It's been a little over a month since we last took stock of the women's college hockey recruiting trail.
That doesn't mean things have slowed down, though. In fact, it's been quite the opposite, as plenty of programs add to their cupboards and local stars lock in their next steps.
Since our last check-in, a key date on the recruiting calendar has come and gone: Aug. 1. That's when rising juniors could begin official visits to campuses.
With the summer showcases and Labor Day events in the rearview, we've officially hit fall hockey. The scholastic season is fast approaching, too. It's safe to expect we'll continue to see commitments roll in throughout the fall.
As far as the last month, there's a lot to unpack. Several top local prospects landed commitments, and a handful of Ivy League schools remained among the busiest in the landscape. Elsewhere, some Hockey East programs continued to make splashes.
Let's dive in.
Harvard adds two local stars
The Crimson kept up their busy recruiting season, picking up two more local standouts in '10 defender Maggie Chudzinski (Needham, Mass.) and '09 forward Gia Orizotti.
Both made USA Hockey's Under-18 Select team after standing out at the U18 Women's National Festival.
Orizotti is a dynamic, powerful forward with a heavy shot. She had a ridiculous 16U season with Winchendon last winter, posting 144 points (67 goals) in 62 games. She's off to a similarly productive start with Masters Academy International, posting six points in five games at the NAHA Labor Day Showcase.
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Chudzinski could establish herself as one of the best prep defenders as a junior. The Dexter Southfield and Boston Junior Eagles standout is a do-it-all presence on the blue line. She's a confident puck-mover and a strong defender with her strength and composure. She had 17 points (nine goals) in 25 games as a sophomore.
Harvard also added '10 goaltender Emma Forrest (5-foot-10) out of the U22 Brampton Canadettes.
Simone Burns commits to Yale
The Bulldogs added another productive forward to their pipeline when Burns (Winchester, Mass.) committed in September.
The '09 forward had her best prep season yet last winter, putting up 25 points (18 goals) in 26 games as a sophomore at Rivers. The Boston Americans standout had 23 points in 29 games as a freshman.
Burns reached back-to-back 16/17 Camps, too. Her skating and vision allow her to create space in the offensive zone and attack open lanes.
Holy Cross lands a slew of commits
The Crusaders added a handful of prospects to the pipeline over the last month, including '10 defender Amaya McNeil (Fairfield, Conn.).
McNeil, a Loomis Chaffee and Connecticut Polar Bears standout, can control the play when she's on the ice. Her poise with the puck makes her effective in transition, while her skating and strong stick help her kill plays in the defensive zone. McNeil, who had eight points in 28 games en route to an Elite 8 title, has a chance to play a premier role for Loomis this season. She made 16/17 Camp over the summer.
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Holy Cross also added '09 Charlotte Prodoehl, a 5-foot-11 forward with the Chicago Mission, as well as '10 defender Addyson Lee. Lee had 27 points (22 assists) in 48 games for the Burlington Barracudas last season.
Nora Shea commits to Dartmouth
Dartmouth continued its busy summer, adding another prep standout in Shea (Braintree, Mass.).
The '09 defender broke out as a sophomore at Nobles last season, posting 29 points (20 assists) in 30 games. It followed nine points in 30 games the year prior.
Shea, who made 16/17 Camp, plays with a high motor to go along with strong mobility and plenty of size (5-foot-10). The East Coast Wizards standout effectively leads the rush and quarterbacks the power play. Her long reach and physicality help her win defensive battles, too.
St. Cloud State lands two local defenders
The Huskies dipped into the New England talent pool, getting commitments from defenders '09 Avah Miller (Plymouth, Mass.) and Taryn Montgomery.
Miller, who joined Winchendon this season, had 29 points (14 goals) in 38 games for NAHA last winter. The right-shot blue-liner consistently activates into plays, leading transition with her vision and skating. She had four points in five games at the NAH Labor Day Showcase.
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Montgomery, meanwhile, has posted back-to-back 23-point seasons for the Lovell Academy 16Us. She had 22 assists in 66 games last season as the Lions won a USA Hockey national title. The left-shot prospect brings plenty of size to the blue line at 5-foot-9.
UNH adds four prospects
The Wildcats made a big splash over the last month-plus, adding a handful of recruits, including '09 defender Emersyn Fisher-Bailey (Duxbury, Mass.).
Fisher-Bailey is coming off nine points (seven assists) in 28 games as a sophomore at Cushing. The Assabet Valley standout is an agile skater who can close gaps and evade forechecking pressure. Her strong, active stick helps her break up plays in transition, too.
