When embarking on her own hockey career, Jamie Nelson never would have imagined that one day, she would be preparing to be drafted into a professional women’s hockey league. Now that day is inching ever closer.

Nelson, a forward from Andover, Minnesota, had an origin story like many others in the sport. “My dad put me in skates probably when I was three years old,” Nelson said. “Growing up in a city like Andover in Minnesota, it seemed like everything revolved around hockey.” But it wasn’t until her sophomore season in high school that she took the pursuit of hockey more seriously.

“I was playing with a girl who ended up going up to D1 at Mankato, and then I had my breakthrough season,” Nelson recalled. “I think that was the first time that I really had the confidence to say I can do this and I can go further than high school.”

That commitment to the sport led her to spend five seasons with Minnesota State University before finishing out her collegiate career last season with the University of Minnesota. And that time at Mankato laid the foundation for the player who may very well hear her name called at the PWHL Draft.

“I cannot say enough great things about Mankato and the five years that I had there,” she said. “Being able to step into a leadership role in my last year, too, I had so much pride having a letter on my jersey and trying to lead that program.” And while it was a difficult decision to leave that program for the University of Minnesota, Nelson said it was necessary. “I knew that I needed to develop more as a player in order to make the jump to the PWHL. I hit a plateau at Mankato, so I needed a challenge. I needed to force myself to be uncomfortable. And I needed to take a chance and try to push myself to be in the best position going forward.”

And push herself she did. In her season with Minnesota, she finished with the best statistical year of her career, scoring 42 points through 39 games. Nelson also ranked 6th in the nation with 31 assists and helped the program to an impressive 21-4-1 record when she recorded a point.

Now, with the PWHL Draft on the horizon, Nelson still finds it difficult to believe that this next chapter of her career could mean playing professional hockey.

“Sometimes, it’s still hard for me to wrap my head around that there’s a professional women’s hockey league because when I went into college, there wasn’t,” Nelson said. “And then all of a sudden, they’re reaching new heights, selling out NHL arenas, and it’s just mind-blowing to me.” And it isn’t lost on Nelson that this moment for her wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the women who played the game before her.

"I get to experience the benefits of all the work that people before me put in," Nelson said. "It's almost like I'm super excited and obviously grateful for the opportunity and grateful for those who paved the way. But it's almost like imposter syndrome where I'm like 'But why do I get to experience this and they didn't didn't.' It should be the 15th year of professional women's hockey."

With her collegiate career now in the rearview mirror and the PWHL cresting over the horizon, Nelson is preparing to join a league that has finally given women’s hockey the spotlight it deserves. “I’ve always known how good we are as players, but now the rest of the world gets to see it,” Nelson said. “It definitely motivates me because we are the representation of the sport, so I want to be the best player I can be so that I’m the best representation of the sport.”

And it’s that very drive, sparked all the way back in her sophomore year of high school, which will carry Jamie Nelson into the 2026 PWHL Draft, and what could very well be a successful professional career in the PWHL.

Viivi Vainikka enters the 2026 PWHL Draft surrounded by much excitement. The Finnish forward has delighted fans over the years with her offensive performances while draped in her country’s colours, and for her six-year SDHL career. And while it’s been clear for some time now that Vainikka’s skillset would likely successfully translate to the PWHL, she instead remained focused on continuing to grow and fine-tune her game until it truly was time. And that time has finally arrived.

Our full conversation is available now on YouTube.

Vainikka was born in Espoo, Finland, and, like many, started playing hockey because it gave her a chance to spend time with friends.

“That was the whole point about it,” Vainikka said. “Just to be with friends and have fun. But then at the same time, the competition between us was so much fun. I think that was also one of the things that I liked a lot.”

As is the case for many girls in their pursuit of hockey, Vainikka spent her youth playing on boys’ teams, uncertain how far she could take that passion for the game, yet never letting that stand in the way. And that determination led her to join Finland’s top league, Team Kuortane in the Naisten Liiga, at only 15 years old. The success she had earlier in her junior career carried forward with her.

“It was a lot of fun, I enjoyed it all,” recalled Vainikka. “It was what I wanted to do and was a big step for me at that time. But it definitely helped me a lot to develop and get better at playing against bigger and stronger girls.”

Over her four years with the club, Vainikka amassed 129 points in 112 games and saw offensive growth each year, culminating in a career-best season in 2019-20, in which she netted 28 goals for 52 regular-season points and added another 18 points in the postseason, another career milestone. Yet another example of what’s become a through line in Vainikka’s story: no matter the step she takes, growth, development and success follow right alongside.

Throughout Vainikka’s career, wearing the Finnish colours has been a staple, from the U18 Women’s World Championships right up to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. During her time with the national program, many have served as mentors, but two stand out in particular to Vainikka.

Forward Riikka Sallinen, one of the most decorated international players, has represented Finland at every level and was someone Vainikka leaned on as she was finding her own way within the program. “She was with the national team when I got there and in my first camps and tournaments,” Vainikka said. “And from the start, she helped me and told me what it takes. Being able to see her every day was great, and I could get a lot of tips from her, and it really helped me.”

The other name is one very familiar to Ottawa Charge fans: defender Ronja Savolainen, who taught Vainikka more than just how to be a good hockey player. “She’s like a big sister to me,” she said. “When I came to Sweden, I spent a lot of time with her outside of the hockey team. She taught me things outside of hockey, so there were a lot of good things I learned from her.”

Each step of Vainikka’s career has seen success, growth, and development, and her move to the SDHL was no different. She first spent five seasons with Luleå before moving to Brynäs this past year, helping the team to its first championship and being named MVP. During this chapter of her journey, Vainikka witnessed the PWHL’s unveiling, and while the allure of playing in the league was strong, she knew she needed more time to work on her game.

“I want to play there as soon as possible, but I also want to be smart,” Vainikka said. “I thought that the best decision for me was to stay one more year in Sweden and work on everything to be a little better. I want to feel ready when I jump there and to have that confidence. That’s when I play my best game.”

And with the extra year in Sweden now under her belt, she looks ahead at the opportunity that she’s been waiting her whole life for: to play professionally in the best league in the world, against the best players in the world, in the PWHL. And with the draft around the corner, Vainikka is certainly nervous, but that doesn’t begin to compare to the excitement she feels at the opportunity.

“It feels good, and it feels amazing,” she said. “Sometimes, I really can’t even realize that it’s around the corner, but I feel ready. I’m nervous, but in a good way. It’s amazing that now, finally, girls can also say that they can play in the highest league.” Vainikka went on to add, “It’s amazing that the league is now there and they give so many opportunities to young girls and girls in general to dream. I’m just so happy that it came, just so excited.”

