Women’s Hockey: Breaking Down the Latest Commitments

The latest commitments for the Women’s Hockey Team have been announced and we’ve got all the details for you. Find out who is going where and what this means for the future of the sport.

The current state of women’s hockey

Women’s hockey is on the rise, with more and more girls and young women taking up the sport. While there is still a long way to go before women’s hockey is on equal footing with men’s hockey, the current state of the sport is promising. In recent years there have been a number of initiatives to grow women’s hockey, from increased media coverage to more investment from NHL Teams As a result, the level of play has never been higher and the talent pool is deeper than ever before.

One of the most encouraging developments in women’s hockey is the increasing number of commitments from top collegiate programs. In recent years a number of NCAA Division I schools have added women’s hockey programs or upgraded their existing programs to Division I status. This not only provides more opportunities for female players but also helps to raise the level of play across the sport.

The current state of women’s hockey is very positive and there are many reasons to be optimistic about its future. With more opportunities and greater investment, women’s hockey is poised for continued growth in the years to come.

The top programs in women’s hockey

In recent years there has been an explosion of top-level women’s hockey programs in the United States This has led to more opportunities for young female athletes to pursue their dreams of playing college hockey at the highest level

There are currently four NCAA Division I women’s hockey programs in the country: the University of Minnesota the University of Wisconsin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Merrimack College Each of these schools has committed to providing their student-athletes with the opportunity to compete at the highest level of collegiate hockey.

The University of Minnesota is home to the most successful women’s Hockey Program in NCAA history. The Golden Gophers have won seven NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey Championships, most recently in 2016. They have also produced numerous Olympians and professional players, including current Canadian national team captain Tammy Shewchuk and American National Team goaltender Jessie Vetter.

The University of Wisconsin is another powerhouse in women’s college hockey The Badgers have won five NCAA Division I Women’s Hockey Championships, most recently in 2011. They have also produced a number of Olympians and professional players, including current American National Team captain Meghan Duggan and Canadian national team forward Sarah Nurse.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a smaller school that has made a big impact on the world of women’s college hockey The Engineers have won two NCAA Division III Women’s Hockey Championships, most recently in 2016. They are one of only two schools (along with Norwich University) to win an NCAA championship in both Division I and Division III play. MIT has also produced a number of talented players who have gone on to successful careers in professional hockey including former Boston Bruins defenseman Lisa Chesson and current New York Riveters forward Miye D’Oench.

Merrimack College is a relatively new entrant into the world of Division I women’s college hockey The Warriors began their program in 2007 and won their first conference championship in 2013. They have since established themselves as one of the top programs in the country, winning three straight Hockey East regular season championships from 2015-2017. Merrimack has also produced a number of talented players who have gone on to successful careers at the professional level, including Boston Pride forwards Dana Trivigno and Haley Skarupa.

The most recent commits in women’s hockey

In the sport of women’s hockey, a “commit” occurs when a High School athlete commits to playing for a specific college team. The NCAA first allowed female Hockey Players to receive scholarships in 1999, and since then, the number of commitments has been on the rise.

There are currently 276 Division I women’s hockey programs, and each year, hundreds of high school seniors commit to playing for one of these teams. While some athletes do choose to play for Division III or club teams, the vast majority of female hockey players commit to playing at the Division I level.

There are many factors that go into a player’s decision to commit to a particular school. Most athletes want to play for a team that is competitive and has a history of success, but they also want to find a place where they will fit in and be happy. Distance from home, tuition costs, and coaching style are all important factors in the decision-making process.

Some athletes opt to commit early, while others wait until later in their senior year to make their decision. There is no right or wrong time to commit, but most athletes who wait too long often find themselves with fewer options and less negotiating power.

The National Letter of Intent (NLI) is the document that formalizes an athlete’s commitment to a particular school. Once an athlete signs an NLI, she is then bound to that school for one academic year. She cannot be recruited by any other schools during that time period, nor can she rescind her commitment without facing serious penalties.

For many female Hockey players committing to play at the collegiate level is a lifelong dream come true. These athletes have worked hard for years to hone their skills and develop as players, and their commitment represents the realization of these efforts.

A look at the top uncommitted prospects in women’s hockey

There are many young women across North America who have their sights set on playing hockey at the collegiate level. While there are still many unsigned recruits, here is a look at some of the top uncommitted prospects in women’s hockey.

Forwards
Claire Merrick – Merrick is a strong two-way forward who plays for the North American Hockey Academy Under-19 team. The Connecticut native is a versatile player who can play both center and wing. Merrick has tallied 16 goals and 13 assists for 29 points in 37 games this season.

Amy Schlagel – Amy Schlagel is a Power Forward who plays for the Blaine high school team in Minnesota. The 17-year-old has had an outstanding season, scoring 35 goals and adding 24 assists for 59 points in just 25 games. She has also racked up 103 Penalty minutes Schlagel has committed to play for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs next season.

Haley Irwin – Irwin is a tremendous all-around player who captained Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 team to a gold medal at the 2006 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships. The 18-year-old has good size and strength and is not afraid to take the puck to the net. A skilled playmaker, Irwin tallied 4 goals and 9 assists for 13 points in just six games at the World U18 Championships. She is currently playing for the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs and has accumulated 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points in 27 games as a freshman.

Defensemen
Megan Bozek – Bozek is an excellent defenseman who captained the United States National Under-18 team to a gold medal at the 2008 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships. The Buffalo Grove Illinois native is a superb skater with good size (6’0) and strength (170 lbs). She also has superb offensive instincts, as evidenced by her 4 goals and 11 assists for 15 points in just six games at the World U18 Championships. Bozek is currently playing for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers where she has racked up 1 goal and 10 assists for 11 points in 28 games as a freshman. She was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week on January 7th, 2009.

