last season, along with winning an Olympic gold medal with the United States, the Missouri native finished tied for fifth in the country in goals (23) and eighth in points (51).
Now, heading into her final year, the Olympic gold medalist is looking to solidify her status as the No. 1 prospect heading into next year’s draft.
2. Jocelyn Amos (F, Ohio State)
There’s an honest chance that we’ll have Buckeyes go 1-2 in the 2027 draft. Jocelyn Amos is just that good. Sure, many focus on Dunne’s accomplishments, as she has seen more time on the world stage than Amos. However, that hardly takes away from what the Ontario native can do. After a career-best sophomore season, Amos’ production took a little dip last season, but she managed to score 48 points in 37 games, ending up tied for 11th in the country.
What makes Amos tough to stop is her speed, as well as her ability to be reliable at both ends of the rink. In a PWHL where defense is almost more important than offense, Amos fits the criteria as a future star.
3. Eve Gascon (G, Minnesota Duluth)
This will undoubtedly be the best goaltending draft class in PWHL history, and Eve Gascon (for now) is at the top of the list. Sure, she might not have the championship pedigree as a netminder that I’ll talk about later on, but how Gascon has been able to keep Minnesota Duluth relevant after Emma Soderberg graduated proves how good she is. She’s been able to crack Canada’s national team roster a couple of times, and is certainly leading the next wave of talent after Ann-Renee Desbiens and Emerance Maschmeyer move on.
If she wants to beat out her counterparts to be the first goaltender taken in the 2027 draft, Gascon is going to have to be on her A-game every night in the ever-tough WCHA. Anyone who has ever seen her play knows the potential she possesses.
4. Cassie Hall (F, Wisconsin)
The Badgers lost a lot of players after winning a second straight NCAA title last spring. Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards, Lacey Eden, Vivian Jungels…gone. However, Cassie Hall leads a very strong returning class, putting Wisconsin in a great spot to win a 10th national championship.
Hall is fun to watch, as her speed and release have made her a top scoring threat on a stacked Badgers team. The Michigan native has only improved as her career has worn on, posting career highs in goals (24), assists (24) and points (48) last season. With the opportunity to play on the top line every night, Hall can further prove that she can be a big-time offensive weapon at the next level.
5. Kahlen Lamarche (F, Quinnipiac)
To the naked eye, it might seem strange to have last year’s leading goal scorer so low on the list, but that’s because Lamarche still has room to develop in order to become a complete player. The Sudbury native posted an impressive 42 goals in 41 games, finishing third in the nation with 64 points. While she carried the Bobcats’ scoring attack, her lack of defensive play sets her back a little. I know she has the ability to become a marquee player in the PWHL, and one more year of college hockey can do that.
Also, if Lamarche can truly prove herself, she can inch closer to squeaking her way into Hockey Canada’s door. If she can prove that she can be a 30-goal, 50-point player in college, it’s hard to think Daniele Sauvageau won’t be giving her a call in the near future.
6. Ava McNaughton (G, Wisconsin)
There have been few goaltenders who have been as efficient over the course of a college career as McNaughton has been in Madison. Ever since her rookie season, she has been the backbone for the Badgers, putting up dynamite numbers every year. While she has had an outstanding team in front of her, the Olympic gold medalist has been able to show that she can be come up clutch when her team needs a big save.
In her three years, McNaughton has lost six games…SIX. She’s a huge reason Wisconsin has won back-to-back national championships, and is going to be seeing more playing for Team USA on the international stage as soon as Aerin Frankel calls it a day.
7. Kelly Gorbatenko (F, Wisconsin)
As good as “the big four” in Wisconsin were last season, Kelly Gorbatenko was right there in the mix as one of the team’s most important assets. The Barrington, Ill. native has steadily improved in each of her first three seasons in Madison, coming up with a career-high 28 goals and 50 points last season, finishing ninth in the country in scoring and fourth in goals.
There are many things to like about Gorbatenko’s game. For one, she is tough. Standing at 5-foot-11, she isn’t afraid to play physical in a WCHA where body checking is pretty much encouraged. She uses her size to create scoring space and has the hands to be one of the best finishers in college hockey. With this being a sizeable transition year for Wisconsin, she’ll have a great chance to steal the spotlight and potentially challenge for a top-five spot in next year’s draft.
8. Ava Lindsay (F, Minnesota)
Similar to Gorbatenko, Ava Lindsay has been viewed as a supporting character in Minnesota, as players like Abbey Murphy, Josefin Bouveng and Nelli Laitinen had garnered the most attention. However, the Minnetonka native started to show that potential that made her a star in high school. Last season, she set career highs in goals (15), assists (28) and points (43), finishing second on the Golden Gophers in points behind Murphy.
Like most athletes, the challenge for her will be to prove she can consistently perform at a high level. No longer will teams be seeing her as a supporting character, and PWHL teams are going to want to see what Lindsay can do when she’s put up against the opposition’s best every single night. She certainly has the skill set to drive Minnesota’s offense once again.