Viivi Vainikka began her journey playing the sport with friends. That competitive spirit, which has seen her play against boys, succeed in top leagues and internationally, has carried her to this moment and the PWHL, where she will look to continue the growth, development, and success that she’s seen through every chapter of her story so far.

Our full conversation is available now on YouTube.

When Charlotte Sonntag was young, she spent a lot of time moving between different ski towns, starting in Vail, Colorado, and including Lake Tahoe, California, and Whistler, British Columbia. Still, through it all, hockey remained her deep passion. That passion for hockey started, as it does for many, thanks to her older siblings, who also played.

“As a kid, I just wanted to do everything they wanted to do,” Charlotte said. “We started playing, and I absolutely loved the sport.”

Our full conversation is available now on YouTube.

The relationship Charlotte has with her siblings, particularly with her older sister Katie, who she names as her biggest role model, will become a throughline in her journey. Katie played collegiate hockey at Union and Stonehill, as well as overseas in Switzerland. That experience Katie gained from each step of her career helped provide clarity for Charlotte and gave her the confidence to navigate many unknowns.

Growing up inspired by her siblings and the greats like Hilary Knight, Charlotte recalls a particular championship moment in her youth that marked the launch point for her in the sport.

“My team won the state championship, and we’re a super small boys’ team from Lake Tahoe,” she said. “I think I was 12 at the time, and we were huge underdogs, and no one thought we were going to win. I think that feeling made me realize that this is what I want to do and is why I love the game, and I want to do this for as long as I possibly can.”

Charlotte’s formative years in junior hockey were spent at Shattuck St. Mary’s, a strong program that helped lay the foundation for skills and growth both on and off the ice. Being a part of that program wasn’t easy at first and didn’t come without its challenges, but, as they always have in Charlotte’s journey, they became mere bumps along the way.

“You get to Shattuck, and it’s like everyone there just eats, sleeps and breathes hockey,” she said. “I remember my freshman year, I was so intimidated. You go, and you watch that team play, and you’re like ‘Wow, these players are incredible, and that’s who I want to be, and that’s who I want to grow and develop to be.”

The feeling of intimidation didn’t go away easily for Charlotte, but as she continued to grow and develop within the program, so too did her perspective and understanding of why the coaches wanted her to join. That mindset shift helped her to realize that, “Maybe I’m not the top goal scorer, but just try and really be good at what I’m good at, knowing that’s absolutely worth something.”

When it came time to consider where to continue her hockey career, the world was in lockdown, making travel to different campuses a nonstarter. But, as Charlotte has already demonstrated in her journey to this point, that challenge was just another bump in the road.

“It was pretty tough because it was during COVID, and we weren’t really able to visit schools,” Charlotte said. “I really think the communication with the coaches and just kind of finding a school that felt like home was super important to me.” And finding that home, much like she did during her time at Shattuck St. Mary’s, played an important role in helping Charlotte develop

into the player she was when she finished her collegiate career.

Charlotte ended up playing four years and 135 games at College of the Holy Cross, where she double-majored in Chemistry and Economics, scoring 21 goals and 39 points, and finished top-10 in many of the program’s records, including becoming the first hat trick in Crusader Hockey East Era history. She’s also a three-time Hockey East All-Academic Team, and finished with more than 500 faceoff wins and more than 60 career blocked shots. Charlotte’s ability to be an effective centre, to be strong defensively, and to score goals in big moments should have her on the radar of PWHL management teams.

“Honestly, it hasn’t quite hit me yet,” Charlotte said of the opportunity to play in the PWHL. “I mean, you look on social media, and you see all these posts of them selling out stadiums and the impact that they’ve made on the hockey world and the growth that they’ve had. Even just having that opportunity to potentially be a part of that is beyond incredible to me.”

That growth of the league, first with last offseason’s addition of two teams, followed this year by four more, has created even more opportunities for players like Charlotte to live out that dream. And knowing that this could be the next step in her career has only added fuel to her fire.

“That’s the dream to play at sold-out stadiums like that,” said Charlotte. “I think that’s what almost any hockey player wants to do, so it absolutely has added fuel to the fire just to even think about that opportunity.”

From a childhood inspired by the greats to growing up alongside her role model, Charlotte Sonntag has built a career defined by more than just the goals and points she’s put up on the scoreboard. It’s been a journey of growth, maturation, and finding home at each step along the way. And as the 2026 PWHL Draft peaks over the horizon ahead, Charlotte has never lost sight of why she loves the game and what inspires her every day she takes to the ice.

Our full conversation is available now on YouTube.

Carina DiAntonio’s hockey story starts as it does for so many Canadians: on an outdoor rink, inspired by family and driven by a passion to compete.

“I was always outside playing sports and was just competitive at everything I did,” she said. “Whether it was school, hockey, soccer, lacrosse, I played it all, and I just wanted to be good at whatever I was doing.”

My full conversation with Carina DiAntonio is available now on YouTube.

The passion for hockey, and what helped set Carina on what’s turned out to be a remarkable path, was sibling rivalry, mixed with a bit of jealousy, and an opportunity to be together as a family.

“I started playing hockey when I was four years old,” Carina recalled. “And I remember my sister played hockey, and I was kind of a little jealous. I was like, ‘I want to play, too.’ My mom also played hockey, so it was a family thing. We all got to play together.

Carina’s junior career began with the Mississauga Chiefs before she moved on to play with the Brampton Jr. Canadettes of the Ontario Women’s Hockey League, where she got her first taste of leadership, earning the captaincy in her final season with the program. That final season saw Carina produce offensively at a level indicative of what was to come in her collegiate career, putting up career numbers across the board: 15 goals, 18 assists, and 33 points in 30 games. Those results helped her become the team’s top scorer during the 2021-22 season and its Most Valuable Player. And, spoken like the true leader she is, Carina attributes that success to the team’s excitement about returning to the ice.

“It was actually our first full season back from COVID,” she said. “We had a strong group that had been together for the past few years, so we had a lot of chemistry with everyone.”

As one chapter of her story came to a close with her graduation from the Brampton program, a new chapter began, and with it came many options to pursue a collegiate career in the sport she’d loved from such a young age. And while the fit on the hockey side was obviously important for Carina, it was actually the academics that were the initial draw towards Yale.

“Academics were always important in my life,” Carina said. “I wanted a place where I could have the opportunity to grow as a hockey player, but also academically.”

During her time at Yale, Carina was recognized for her dedication to academics, named an ECAC All-Academic in her first two years with the program, and an All-Ivy Honourable Mention. Beyond that, she was named First Team All-Ivy, Second Team All-ECAC, and NEWHA Division I All-Star in her senior season after being named captain, proving once again that, as a leader, Carina steps up and leads by example.