Katelyn Falgowski – Falgowski is another top defenseman who helped lead Team USA to gold at the 2008 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championships. The 18-year-old from Sandwich, Massachusetts is known for her excellent skating ability and puck handling skills. She tallied 1 goal and 6 assists for 7 points in six games at the World U18 Championships. Falgowski is currently playing for Boston College where she has posted 2 goals and 6 assists for 8 points in 27 games as a freshman defender.

A look at the top committed prospects in women’s hockey

In the sport of women’s hockey, there are constantly new names being added to the list of top committed prospects. Every year, there are new standouts who emerge and earn their place among the game’s elite. Here is a look at some of the top committed prospects in women’s hockey for the 2019-2020 Season

-Ella Ottenbreit (F): One of the top committed forwards in the class of 2019, Ottenbreit is a highly skilled player with a great shot and impressive offensive instincts. She has committed to play for the University of Wisconsin Badgers

-Sydney Brodt (F): A big, strong power forward Brodt is an excellent skater with a nose for the net. She has been one of the top scorers at every level she has played at, and she should be an impact player for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

-Grace Zumwinkle (F): A crafty forward with good vision and puck skills, Zumwinkle is an offensive threat every time she steps on the ice. She has committed to play for her hometown University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

-Maggie Nicholson (D): A big, physical defenseman, Nicholson is a shutdown defender who is also capable of contributing offensively. She has committed to play for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

-Skylar Vetter (D): A smooth-skating defenseman with good hockey sense, Vetter is an excellent two-way player She has committed to play for the University of Wisconsin Badgers

A look at the top programs in women’s hockey

As the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I women’s hockey season rapidly approaches, many are wondering which team will come out on top.

There are a number of programs to Watch This Season but some stand out more than others. Here’s a look at some of the top programs in women’s hockey and the players who make them so successful.

A look at the most recent commits in women’s hockey

Over the course of the last two weeks, there have been several big commitment announcements in the women’s Hockey World Below is a look at some of the most notable commits and where they will be playing next season.

Claire Merrick – Harvard University
One of the top-rated defenseman in her class, Merrick has been a standout for the Boston Shamrocks since she joined their organization. With her size and strength, she has the potential to be a game-changer on both ends of the ice. Merrick is known for her puck-moving abilities and her vision on the ice, and she should be an impact player for Harvard right away.

Avery Mitchell – University of Wisconsin
Mitchell is a dynamic forward who has been one of the top scorers in Minnesota high school hockey over the last two seasons. She has a great shot and is also an excellent playmaker, which should make her a valuable asset for the Badgers. Wisconsin is known for its strong hockey program and Mitchell will have a chance to compete for a National Championship right away.

Mackenzie MacNeil – Boston College
MacNeil is another Minnesota native who has been one of the best players in her age group for several years now. A gifted offensive player she has consistently put up big numbers at both the high school and club level. MacNeil should be an immediate contributor for Boston College and should help them compete for championships in the years to come.

A look at the top uncommitted prospects in women’s hockey

With the 2017-18 Season officially in the books, it’s time to start looking ahead to next year. For college hockey programs, that means keeping tabs on recruits and making sure they are still on track to enroll.

For women’s hockey, the National Letter of Intent Signing Period opens on May 1 and runs through August 1. college hockey programs can start signing recruits as soon as they commit, but most choose to wait until closer to the NLI signing period.

As of now, there are nearly 60 uncommitted prospects in the class of 2018, according to EliteProspects.com. To help sort through them, here is a look at 10 of the top uncommitted prospects in women’s hockey.

A look at the top committed prospects in women’s hockey

With the Olympic Games just around the corner, there’s no better time to take a look at the top committed prospects in women’s hockey.

As of September 17th, there are 80 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) prospects who have committed to a school in the United States with 41 of those prospects coming from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

Leading the way is Sarah Fillier of the Georgetown Raiders, who is committed to Princeton University. The 5-foot-9 centre is coming off an impressive season in which she tallied 24 goals and 59 points in just 36 games.

Another name to watch is Emma Maltais of the North Bay Ice Boltz. The 5-foot-7 forward recently announced her commitment to Merrimack College and is one of the most decorated players in OHL history, having won back-to-back Rookie of the Year awards and two scoring titles.

Rounding out the top three is PaigeKellyof the Brampton Canadettes. The 5-foot-4 defenceman is committed to Northeastern University and helped lead Brampton to a gold medal at last year’s Provincial Women’s Hockey League Championships.

For a complete list of CHL prospects who have committed to a school in the United States click here.

A look at the top programs in women’s hockey

Women’s hockey has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, and that is reflected in the number of top programs that have been able to secure commitments from some of the best players in the country. Here is a look at some of the top programs and the players they have secured commitments from:

Ohio State: The Buckeyes have long been a powerhouse in women’s hockey, and they continue to add to their impressive resume with the addition of commits Kate Bennett and TatumSkaggs. Both are highly-touted forwards who should make an immediate impact for the Buckeyes.

Wisconsin: The Badgers have also been able to secure two top forwards in Sammy Davis and Willow Davis. Both are expected to be key contributors for the Badgers as they look to make a run at a National Championship

Minnesota: The Golden Gophers have one of the best programs in the country, and they continue to add to their impressive roster with commits Anneke Linser and Lauren Tracy. Both are standout forwards who will add even more firepower to an already potent offense.

Northwestern: The Wildcats have put together an impressive class with commits Abbie Johnson and SophieWhitman. Johnson is a talented defenseman who will help solidify the Northwestern back line, while Whitman is a dynamic forward who should provide some much-needed scoring punch for the Wildcats.