9. Laney Potter (D, Wisconsin)
I know some people are higher on some defenders than I am this year, but that doesn’t take away from the potential that Laney Potter brings to the table. She’s a steady presence on the blue line who can jump into the rush from time to time. She’s delivered back-to-back 26-point seasons with the Badgers, including notching a career-high 10 goals in 2025-26.
With players like Harvey and Edwards moving onto the PWHL, Potter is expected to be Mark Johnson’s top rearguard heading into her senior season. There’s no question that the Cranberry Township, Pa. native can log heavy minutes, and the fact that she can be used in just about every situation makes her one of the most valuable defenders in this draft class. If she can continue to develop her scoring touch, while maintaining her status as an effective shutdown blueliner, Potter is going to be a very sought-after player next summer.
10. Annelies Bergmann (G, Cornell)
If you were to ask me two years ago where Bergmann would be on this list, I think I’d have her as the top goaltender of the 2027 class. However, it’s been hard to see her outperform Gascon and McNaughton, especially since she plays behind a very well-structured defensive Big Red program.
That said, Bergmann has all the tools and potential to see significant playing time at the next level. Even while she stands at over 6 feet tall, the Detroit native moves extremely well, taking up a lot of the net. She is very comfortable playing in big moments, something she has shown at Cornell as well as the U.S. women’s development team. Her numbers took a dip last season. Granted, it’s hard to match her 2024-25 performance,s where she went 25-5-5, with a 1.35 GAA, a .943 SV%, and 10 shutouts. Yet, with a Big Red team expected to be in the running for the ECAC title, Bergmann will have ample opportunity to bolster her draft stock.
11. Emma Pais (F, Colgate)
It can be tough to stand out in a conference that is as tightly contested as the ECAC, but Emma Pais has been a pleasantly fun player to watch over the course of her career. She went from playing alongside names like Danielle Serdachny and Kristyna Kaltounkova to being tabbed as the Raiders’ go-to offensive weapon.
What makes Pais such an intriguing and promising future PWHLer is how she has been able to put up solid numbers, despite playing on an ever-changing lineup. She has averaged close to 35 points in each of her first three seasons, coming close to hitting the 20-goal mark. She’s dynamite on the power play, but can also be known to create a plethora of chances at 5-on-5. Some might not think the London, Ont. native has what it takes to be a first-round pick, but if she ends her college career with another impressive season, Pais will be high on draft boards.
12. Piper Grober (D, Cornell)
If there’s one thing Doug Derraugh can do, it’s find and develop exceptional defenders. After Rose Dwyer and Alyssa Regalado moved up to the pro ranks, Piper Grober is poised to be the next beneficiary of the former Canada head coach’s teachings.
The Toronto native has proven to be a responsible asset for the Big Red since she stepped onto campus in 2023. What has made me realize she has potential to be a big-time player at the next level is what she showed during her junior season. After scoring no more than 11 points in her first two seasons with the program, Grober exploded for nine goals and 25 points. This came thanks to an elevated role in the lineup, with some power play time added to her workload. I’m excited to see what she can do in her final year with Cornell, as she can be a reason why the Big Red make a push to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
13. Uma Corniea (G, Princeton)
I told you this year’s goaltending class was stacked.
Truth be told, I don’t think many of us had Uma Corniea as a notable prospect through her first two years with the Tigers. She was good in a 1B role, but it wasn’t until last season that the Edina, Minn. native had her time to shine. She went 16-11-0 in 26 games, delivering a .935 SV% and a 1.79 GAA that placed her tied for ninth in the country. She was a key reason Princeton ended up as ECAC co-regular-season champions, earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in seven years.
Like Bergmann, Corniea is going to have to stand out if she wants to squeak her way into the first round of next year’s draft. That said, with talented goaltending being a premium in the PWHL, there are a lot of teams that are going to keep a close eye on her.
14. Ava Murphy (D, Wisconsin)
Another Wisconsin defender expected to pick up the slack after a notable exodus on the blue line, Ava Murphy is a player that many have been keeping tabs on, waiting for her moment to shine. In a way, she’s very much like Vivian Jungels – not the most offensively gifted, but unlikely to get beat in her own zone. With more minutes coming her way this season, I think she can show an even broader audience what she’s capable of.
The Kitchener, Ont. native is also an underrated puck mover. She’s very calm with the biscuit in her own end, and can help set up her teammates in the offensive zone as well. With the expectation that she’ll play alongside Potter, I’d like to think Murphy’s numbers will improve in her final season in Madison.
15. Sammy Taber (F, Boston College)
While we’ll have to wait a couple of years before Stryker Zablocki joins the PWHL, Sammy Taber is, right now, the best Hockey East has to offer heading into the 2026-27 campaign. The Eagles captain saw a slight dip in production last season on a team that was rebuilding after some notable names exited the program. Yet, the 21-year-old has averaged over 30 points over the course of her career with Boston College, and has proven to be a dual-threat offensive asset, expressing solid playmaking ability while having a knack for putting the puck in the back of the net.
What gives Taber an edge over some other players is that she has international experience, having won a bronze medal with the United States at the 2023 U-18s, but that she’s also willing to stick it out at B.C., where others have elected to transfer to better programs. That’s something commendable about the young forward.
Read more women’s hockey stories at DFO
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