“I think balancing academics on top of the very busy hockey schedule that we had was definitely not easy,” she recalled. “But it made me very disciplined and intentional with the way that I spend my time.”

Carina spent four years at Yale, and during that time, the program continued to grow both on and off the ice, and so too did Carina. “Over my time at Yale, I’ve really grown not only as a player, but as a person,” she said. “And just how our team has elevated in so many different ways is also something that I’m so proud of and excited for the future of the program.” Once again, spoken like a true leader.

The next chapter of Carina’s career is approaching quickly, as the 2026 PWHL Draft is only a few weeks away, and with that comes the potential for nerves, a whole lot of uncertainty, and a dash of excitement. And, reflecting on a collegiate career that has given her so much, Carina also knows that, through the ups and downs, that chapter has been so important in setting her up for this next one.

“I think all of the ups and downs of collegiate hockey are going to set me up well for the future,” Carina said. “Learning how to stay grounded in the ups and the downs and pushing through the stretches where things really aren’t going your way and just learning how to handle that is going to be really valuable.”

For Carina, this next stage of her career also marks one that she didn’t think was possible when she first embarked on her hockey story. As attendance records continue to be set, engagement in women’s hockey is at an all-time high, and as expansion adds new teams, the opportunity to join the PWHL is a dream come true.

“I remember before I went to college to play hockey, I thought that would be the end of the road for me,” Carina said. “I thought that would be the highest level of hockey that I could play, so to now have a professional league that we can all continue to elevate our game is something that I’m truly grateful for.”

From backyard rinks in Mississauga, Ontario, to a successful junior career, to four years at Yale University, which instilled confidence, deepened her understanding of leadership, and helped fuel her passion for growth and development, Carina DiAntonio’s story is only just getting started and will inspire generations of girls for years to come.

My full conversation with Carina DiAntonio is available now on YouTube.

Thea Johansson, who was born in Ljungby, spent much of her hockey career back home in her native Sweden, and did so within what could only be described as a very athletic family, but that might be underselling it by a long shot. Her brother plays in HockeyEttan, the third-highest tier of men’s ice hockey in Sweden, her father was a referee in the SHL, and her mother was a top badminton player in Sweden. Through it all, Thea learned valuable lessons she’s taken with her every step of the way.

“In my hockey career, it’s always about striving to be a little bit better every day,” she said. “We’re talking about the 1% being better every day, and that’s for sure something that I think has come with that.”

Thea developed her game through the Swedish system, spending time with both IF Troja-Ljungby in the Damettan and HV71 in the SDHL. And it was the latter that offered her the opportunity to play professionally at only 14 years old, albeit with limited minutes early on, but to learn from professionals in a meaningful way.

“It’s just so crazy sometimes to look back at the team that we had, or the players that I played with,” Thea said. “I think that kind of put the foundation. Watching them every single day, I could see where they put their extra energy into, or the extra time into doing things like shooting extra pucks or doing extra workouts. I think that’s a huge part of being that young and seeing girls do that and trying to do the same.”

Following her time in Sweden, Thea stepped outside her comfort zone. She moved to the United States to pursue a collegiate career in the NCAA, first with Mercyhurst before wrapping up this year at the University of Minnesota Duluth. And it was thanks to her dad’s encouragement that this move made even more sense to Thea.

“When I was deciding if I was going to go or if I was going to stay, he told me that you usually don’t regret the things you do, you regret the things you don’t do,” she recalled. “And that kind of stuck with me.” That mindset helped encourage her to, after three successful seasons with Mercyhurst, make the switch and transfer to UMD, not because she didn’t enjoy her time there, or the coaches and her teammates, but because she needed to come back to that same advice her dad gave her.

Thea also recently had the opportunity to represent her country at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, which felt like a dream to her but also offered her yet another chance to grow and develop as a player and as a person.

“For me, it’s clear that we’re a super close group, a young group, but a group that has been doing a lot together and going through adversity together,” said Thea. “The connection we have in that team, we’re all so close, and I think there’s value in that. But it felt like a dream.”

And speaking of dreams, the next one for Thea is approaching quickly, and that’s the upcoming PWHL Draft and the chance to play in the best league in the world.

“It would be so cool to get the opportunity to play in that league,” she said. “I’m watching PWHL as fast as there is a game on, and at the end of the day, it would be just crazy. I almost get goosebumps, and my heart rate goes up just thinking about it.”

Knowing that playing in the best league in the world could very well be in her future, Thea uses that as motivation to ensure she never settles and always pushes herself, meaning this summer, she’ll be training harder than she ever has in the past.

For Thea Johansson, her hockey journey started all the way back in Sweden in a home which instilled in her the importance of experiencing as many things as possible so you never look back with regret. And that mindset brought her to North America for a collegiate career in the NCAA, helped her succeed with the national program, and now she is on the verge of joining the PWHL. And through all the lessons learned over a successful career, Thea never lost sight of the value of family, of remaining humble, and of what success truly looks like, both on and off the ice.

For Meg Simon, hockey runs in the blood, and it seemed only inevitable that she would end up sharing the same passion for the sport as her father did throughout his playing career.

My full conversation with Meg Simon is available now on YouTube.

“I would say hockey found me. I was kind of born into the game,” Meg said. “I was fortunate to grow up around the game. We moved about 50 times for my dad’s career in professional hockey, so I was kind of born on skates.”

And, having been around locker rooms since the age of four, Meg learned the importance of team culture, work ethic, and a drive to win. All qualities she’s brought with her along the journey from East Grand Rapids, Michigan, to the campus at Middlebury College.

Meg’s junior career included playing for Fox Motors before working her way up through the Grand Rapids Amateur Hockey Association. She also played with the boys’ varsity hockey team in high school. Each stop allowed her to grow, develop, learn leadership skills, and lay the foundation to become the player and, more importantly, the person she is today.

“Each year was pretty huge in my development as a player and as a person,” Meg said. “I think I really started to understand the game beyond just playing. Especially when you’re approaching that sixth-grade age, you start to learn how to think the game and how to compete every shift, and how to stay consistent.”

Growing up, hockey wasn’t the only sport Meg played. That right there is a bit of foreshadowing for what’s to come in this next chapter of her journey.

Being a part of a team, as Meg said, was something that she couldn’t see her life without. “Starting to look at colleges, I had dreams to be a Notre Dame Golden Domer,” said Meg. “When I realized that the program didn’t have a women’s hockey team, I had to reluctantly look somewhere else because I couldn’t lose that part of myself that wanted to be on a team and contribute to something bigger than myself.”