UNH added another defender in '10Â Gabie Willard, who has been a productive presence for the Barrie Junior Sharks.
Two forwards, Eve Pelletier and Madelyn Davies, joined the pipeline as well. Pelletier, a '10 with Stanstead College, had 29 points (15 goals) in 28 games with the 16Us last winter. Davies, also a '10, nearly doubled her production for the Waterloo Ravens last season, posting 27 points (20 assists) in 47 games. It followed 15 points (10 goals) in 42 contests the year prior.
Merrimack stays busy
The Warriors also continued an active summer on the recruiting trail, adding defender Gianna Monaco and forward Cadence Crowley (North Reading, Mass.) to the mix.
Monaco, an '09, reached the U18 National Women's Festival, advancing from 16/17 Camp. The 5-foot-4 defender had 17 points (14 assists) in 52 games for Shattuck-St. Mary's 16U squad last winter. Her smooth skating and poise help her escape pressure and make plays quickly on regroups and breakouts.
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Crowley, an '09 forward, took a big step at St. Paul's as a sophomore, posting 16 points (10 goals) in 30 games. It followed seven points (three goals) as a freshman. Crowley is a dependable presence in all three zones, and she plays above her 5-foot-3 frame. She's a pest around the net, and her smarts and quick feet help her find open space and create chances.
Brown lands a pair of prep standouts
Count the Bears among the programs that have been busy over the last month-plus on the recruiting trail, adding several skaters, including NEPSAC prospects Maddy Allen and Maya Kou.
Allen, an '09 forward, was one of the top producers for a potent St. Paul's squad last season, finishing with 24 points (17 goals) in 26 games as a sophomore. She more than doubled her previous totals. The Boston Junior Eagles standout plays with plenty of power and compete, using her strength to create space for herself and drive to middle ice.
Kou had 11 assists in 25 games for Phillips Andover last season. She was a key piece to a very deep blue line, and she could be in line for more minutes as a junior with her ability to make heads-up plays and quick decisions to help push the pace up ice.
Brown also added '09 defender Alexa Chan out of the Toronto Leaside Wildcats, as well as '09 forward Sarah Reeder out of the Chicago Mission. Reeder made back-to-back 16/17 Camps.
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Other notable commitments...
- Isabella Gionta, Klára Srámková commit to Boston University: Gionta has been a standout with the Rochester Junior Americans. Her father, Stephen, and uncle, Brian, were longtime NHLers. Srámková is a '10 with the BK Selects. The left-shot blue-liner has earned back-to-back bronze medals at the U18 Women's Worlds with Czechia.
- Talia Engel, Shae Gould commit to Saint Anselm: The Hawks added two forwards in Engel (Searsburg, Vt.) and Gould (Wilmington, Mass.). Gould, an '08, will join Saint A's this season. She had 36 points (20 goals) in 116 games at Tilton over the last four seasons. Engel, an '08, led Vermont Academy with 19 points (10 goals) in 28 games as a junior.
- Gillian Herr commits to Union:Â Herr is entering her senior season at Deerfield. The '08 defender had three goals in 10 games last season. She helped the Big Green to a Large School title in 2025, finishing with nine points (three goals) in 25 games.
- Chloe Martineau to Northeastern:Â Martineau, an '08 forward, has been a consistent producer for the U22 Ottawa Senators with 47 points in 86 games over the past two seasons. She had 23 points (11 goals) in 44 games last winter.
- Ester Skálová-Rosenbaumová to RPI: After standing out at the club and international levels with Czechia, Skálová-Rosenbaumová joined Lovell Academy last winter. The '09 forward had 38 points (19 goals) in 70 games with the 16Us.
- Tessa Macchione commits to Providence:Â Macchione, a '10 forward, has been a standout for the 16U BK Selects. She was a point-per-game scorer at USA Hockey Nationals, and she reached 16/17 Camp over the summer.
- Quinn Kelly to Quinnipiac:Â Kelly, who stands 6 feet tall, was outstanding with Shattuck-St. Mary's 16U squad last season. The '10 went 17-0-1 with two shutouts, a .931 save percentage and a 1.68 goals-against average.
- Maine adds Annika Betts and Bronwynn Caithness:Â Caithness was Maine's first 2028 commit. The '10 forward skates with the Eobicoke Dolphins. Betts, an '08 goalie standing 5-foot-8, plays for the Stoney Creek Sabres.
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