From young budding forwards to veteran goaltenders and shutdown defenders, there’s a lot of talent in New England Division 1 women’s college hockey.
Heading into the new season, some teams are aiming for championship glory while others are working to build a new program identity.
Those top prospects will be a big part of either route.
The 10 players below will be big parts of achieving their squads’ respective goals.
Lacey Martin, Boston University
The Terriers struggled mightily last season, but Martin remained a bright spot. The senior center, who will serve as assistant captain for her second consecutive season, relentlessly created chances for her team but didn’t see as many pucks go in the net as she’d like.
With new head coach Tara Watchorn at the helm, Martin will benefit from a more defined team structure and expectations. She’s a top-six staple who recorded 101 shots last season and amassed 18 points (five goals, 13 assists) through 34 games.
The effort was always there from Martin as she leaned on her speed and high hockey IQ, but this season is when the tangible production might finally catch up.
Abby Newhook, Boston College
Newhook had the pressure of following a dominant 2021-22 freshman season with a strong sophomore showing –– and she did just that. The junior forward has cemented herself as a core piece of the Eagles offense and will take on a greater leadership role this year as an upperclassman.
The righty is both reliable and crafty with her highlight-reel handles and clutch timing. Out of her 16 goals scored in the 2022-23 season, six were game-winners, which led the team. Newhook steps up to the moment and is hungry to push BC from a team that has been middle-of-the-pack to one that contends for titles.
Katy Knoll, Northeastern
Northeastern’s super-line of Chloe Aurard, Maureen Murphy and Alina Müller has graduated, and it’s time for fifth-year forward Knoll to uphold the winning culture at Matthews Arena. Knoll was a significant piece to the Huskies’ powerhouse offense, but she wasn’t the leading lady. That changes this season.
The center had 34 points (18 goals, 16 assists) in the 2022-23 season as Northeastern stomped through Hockey East competition. Knoll will look to replicate or up those stats and make those around her better with her innate playmaking ability.
Northeastern, while still a top-ranked group, will have to prove it can succeed without the line that propelled the team to the Frozen Four last year, and that starts with Knoll.
Kendall Cooper, Quinnipiac
Cooper has grown into the type of two-way defender that all teams would love to have — a player with a nose for the net and great vision who doesn’t forget her responsibility on the blue line.
Going into her senior campaign with the Bobcats, Cooper will spearhead the defensive core after leading Quinnipiac defenders in points last season with 23 (six goals, 17 assists) in 33 games. The right-side defender has developed a solid balance to her game.
Cooper and her teammates are out for redemption after being one game away from the Frozen Four, falling 5-2 to Ohio State in the 2023 Columbus Regional final.
Hope Walinski, Providence College
Walinski (Lincoln, R.I.) proved herself at the end of last season. Now a junior goalie, she made her collegiate debut in mid-February and played the remaining five games of the season for Providence, picking up two shutouts along the way.
Walinski brought Providence to the Hockey East championship, where it lost 4-1 to Northeastern, but the netminder showed confidence and composure through her brief stint, earning her the team Unsung Hero Award.
Senior Mireille Kingsley also is on the goaltender depth chart.
Lara Beecher, Vermont
Beecher found her game in the second half of her freshman season and became a real threat for the Catamounts, posting 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) through 36 games.
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In January alone, Beecher had four goals and two assists as she found her footing and her own flair at the collegiate level. With a year of NCAA experience under her belt, Beecher enters the season right where she left off but without the adjustment period. She should be a regular producer for Vermont.
Paige Lester, Harvard
Lester’s junior season is a stellar opportunity for the forward to develop into a more confident, consistent version of herself and pick up the scoring from the previous graduated class of seniors.
Lester had 10 points (six goals, four assists) in 26 games last season and showed streaks of improvement as the year wore on.
The lefty’s shorthanded, game-winning goal against New Hampshire in November secured her team’s first non-conference victory of the season and proved that she’s not afraid to take risks and spark the rush up ice. Lester, who now has the chance to eat up some more minutes, will need to do more of that in the new campaign.
Deanna Buenzow, Yale
Buenzow is a highly touted defender whose expectation is to win. The incoming freshman was a core part of Phillips Andover’s program-best 11-0 start last season and is a product of the New England Girls Hockey League, formerly playing with the East Coast Wizards.
Buenzow is a smothering, shutdown defender who has found success by jumping into the rush and facilitating offense on the other side of the ice. She clogs up the opposition’s passing and shooting lanes and works well in tandem with her defensive partner –– last winter, it was Yale commit Molly Boyle (Scituate, Mass.).
It’s a great addition for Yale and Buenzow should thrive after making the initial adjustment to the collegiate level.
Alexia Moreau, Holy Cross
Beyond her on-ice talent, Moreau’s positive mindset stood out in her first season at Holy Cross. The now sophomore forward had an unwavering optimism and commitment to growth as the Crusaders trudged through a loss-filled season with a final 7-26-1 record.
Despite the adversity, Moreau ended the 2022-23 season with nine points (eight goals, one assist), and her teammates kept pushing to find success. Ahead of January’s Frozen Fenway, Holy Cross was on a 13-game losing streak, but Moreau’s last-minute, third-period goal secured a confidence-boosting win over Boston University.
Moreau will take those winning lessons and habits into the upcoming season as Holy Cross continues to heighten its compete level.
Tia Chan, Connecticut
Chan missed the entirety of the 2021-22 season, but you’d never have guessed it. The junior goaltender took the year off from Hockey East competition to play for Team China in the Olympics but came back last season and reminded everyone why she’s one of the best netminders in the league.
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Chan finished with a 1.67 goals-against-average and .935 save percentage in her comeback 2022-23 season, anchoring her squad in tight games and always giving the Huskies a chance to win. As the starter for consecutive seasons now, Chan can build off her MVP sophomore performance and push UConn up the Hockey East rankings.