For any athlete, there are many factors that go into deciding where to pursue higher education while also maintaining their athletic side, and Meg was no different. When looking at her options, she was looking for something that would challenge her, both on and off the ice.

“Middlebury was a place where I could play my sports and play at a quality academic institution. And those were two things that really did stand out to me. I felt like I was going to be pushed the most academically, athletically, and socially.”

Remember earlier, when I mentioned a bit of foreshadowing? This is where that moment pays off because Meg Simon didn’t actually originally attend Middlebury for the sport you had expected. But thanks to her broad interest in sports growing up, and an encouraging phone call from her mom, she found an alternative, and bet on herself.

“I was emailing with the coaching staff for the hockey team, and they emailed back and said we actually filled our recruiting year for your class,” Meg recalled. “I was pretty bummed out and thinking that maybe the door was closed with that road. My mom called me that day and said ‘You know, I think you might be able to play for their golf team.” Meg would go on to discover that the golf coach is also the hockey coach, which may be the most serendipitous story out there.

Throughout her journey, one aspect of Meg that is clear is just how important community and giving back are, which stands as a testament to the person she’s always been. And she gives credit to her family for laying that foundation and instilling those qualities in her.

“Watching my dad use his platform as a professional athlete showed me the impact that you can have as an athlete,” Meg said. “I never really saw my role as a hockey player to be solely a hockey player. I always saw it as being someone who is a force for good in the communities that we lived and learned.” And that perspective is what led to her being named the 2026 Hockey Humanitarian Award recipient in early April. While this conversation took place before she was named the winner, it was clear just how much this meant to Meg.

“It’s such a special honour,” she said. “Reading what those nominees have done in their communities and at their schools, it’s humbling. It’s amazing what these hockey players are doing with the platform that they’ve earned. I take great pride in the impact that we’ve had in our community, but also in representing Middlebury Athletics in the right way.”

From growing up in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, to betting on herself and heading to Middlebury College, to being named the 2026 Hockey Humanitarian Award recipient, Meg Simon remains the very definition of what many of us strive to be: a genuinely good human being. And no matter where the next chapter takes her, one can bet that she’ll never lose sight of that.

My full conversation with Meg Simon is available now on YouTube.

Visit Meg’s Etsy store here.

The last time Alyssa Regalado joined the show was way back in Episode 35. That’s when she shared her journey: from growing up in Mississauga, Ontario, to her time with the Etobicoke Dolphins team that helped define her junior career. She also talked about the decision to launch her collegiate career by taking the next step at Cornell University.

In this episode, we talked about the growth she’s made over her four years in the program and how her entire hockey journey has led to this very moment: the cusp of the 2026 PWHL Draft.

My full conversation with Alyssa Regalado is available now on YouTube.

“I think as a whole, especially being at Cornell University, it was kind of learning that I can do hard things,” Alyssa said. “Going into an Ivy League school, the biggest question was how are you going to balance academics and hockey and keep up your grades while also keeping up performance? Over time, I learned a habit and a routine on how to build that.”

And that routine and those habits certainly paid off, as Alyssa became a steady presence on the blueline for Cornell, and a reliable contributor on the offensive side of the puck as well. Over her four years with the Big Red, Alyssa played in 134 games. She notched 64 points on 305 shots, along with three consecutive Ivy League championships, all while playing a disciplined style of hockey that undoubtedly adds to the intrigue teams will have when they look at her ahead of the PWHL Draft.

With the exciting next chapter of her career on the horizon, Alyssa also appreciates the many people who have helped her reach this moment because, as the saying goes, “it takes a village.”

Cornell Defender Alyssa Regalado Eyes The PWHL Draft In The Next Chapter Of Her Career

“As a whole, my teammates have been great through my four years,” she said. “I think we’ve developed a very strong relationship on and off the ice. And obviously, my parents and friends back home have been very supportive.”

Those teammates also included the many leaders who have donned the “A” or the “C” during her tenure with the program. While a letter is often viewed as a symbolic embodiment of leadership, those who helped lead this program had a profound impact on Alyssa, both on and off the ice. Most notably, in their approach to leveraging support, true leaders lean on the people around them to make the best decision for the group.

“They showed that you can use everyone around you and that you don’t have to do everything by yourself,” said Alyssa. “You can ask for opinions, even if it’s from a freshman or what they think about this or feel about that. I think all my captains really showed that it’s about those you surround yourself with and not just yourself as an individual.” And it’s lessons like that, on how to be a true teammate and leader regardless of whether you carry a letter or not, that will be critical for that jump from the collegiate level to the professional.

Throughout any career, some positive moments and memories put a smile on your face when you reminisce. But there are also tough moments that are often less than enjoyable to go through at the time, but help with growth and development. For Alyssa, one particular moment comes to mind.

“This past season as a whole. We were riding that high from my junior year and there was a lot of high expectations but it was tough because we lost 11 seniors,” Alyssa recalled. “We had a lot of new faces, a smaller group, and I think it was hard to overcome those losses this year.” But as previously mentioned, difficult moments bring significant development, and that’s what happened for Alyssa and her perspective.

“Teaching the underclassmen how to manage that emotionally helped me to think about it in a different way,” she said. “I think communicating with them helped me to learn how to handle [the losses] and move on from it, but also use it to build on to the next game.”

With the PWHL Draft looming, the opportunity to call the league her new home is understandably exciting for Alyssa.

“My freshman year, I was like, ‘Okay, well, after my four years, I guess maybe Sweden if that’s an option. If not, I don’t know,” she recalled. “And so I think now, it’s hard to put into words how cool and how special it is to have this opportunity.”

Alyssa Regalado’s addition to any PWHL team’s blueline would offer instant stability, and that’s a direct result of the invaluable growth and development she’s gone through throughout her career, and in particular, the four years with Cornell University. It’s seen her grow as a leader, become even more confident on both sides of the puck, and develop a mindset that’s helped her navigate the uncertainties. As she prepares to embark on her professional career, each of those aspects will play a critical role in ensuring the success she’ll undoubtedly achieve.

My full conversation with Alyssa Regalado is available now on YouTube.

Born in Toronto, Ontario, Issy Wunder’s hockey journey started as it does for many Canadians on the outdoor rink, set up by her mother, in her backyard. And while it wasn’t all about that particular winter sport right from the start, it didn’t take long before that became her sole focus.

“Growing up, I played a bunch of different sports, so it wasn’t necessarily from day one ‘hockey, hockey, hockey,’” said Issy. “We had a backyard rink at our house in the city that my mom would put up each year. As the years went on and I got closer to high school age, it became more ‘let’s train on the outdoor rink instead of just go out her and have fun.”

My full conversation with Issy Wunder is available on YouTube.

