Women's Ice Hockey

2025-26 UCHC Women's Players to Watch - Season Preview

Twenty-four players from the eight United Collegiate Hockey Conference women’s institutions have been selected as Players to Watch for the 2025-26 season. The list serves as an annual preseason honor roll of players expected to make an impact on their teams, and on the conference picture as the season gets underway this weekend. Albertus Magnus College, Hilbert College and St. John Fisher University make their UCHC debuts this season, while Elmira College returns to the UCHC for the 2025-26 season.
 
Albertus Magnus College
  • Molly Martin, Jr., D, Buffalo, NY – Martin earned All-New England Hockey Conference first team accolades in 2024-25 after recording 19 points on 10 goals and nine assists. She had five power-play goals and three game-winning tallies.
  • Christmas Johnson, Jr., G, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Johnson has made 1,541 saves in her first two seasons with the Falcons. She recorded a .914 save percentage last season and had a .930 save percentage in 2023-24.
  • Tori Walsh, Jr., F, Marystown, Newfoundland – Walsh has recorded 30 points on 14 goals and 16 assists in her first two seasons with Albertus Magnus.
Team Notes: The Falcons make their UCHC debut in 2025-26 after spending last season as a member of the New England Hockey Conference. Albertus Magnus, a third-year NCAA program, returns 24 players from last season’s team for head coach Steve Novodor. Fellow returners Kayla Clark and Gabby Dellacroce in addition to newcomers Jaden Garbacik, Alana Laser, Kalyn Reynolds and Kurtia Yetman will look to make an impact for the Falcons. Albertus Magnus is picked to finish sixth in the 2025-26 UCHC Preseason Poll.
 
Chatham University
  • Sam Brophy, Sr., G, London, Ontario – Brophy had a .910 save percentage in 17 games during the 2024-25 season and emerged as the starting goaltender down the stretch for the Cougars.
  • Liv McTavish, Sr., F, Port Matilda, PA – McTavish tallied seven points in 19 games last season. She has 16 points since the start of the 2023-24 season.
  • Klara Miuller, So., F, Klapedia, Lithuania – Muller was named to the UCHC All-Rooke Team last season after scoring five goals in just 12 games.
Team Notes: The Cougars return 19 players from last season’s team that advanced to the UCHC Semifinals. Fellow returners Morgan Black, Chelsea Clark and Abby Cunkelman in addition to newcomers Sarah Doherty, Morgan Miller and Ellie Rawlick will look to make an impact for the Cougars. Chatham is picked to finish seventh in the 2025-26 UCHC Preseason Poll.
 
Elmira College
  • MK Boyle (Sr., F, Newport, RI) – Boyle registered 15 points during the 2024-25 season while blocking six shots during the campaign. She has 41 career points in 89 contests for the Purple and Gold.
  • Gabby Dougherty (Sr., D, Chelsea, MI) – Dougherty tallied 16 points on the blueline, including four powerplay goals. She was an All-NEHC first team selection a season ago after transferring from Syracuse University following the 2023-24 season.
  • Anna Lugge (Jr., F, Freeburg, IL) – Lugge garnered All-NEHC second team honors during the 2024-25 season. She finished third on the team a season ago in points (31) with a team-leading plus/minus of +32. Lugge has 55 points on 23 goals and 32 assists over her first two seasons.
Team Notes: The Soaring Eagles, who won the first four UCHC Women's Hockey Championships, return to the league after spending the last four seasons in the New England Hockey Conference. The Soaring Eagles finished 21-8-1 last season and advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Elmira won the NEHC title for the third time in four seasons and defeated SUNY Plattsburgh in the NCAA Tournament in 2024-25. The Soaring Eagles advanced to the NCAA Championship game in 2023-24 and have won three NCAA Division III Championships (2001-02, 2002-03, 2012-13). Elmira returns 15 players from last season’s team for head coach Greg Haney. The Soaring Eagles are picked to finish second in the 2025-26 UCHC Preseason Coaches poll and 13th in the USCHO.com Division III Women’s Hockey preseason poll.
 
Hilbert College
  • Jacqueline Alaburda, Sr., F, San Jose, CA – Alaburda is Hilbert’s all-time leader in blocked shots (108) and shots on goal (101) and is second in program history with five goals and nine points.
  • Caitlin Conrad, Sr., D, Karlshamn, Sweden – Conrad is Hilbert’s program leader in games played (47). She is second in program history in blocked shots (92) and seventh in points (six). Her four career goals are the most all-time by a Hilbert defenseman.
  • Tia Card, Sr., G, Burlington, Ontario, CA – Card leads all Hilbert goatenders in career games played and started (30-25), saves (1195), and save percentage (.875). She backstopped Hilbert’s first win in program history with a 26-save effort against King’s College on Oct. 28, 2023. She made 429 saves a year ago.
Team Notes: The Hawks make their UCHC debut this season after playing as an independent program. It is Hilbert’s fourth year of competition, first year in UCHC, and first year in a conference. The 2025-26 season will mark Brian Becker’s first year as the team’s head coach. Becker served as an assistant coach with the program last year. Hilbert will play all home games at the newly renovated Nike Base. The 2025-26 season marks the biggest recruiting class and roster in program history, with 22 players (9 freshmen, 3 sophomores, 6 juniors, 4 seniors).
 
