Every year, there’s a boatload of talent flowing in and out of Connecticut high school girls’ hockey.
The CHSGHA lost several of its superstars from last season, mostly to graduation. That includes New Canaan’s Maddie Tully, the reigning CHSGHA Player of the Year, and the East Catholic Co-op’s Liliana Ficaro, who is off to play college hockey at SUNY Oswego.
Still, seven players from last season’s All-State first-team will return in 2025-26, and there’s plenty more talent around Connecticut ready to step into the spotlight.
So, who will emerge as the state’s next crop of stars?
Here are 15 players to watch.
FORWARDS
Hailey Azzarone, West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy
Class: Junior
Azzarone will be the star on a West Haven/SHA team that lost a ton, but the junior seems up for the challenge. Coach Erin Blake speaks glowingly of Azzarone’s 200-foot game — she’s a winger that can also play center who posted 14 goals and 14 assists in a second-team All-State campaign last season.
Maybelle Caron, Amity Co-op
Class: Senior
A two-time first-team All-State selection, Caron will captain the Amity Co-op in an enormous season for the program. She draws defenders’ attention playing center, but is an excellent playmaker to complement her dangerous shot. Caron had 18 goals and 15 assists a season ago.
Teagan Cohane, Hall/Conard
Class: Senior
The daughter of H/C coach Jared Cohane, the senior will captain the defending CCC champions this season. She posted 15 goals and 19 assists as a junior and was 69 percent in the faceoff dot, while also leading H/C in blocks (28). Cohane was first-team All-State a year ago.
Maya Fanelli, Avon Co-op
Class: Senior
The Avon Co-op’s top line was one of the best in the state last season, but Fanelli is the only one returning in 2025-26. A second-team All-State selection a year ago, the senior is committed to SUNY Canton for hockey. She had 14 goals and 17 assists last year.
Adriana Gromelski, Darien
Class: Senior
The senior is committed to Yale for lacrosse, but the reigning first-team All-State forward is also one of the best hockey players in Connecticut. A fast and aggressive skater with elite goal-scoring skills, Gromelski had 26 goals and 13 assists last season for the state champions.
Izzy Hanna, New Canaan
Class: Junior
Hanna will flank New Canaan’s top line after the Rams lost over 134 points to graduation or Prep from last year’s state final team. The junior possesses some of the most natural talent in the state and posted six goals and 11 assists as a sophomore. She seems primed for a breakout.
Deirdre McKiernan, East Catholic Co-op
Class: Senior
A first-team All-CCC selection a year ago, McKiernan will captain the East Catholic Co-op as a senior after posting 12 goals and 14 assists as a junior. With a 200-foot game, she can play center or wing and is a dangerous playmaker.
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DEFENDERS
Fiona Campbell, Hall/Conard
Class: Senior
Now an assistant captain as a junior, Campbell led Hall/Conard’s defensive core in points last season (five goals, seven assists) and was the runaway leader in time on ice. She only took one penalty — a spotty call in the final regular season game.
Lila Fiorita, Darien
Class: Senior
A first-team All-State honoree the last two seasons, Florita is one of the rare players to come out of Darien who will move on to play college hockey — she’s committed to Hamilton. An excellent offensive defender, the senior will captain the Wave as they defend their state title.
Kendall Montabana, Amity Co-op
Class: Sophomore
A quick defender with great vision, Montabana is one of the Amity Co-op’s top defenders and has Prep school potential. She’ll assume a key role as a sophomore, providing offense from the blue line for the reigning state quarterfinalists.
Grace Pacholski, Suffield Co-op
Class: Junior
Pacholski is a defender for Suffield’s Co-op, but at the Hockey Night in Boston showcase this summer, she was moved up to forward and was named Player of the Tournament. An offensive-minded defender who’s excellent at breaking out, the junior recorded 10 goals and 11 assists last season.
Ashton Pinkernell, New Canaan
Class: Senior
A reigning first-team All-State selection, Pinkernell will captain the Rams in her senior season, bringing experience and offense to the blue line. She had two goals and 24 assists as a junior.
Jenna Vigano, New Canaan
Class: Junior
After a big sophomore season for the state runners-up, Vigano starred at the Hockey Night in Boston showcase over the summer. She’s got a ton of potential and, like Florita, wants to continue playing hockey after her career at New Canaan is over.
RANKINGS: Who ranks No. 1 in our first Conn. girls high school rankings of the year?
GOALIES
Lauren Busi, Hall/Conard
Class: Junior
With Busi in between the pipes, Hall/Conard can beat anybody on any given day — she earned first-team All-State honors last season as a sophomore after posting a 1.42 goals against average and .929 save percentage in 15 games. The junior is only 5-foot-2, but is a candidate to play college hockey after her high school career is over.
Kyra Sweeney, Hamden Co-op
Class: Junior
A first-team All-State selection in 2024-25, the junior is regarded as one of Connecticut’s best netminders. In one game against New Canaan last year, Sweeney made 52 saves. She’ll be a critical player for the Hamden Co-op, which will look to return to the state tournament.