That training and dedication to the sport led her to a junior career spent in the Greater Toronto Area, allowing her to stay close to home and her support system, which Issy says was very important.

“I’m lucky that I grew up in such a hockey haven, and I think there’s a huge community that it takes behind the scenes to go from a five year old who starts playing hockey to somebody who commits to college. I’m just really grateful that I had the people there who were allowing me to pursue my goals.”

As she grew and developed through the sport during her junior career, much of which was spent with the Toronto Aeros of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League, so did her confidence and the results. In her final season with Toronto, Issy scored 16 regular-season goals and amassed 37 points before leaving to play her final season with the Durham West Jr Lightning, a team she would captain. “We really were a family,” Issy recalls of that Durham team. “I could not think of a better group of girls to spend my final year with or a better way to cap it off.”

Her on-ice success never took away from the importance of academics, especially as she looked towards a collegiate career. While there were options, Princeton offered the strong academic program that was important to both Issy and her family.

“That was obviously an appeal of Princeton. But then the campus is the most beautiful campus I’ve ever been to. When me and my mom first visited, we both sort of had a feeling.”

After looking at other programs, including literature, science, math, and social sciences, Issy found psychology and neuroscience particularly interesting, and both helped shape how she viewed the game of hockey and how she dealt with the stress of its ups and downs.

“When you think of psychology, it’s been super helpful in fostering my relationships,” said Issy. “Learning about how the brain works is such a valuable thing because you’re learning about yourself. Sometimes, I’ll catch myself feeling a certain way or feeling stressed, and then pausing and realizing that everything’s going to be okay. Being able to sort of pause and reflect is something that I’ve really tried to do when I’m thinking about hockey and relationships.”

Over her 129 games with the Tigers, Issy put up a staggering 146 points and received countless accolades, including being named the 2025 ECAC Forward of the Year and the 2025 Ivy League Player of the Year. While those awards are meaningful to Issy, it’s the lessons that she learned from the leaders who came before her, including Mia Coene, Sarah Fillier, and Mariah Keopple and the standard they set, and the way she learned to navigate the ebbs and flows of a collegiate career that has her maintaining that she wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

“Every single experience in your life plays a role in your future,” Issy said. “Sometimes I am overwhelmed but in those moments, being able to take a step back and realize how fortunate am I that I’m stressed with school because I care about what I’m learning. How fortunate am I that I’m stressed about hockey. Trying to reframe things in that way because then everything that happens to you, whether it’s good, whether it’s bad, whether it’s neutral, is able to be a learning experience.”

As Issy Wunder prepares to close one chapter of her journey, which began on backyard rinks her mom set up for her, and embark on a new one in the PWHL, she’s most proud of choosing Princeton for the impact that it has had on her, both on and off the ice. And it’s that growth and development that will lead her into what will undoubtedly be an exciting professional career she’s waited so long for.

My full conversation with Issy Wunder is available on YouTube.

While much of the talk about Alaina Giampietro’s time at Robert Morris University focuses on her role in bringing the program back to life, her stats tell the story of a player who knows how to create offence. She has a rare ability to combine massive shot volume with a consistent scoring touch.

Alaina’s value to the Colonials isn’t just about being on the ice. It is about her relentless drive to the net that keeps opposing defences on their toes for sixty minutes.

My full conversation with Alaina Giampietro is available now on YouTube.

The Power of Volume

In today’s game, shot volume is a great way to see who is actually driving play. For Alaina, shooting is her identity. Two recent series show this perfectly: her performances against Lindenwood and Delaware.

RMU wrapped their season with a series against both Lindenwood and Delaware. Against Lindenwood, Alaina put up 21 shots over three games. She followed that up with an 18-shot performance in three games against Delaware. Averaging six to seven shots per game is a huge workload, but by putting the puck on net that often, she creates a ripple effect. It leads to more rebounds, more scoring chances in front of the net, and it eventually wears down the opposing goalie.

Alaina hits the ice with an unmatched confidence, which directly contributes to the high volume of shots. She knows where to be to receive the puck and how to free up space to open up opportunities.

The 10% Mark: Consistency and Bouncing Back

The most impressive part of Alaina’s production is how steady she is. Scoring in hockey can be up and down, but Alaina has found a baseline that she hits year after year.

In her first season with the program, Alaina recorded 17 goals on 172 shots, which is a 9.9% shooting percentage. She then dealt with an injury in 2024-25 that limited her to just 11 games. During that stretch, her efficiency dipped to 7.3% as she worked to return to full speed. However, her 2025-26 season has been a perfect example of both her skill and how to bounce back.

This season, Alaina got right back to her elite pace. She recorded 17 goals on 165 shots (10.3%). The fact that she matched her freshman goal total with seven fewer shots shows just how elite her offensive instincts really are, and how much of a threat she can be on each shift.

Growth as a Leader

Taking on the role of a captain this year has clearly influenced her game. While she still shoots a lot, she seems even more intentional about where those shots come from. She has evolved from a high-energy rookie into a smart offensive leader who isn’t afraid to get into the tough areas of the ice to finish plays.

For RMU, having a captain who can basically guarantee a 10% return on nearly 200 shots a season is a massive advantage.

Over her tenure with Robert Morris University, Alaina Giampietro has left a blueprint for what a modern offensive leader truly looks like. She didn’t just help relaunch a program but also defined its production standards. By combining relentless volume with a veteran’s efficiency, Alaina has ensured that her time in a Colonials jersey will be remembered as one of the most reliable scoring threats in the AHA.

My full conversation with Alaina Giampietro is available now on YouTube.

By the Numbers: Alaina’s Shooting Profile

• 2023-24: 17 goals | 172 shots | 9.9%
  

• 2024-25*: 3 goals | 41 shots | 7.3%
  

• 2025-26 (Captain): 17 goals | 165 shots | 10.3%

  *Season shortened to 11 games due to injury.

For Alaina Giampietro, the game of hockey was never just a sport. It was a family tradition that started almost as soon as she could walk.

Growing up in Strongsville, Ohio, Alaina had a unique advantage, as her grandfather ran the local rink. Those early mornings on the ice with him created a bond that went far beyond the X’s and O’s of the game.

My full conversation with Alaina Giampietro is available now on YouTube.

“The stick was already in my hand,” Alaina recalled. “I always asked my grandpa to go to the rink. Those moments skating with him were where everything started.”

That early spark fueled a career that eventually led her to Gilmour Academy, where she first stepped into a significant leadership role as captain. It was during those years that Alaina began to understand that talent alone wasn’t enough to reach the next level. It required a level of dedication that she still carries with her today.