Manhattanville University
  • Olivia Cimorelli – So., G, West Deptford, NJ – Cimorelli was a 2024-25 UCHC All-Rookie Team selection, after recording 551 saves and a .915 save percentage, which was the fourth highest single-season save total in program history as a rookie.
  • Catrina Chinetti – Sr., F, Hyde Park, MA – Chinetti was the Valiants’ leading goal scorer in 2024-25 with eight goals, including a pair of game-winning tallies. She has 22 career goals in 79 games.
  • Taylor Willoughby – Sr., D, Camrose, Alberta – Willoughby will serve as one of the leaders of the Manhattanville defensive unit, having appeared in all 80 games of her career the last three years.
Team Notes: Manhattanville advanced to the UCHC Semifinals in 2024-25 and is selected to finish fourth in the 2025-26 UCHC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Valiants return 17 players from last season’s team and were UCHC Finalists in 2022. Junior Danika Aubin and sophomore Ali Joly will also be counted on to provide offense and leadership in 2025-26.
 
Nazareth University
  • Brooke Judkiewicz, So, F, East Concord, NY – Judkiewicz was named to the 2024-25 UCHC All-Rookie Team after finishing second on the team in points with 21 on nine goals and 12 assists.
  • Amy Laskowski, So, F, Clarendon Hills, IL – Laskowski enjoyed an incredible debut season in 2024-25, earning AHCA All-American honors and was a finalist for the Laura Hurd Award as AHCA National Player of the Year. She was also the 2024-25 UCHC Co-Player of the Year and UCHC Rookie of the Year after recording 30 points in 16 goals and 14 assists.
  • Allie Zack, So, D, Lake Zurich, IL – Zack was named the 2024-25 UCHC Defensive Player of the Year. She tied for second on team with 21 points on six goals and 15 assists
Team Notes: Nazareth won its fourth straight UCHC Championship in 2024-25 and will look to make it five straight league titles in 2025-26. The Golden Flyers advanced to the NCAA National Quarterfinals and won its first NCAA Tournament game last season. Nazareth is picked to finish first in the 2025-26 UCHC Preseason Coaches’ Poll and return 19 players from last season’s team that compiled a 21-7-1 record. Nazareth is 137-33-8 overall in its first seven seasons as a program under head coach Chris Baudo, who has earned four UCHC Coach of the Year honors. The Golden Flyers open the season ranked 10th in the 2025-26 USCHO.com Division III Preseason Poll.
 
St. John Fisher University
  • Brynn Bacak, Fr., G, Williamsville, NY – Prior to St. John Fisher, Bacak played for Nichols High School.
  • Sophie Grant, Fr., F, Media, PA – Grant earned Penncrest team’s Playmaker of the Year and lead the team to a league championship her sophomore year. She earned team MVP honors her junior and senior year.
  • Keira Reckley, Fr., F, Frisco, TX – Reckley earned Player of the Year and Forward of the Year honors when playing for Ontario Hockey Academy.
Team Notes: St. John Fisher begins its debut season as a Division III program under head coach Scott McDonald, who led RIT to the 2012 NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Championship before winning two College Hockey America titles at the Division I level. He was 135-22-10 while RIT was a Division III program. The Cardinals, who were picked to finish fifth in the UCHC Preseason Poll, have 18 first-year players, one sophomore, one junior and one senior on their inaugural roster. Assistant Coach Georgiana Santullo was a standout student-athlete with Utica University and was the 2022 UCHC Player of the Year and All-American.
 
Utica University
  • Tess Barrett, Sr. D, Tewksbury, MA – Barrett, a former UCHC All-Rookie Team selection in 2022-23 and All-UCHC second team pick in 2023-24, has recorded 49 points on seven goals and 42 assists in 82 career contests. She had 16 points and was plus-18 last season.
  • Kelsey Elliott, Sr, F, Phoenix, AZ – Elliott tallied 10 points on six goals and four assists last season. She has appeared in 75 games over three seasons.
  • Kaci Ryder, Sr., F, Shrewsbury, MA – Ryder was an All-UCHC second team selection in 2024-25 after recording 20 points on seven goals and 13 assists in 26 games. She was also named to the 2024 UCHC Championship All-Tournament Team.
Team Notes: Utica returns 11 players from last season’s team that advanced to the UCHC Championship game for the third straight season. The Pioneers were picked to finish third in the 2025-26 UCHC Preseason Poll and are receiving votes in the USCHO.com Division III Women’s Preseason Poll. Despite the loss of former UCHC Goaltender of the Year and two-time All-American Angela Hawthorne, Utica returns plenty of veteran leadership and a host of talented newcomers under 2025 UCHC Co-Coach of the Year Melissa Lomanto. The Pioneers begin their 25th season of Division III competition in 2025-26.
 
The 2025-26 regular season kicks off the weekend of Oct.31-Nov. 2. UCHC conference play starts on Nov. 14-15. The top six teams advance to the 2025 UCHC Championship Tournament, which takes place with first round play on Feb. 25, semifinals on Feb. 28 and the league championship March 7. The UCHC Champion earns an automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Championship.
 
ABOUT THE UNITED COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE
The United Collegiate Hockey Conference provides a competitive environment and structure for NCAA Division III men's and women's ice hockey in the Eastern United States. The UCHC will enter its ninth season in 2025-26 with original member Elmira College returning, along with newcomers Albertus Magnus College, Hilbert College, and St. John Fisher University joining second-year members SUNY Brockport and SUNY Geneseo, in addition to founding members Chatham University, Manhattanville University, Nazareth University and Utica University. For more on the UCHC, visit the league's homepage at http://www.theuchc.com/.
 
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