“Hard work pays off,” she said, reflecting on the lessons learned during her time at Gilmour. “It taught me so much about perseverance and what it actually takes to lead a group toward a common goal.”

However, the path wasn’t always a straight line. Like many elite athletes, Alaina faced her share of adversity during her junior career. But rather than let the setbacks define her, she used them as a mirror to find her own inner strength.

“I didn’t prove anyone wrong,” Alaina explained. “I proved myself wrong.”

That shift in mindset became a really important moment in her development. It was that sense of self-discovery that eventually led her to Robert Morris University. The decision to join the newly reinstated RMU program was a leap of faith, but one that felt right from the start. She found a coaching staff and an environment that valued her as a person as much as a hockey player.

Now, as the captain of the Colonials, Alaina is focused on more than just the scoreboard. She is very much aware of the responsibility that comes with being at the forefront of a program’s rebirth.

“We want to leave the place better than we found it,” she shared. “Joining RMU allowed me to be part of something bigger. We are building a foundation here for the girls who will come after us.”

Her commitment to excellence isn’t limited to the ice. Alaina has managed to balance the demands of Division I hockey with a heavy academic load, a feat she credits to the discipline she’s developed throughout her career. For her, giving her all in the classroom is just as important as the effort she puts into a Friday night game.

Throughout her collegiate career, Alaina has relied heavily on a support system of teachers, coaches, and friends. But it always comes back to the foundation her family laid in those early days in Ohio.

As Alaina Giampietro looks to her future in the game she loves so much, her story is about what happens when true passion meets ultimate purpose. From the kid skating with her grandpa to the leader building a legacy at Robert Morris University, Alaina is proving that the right mindset can turn any challenge into a milestone.

My full conversation with Alaina Giampietro is available now on YouTube.

For Stephanie Bourque, it started with not wanting to be outdone by her brother.

“I wanted to do everything that they did,” Stephanie said of her older siblings. “I just had to be better at them than everything. I kind of just really wanted to be better than my brother. That was the big one for me. So I followed him around and would train with him a little bit here and there. I think he pushed me to join hockey.”

My full conversation with Stephanie Bourque is available on YouTube.

Growing up in Moncton, New Brunswick, that sibling rivalry became the spark. But it was her father who turned it into something more.

“He’s really the one that made me realize what it took to achieve those dreams that I had,” Stephanie said. “He pushed me past my limits at such a young age. He coached me for more than six years before I left for Stanstead. He’s the one that made me realize that if I wanted it, I would have to put in the work. No one else can do it for you.”

That foundation carried her to Stanstead College, where she grew into a leader, earning the captaincy in her final season and walking away as the team’s MVP and the JWHL Defensive Player of the Year.

It also shaped the kind of player she would become at Union College, where she chose the program not because it was an obvious path to professional hockey, but because of what it could become.

“I just really wanted to be a part of that change,” Stephanie said. “I wanted to be one of the players that helps the program grow in the right direction. Union is a great academic school and has that small family feel. For me, that was really important.”

Four years later, she leaves as the program’s all-time points and assists leader among defenders, with an ironwoman streak of 141 consecutive games, a Psychology degree, and a season in which she averaged more than 28 minutes per game as the second most-utilized player in NCAA women’s hockey.

Now she’s chasing the 2026 PWHL Draft, where a selection would make her the first defender from New Brunswick to play in the league.

“Being from Moncton and New Brunswick gave me the love for the game,” Stephanie said. “Being able to achieve that dream, not just for myself, but for all my teammates and coaches and my family who have been supporting me throughout my journey.”

She coaches youth hockey back home every summer, and hears from young girls who want to play in the PWHL one day. That’s part of what’s driving her toward this next step.

“It would allow me to continue to grow the game and inspire the next generation of young girls wanting to play professional hockey,” she said.

And for Stephanie Bourque, that’s always been the point.

My full conversation with Stephanie Bourque is available on YouTube.

For many young girls, growing up and dreaming about playing professional hockey meant aspiring to play in the NHL. It meant modelling their game off the likes of Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin, all because there were no easy ways to see the players who looked just like them.

“When you can see it, you can be it” never rang so true until the creation of the PWHL, where those girls could finally see, on a regular basis, the very role models they’ve been looking for.

Issy Wunder on the Privilege of Pressure, the Neuroscience of Leadership, and Defining a New Era in Women’s Hockey

For Princeton University forward Issy Wunder, who now sits on the cusp of embarking on her own PWHL journey, the impact of seeing yourself properly represented in the sport you love rings especially true.

“I remember when Sami Jo Small came and talked at my high school with her gold medal,” Wunder recalled. “That was an extremely formative experience for me, just hearing her story. And I think visibility in the community is so important because you need young girls, need people to look up to who aren’t men and who are just like them and look like them.”

My full conversation with Issy Wunder is available now on YouTube.

Wunder, who has completed a remarkable four-year career at Princeton both on and off the ice, doesn’t feel pressure when thinking about those young girls and becoming a role model for the next generation. Like many in the sport, she says that pressure is a privilege, and one that represents fuel that drives her development and passion.

“I think the fortunate thing about the modern age and social media and how the game is growing,” Wunder said. “It’s not really necessarily just me. There are so many different girls, so many different types of players that you can model your game after. And I think that the best thing is that there are different people who you can look up to.”

Now that one chapter of her career is closing, another one is on the verge of being written, as the 2026 PWHL Draft looms on the horizon. And as excited as Wunder is about the possibility of hearing her own name called on draft night, she recognizes how much has changed and how far the sport has come.

“The biggest thing that I find myself thinking about is how fortunate we are that this is now the reality,” Wunder said. “I’ve spent my whole life, I love the Maple Leafs, I’ve watched the NHL growing up. Every single year, I sit down and watch the Draft, and it’s always so cool to see those 17, 18, 19-year-old boys go out there and have their dreams come true. And I think the fact that now we get to do that is an extremely cool thing.”

Through the many individual awards, her deep connection to the community, and the team milestones she helped achieve, Issy Wunder will undoubtedly leave a lasting legacy at Princeton University. And as she looks ahead to a professional hockey career in the PWHL, she carries with her the reminder of just how important it is to be the role model so many in the sport never had.

My full conversation with Issy Wunder is available now on YouTube.

Sport was a constant in Tory’s household long before hockey was her focus, and that has had a lasting impact on her life.

“When I was younger, my dad would always take me to soccer games or baseball games,” she said. “I feel like just being in that environment made me think this was something I wanted to do.”

My full conversation with Tory is out now on YouTube.

And while she tried other sports, like tee-ball, she didn’t feel that spark until her dad, a hockey player himself, had suggested that she give hockey a try. “I started off pretty old, I’d say,” Tory recalled. “I didn’t learn to skate until I was seven-ish, and he would take me to open skate at a rink in our hometown.”

It didn’t take long for her dad's passion for hockey to be shared by Tory, and that drive to succeed in the sport was sparked by a role model she had never met.

“My grandfather, he passed before I was born,” Tory said. “Everyone in my family growing up, and as soon as I started hockey, they were like ‘You remind me so much of your grandfather.” And it wasn’t until she was older that she learned he was a professional tennis player.

“I would have loved to meet him. He’s my role model. I want to be as good as him and have the discipline and everything that he had.

When it came time to make that jump from the junior to the collegiate level, everything just “clicked” for Tory when it came to deciding on Northeastern University.

“Everybody gets that feeling when they know that a place is right for them,” Tory recalled. “And the coaching staff, they just seemed like the type of people that were going to push me to grow. And I really enjoyed being someone who had somebody to push them me and try to reach my limits.”

And making that decision to commit to a five-year program at Northeastern meant that when the PWHL came into existence, she would have to delay pursuing her professional dreams. But in doing so, she learned a lot about herself.

"Doing it on my own has been hard at times, but I feel like I've appreciated it more because I'm doing it for myself and I have a goal," she said. "Everything that I've done, I feel like it's starting to pay off. I'm proud of myself, and it's been hard, but I'm glad to see where I am now."

And pay off it will, with the 2026 PWHL Draft on the horizon, which will mark a culmination of a journey that began in hometown rinks, was fuelled by a role model she never met, and was tested at every level. A journey that may very well end with her joining the ranks of the best players from around the world. And that’s a destination worth cheering for.

My full conversation with Tory is out now on YouTube.

“Be where your feet are.”

It’s a phrase that often comes up when speaking with athletes. It speaks to the importance of being present, in the moment, focused on what you can control, not what you can’t. And for Cornell defender Alyssa Regalado, that’s exactly the mentality she’s taking into the 2026 PWHL Draft.

“It’s honestly really tough, obviously,” Regalado said. “It’s something that’s going to be on my mind until the day comes. But I think it’s more so, just how can I work towards something? How can I make myself better? Not just with hockey, or the PWHL, or whatever my future holds, but just myself as a person. I’m just taking it day by day.”

Alyssa Regalado On Growth, Leadership, and Mindset In Her Journey to the PWHL Draft

Regalado has spent the past four years patrolling the blueline at Cornell, helping the team to three straight Ivy League Championship titles, and over that time, through the ups and downs, she has grown. That growth has helped prepare her for this moment, and she cites this past season, with the program’s high expectations and the loss of 11 seniors, as a testament to her personal growth.

“I think it was hard to overcome those losses this year,” Regalado recalled. “Being one of the seniors and leaders, it was about teaching the underclassmen how to deal with those losses. I didn’t have those seniors telling me how to do that. So I think that communicating with them helped me to learn how to handle it and move on from it, but also use it to build on to the next game.”

My full conversation with Alyssa Regalado is available now on YouTube.

Over that time, Regalado has also had the opportunity to play alongside current PWHL players. She spent three years paired with Ottawa Charge defender Rory Guilday and Vancouver Goldeneyes forward Katie Chan. Seeing them succeed and make their professional dreams come true motivates Regalado.

"I think both show that not only are they amazing hockey players and great people," said Regalado. "But there's a lot that goes on that people don't see. And just knowing that all that extra work pays off is really special to see. It motivates me that this work will all pay off some way, somehow in the end."

With the prospect of a professional career on the horizon, it isn’t lost on Regalado how special this moment is for her career. “It’s an amazing thing to even think about,” she said. “It’s something that I never thought was even going to be possible. I think my freshman year, I said, ‘Okay, well, after my four years, I guess maybe Sweden, if that’s an option. It’s hard to put into words how cool and how special it is to have this opportunity.”

For Alyssa Regalado, she may not know what is in the cards for this next chapter of her journey through the sport she’s always been a student of, but she knows that by being where her feet are and staying in the moment, she’ll end up exactly where she was meant to be.

My full conversation with Alyssa Regalado is available now on YouTube.

Béatrice Bilodeau finishes her shifts in the classroom as a medical student, and then, in whatever time is left, she shows up for other people.

That pattern is a big part of why the University of Ottawa Gee Gees captain was named the 2025-26 recipient of the Marion Hilliard Award, which recognizes excellence across hockey, academics, and community involvement.

My full conversation with University of Ottawa Gee Gees captain Béatrice Bilodeau is available now on YouTube.

Since 2022, Béatrice has served as a crisis responder with Kids Help Phone. While it is demanding work, she has maintained it alongside everything else on her plate, serving as yet another reminder of the impact she has both on and off the ice.

Her medical studies have opened other doors, too. In 2024, she became a mentor with the Rural Outreach and Mentorship Initiative, working one-on-one with high school students in rural communities who are considering a career in medicine. And in that same year, she also joined medical teams at Festival Sportif and the Triathlon St-Noel, and has been volunteering at CHSLD Ernest-Brisson in Gatineau, spending time with seniors in the long-term care program. Her dedication to the community is truly remarkable and reflects who Béatrice is.

As if she weren’t busy enough, Béatrice has supported the Gee Gees alum leadership program within Fillactive, which helps to bring together nearly 15,000 girls ages 12 to 17 to discover new physical activities. And for the past three summers, she has returned home to volunteer at the Festival of Sports, an event built around getting people moving and engaged in their communities.

Béatrice Bilodeau prides herself on how she shows up for her teammates, as both a captain and as a peer. She also knows how important it is to show up for her community, wherever and whenever that may be. An award like the Marion Hilliard Award does not go to someone who simply fills out a volunteer form once and moves on. Béatrice is proof of that. She has built something consistent and intentional alongside a strong hockey career.

While we didn’t get a chance to discuss it in our conversation, that story and Béatrice’s impact are worth celebrating and recognizing.

My full conversation with University of Ottawa Gee Gees captain Béatrice Bilodeau is available now on YouTube.

Each step along her journey has prepared defender Stephanie Bourque for this next chapter in an already successful hockey career.

Bourque, a native of Moncton, New Brunswick, has finished a standout collegiate career at Union College, where she became the program’s all-time points and assists leader among defenders and set an ironwoman streak by playing in 141 consecutive games.

Stephanie Bourque and her Path From Backyard Rinks to the 2026 PWHL Draft

Now that she has graduated, with a Psychology major in hand, her eyes are set on making the jump to professional hockey.

“I think it’s kind of just treating it like any other big milestone,” Bourque said. “I’m just going to control what I can. So that’s just doing the daily things, the little things every day that put me in the best frame of mind and put me in the best physical shape to achieve that dream one day.”

If she were to hear her name called on Draft night, Bourque would become the first defender from New Brunswick to suit up in the PWHL, and only the second player ever to play a game in the league following forward Sarah Bujold. While she doesn’t feel pressure about the possibility of holding that mantle, doing so would mean a lot and reflect the support she’s had along the way.

“Being from Moncton and New Brunswick gave me the love for the game,” Bourque said. “So I think being able to achieve that dream, not just for myself, but for all my teammates and coaches and my family who have been supporting me throughout my journey.”

Bourque also coaches youth hockey back home in the summers, and she hears from young girls who want to play in the PWHL one day. Knowing that is an inspiration and provides fuel to achieve this next milestone.

“I couldn’t look up and say that I’m going to play professionally in the PWHL,” said Bourque. “So to be able to see someone achieve that dream, being from Moncton, will show them that no matter where you’re from, everyone has a different path to success, but it is doable, and it’s very much achievable.”

Regardless of where this next chapter of hockey takes Stephanie Bourque, she has the foundation to succeed and the inspiration of those young girls back home who will be cheering her on when the spotlight shines brightly on the next generation of PWHL stars.

My full conversation with Stephanie Bourque is available now on YouTube.

Her father and older brother both played the game, and for Béatrice, that was enough. She started playing at four years old, and for the better part of the next eight years, she played on boys’ teams because that was what was available to her. It was not a hardship. “I love playing with the boys,” she said. “I was going to school with them, and it was just like I was part of the gang.” That outdoor rink became the place where it clicked for her, where she would work on her shot and realize, as she put it, that this was the game she wanted to play.

My full conversation with University of Ottawa captain Béatrice Bilodeau is available now on YouTube.

Growing up in Quebec means growing up around hockey, and Béatrice discovered that early on. “Everyone wants to play hockey,” she said, “and even if they’re not on a team, they know about it. It made it easy to connect with friends through the sport.” Girls’ programs were not as accessible then as they are now, but she did not experience that gap as a setback. She played, she developed, and by the time she made her way to Cégep Limoilou and the Titans program, she had a foundation built from years of competing against players who pushed her to get better.

The Cégep years were when her game took a significant step. Training four to six times a week alongside skilled teammates in a structured program pushed her to levels she had not reached before. The COVID-19 pandemic cut her first season short, as it did for players across every level, but she credits that disrupted stretch with teaching her something she carried forward. “It taught us resilience,” she said. “We focused on individual skills and techniques, which ultimately benefited our growth as players.” By the time her final season with the Titans wrapped up, she had earned the RSEC Sportsmanship Award, voted on by league staff. “It was special because it was voted on by the league’s staff, recognizing my efforts to be a good teammate,” she said. “I was just being myself, which made it even more meaningful.”

The decision to continue her hockey career at the university level was not difficult. The question was where. Béatrice chose the University of Ottawa and the Gee-Gees, and the reasoning behind that choice says more about her than any number could. “With COVID affecting recruitment, I chose a program that felt like home,” she said. “The culture and coaching style resonated with me, and I knew I would fit in well.”

The jump from junior to collegiate hockey came with an adjustment. The game was faster, the players more physically developed, and the margin for mistakes was certainly smaller. But the work she had put in through her years in Quebec’s competitive environment prepared her for exactly that kind of transition. Now in her fourth year and wearing the captain’s ‘C’, Béatrice doesn’t hesitate when talking about her time with the Gee Gees. “These have been the best years of my life,” she said. “I’ve met amazing people and pursued my academic and athletic goals simultaneously.”

The way that Béatrice describes leadership is a great example of why it’s a role she was meant to fill. To her, it’s about being available to teammates, being consistent, and understanding that the role of a captain is as much about the person beside you as it is about what you do on the ice.

In March, she was named the winner of the Marion Hilliard Award, recognizing outstanding achievement in hockey, academics, and community involvement. Her volunteer work spans Kids Help Phone, the ROMI mentorship program for rural students interested in medicine, Fillactive, seniors in long-term care, and medical support at community sporting events. For Béatrice, none of it feels separate from the rest of her life in Ottawa. ‘It’s so nice to see what impact we can have on them,’ she said. ‘It’s also nice to know that we’re doing that while having so much fun and just living the best experience of our lives. If it can help little girls to dream big and keep pushing, I’m more than happy.’”

Girls’ hockey is more accessible now than it was when Béatrice was four years old, working on her shot on the rink her father built, and she is aware of what that means for the players coming up behind her. And as she looks ahead, there may well be uncertainty, but the foundation has been built on a journey defined by success on the ice and a tremendous impact in the community.

My full conversation with University of Ottawa captain Béatrice Bilodeau is available now on YouTube.

“This is what I’ve been working towards for almost a year now. It just means everything.”

When Tory Mariano elected to pursue a five-year undergrad at Northeastern, she had no idea that playing professional hockey could have been an option. After taking a year away from the game to finish her degree, she’s now on the cusp of joining the PWHL.

Tory Mariano on Family, the Road to Northeastern, and Why She’s Ready for the PWHL Draft

Tory Mariano, a defender at Northeastern University, entered the Husky program and chose to pursue a five-year undergraduate program because of its co-op program, which gave her the chance to plan for the future and solidify her academics. Then, partway through her collegiate career, the PWHL was unveiled, offering an opportunity to play professional hockey.

Despite being told that she was ineligible for the 2025 draft because she was unable to relocate to a city that drafted her, she remained undeterred. “At the beginning, I will say that it was tough,” Mariano said. “I’ve never been at school without playing hockey or being a part of the team. It was uncharted waters, but (Dave) Flint helped me a lot.”

A year away from the game was a challenge. She had loved the game ever since she was a kid, when her dad would show her photos of her grandfather playing the game. But doing so gave her perspective.

“Doing it on my own has been hard at times, but I feel like I’ve appreciated it more because I’m doing it for myself and I have a goal,” she said. “Everything that I’ve done, I feel like it’s starting to pay off. I’m proud of myself, and it’s been hard, but I’m glad to see where I am now.”

My full conversation with Tory is out now on YouTube.

Mariano describes herself as a defender who takes care of her own zone first, physical and reliable, the kind of player who makes her team harder to play against. The year away gave her room to approach her conditioning in a way a regular season may not have allowed.

“I’ve been working with our strength and conditioning team here,” Mariano said. “It’s crazy, but I feel like I’ve been doing more than I would in a typical season. I mean, it’s hard to simulate a game, and minutes and stuff like that. It’s been very challenging, but I think it’s honestly for the better.”

In her final season on the ice for the Huskies, Mariano played in all 37 games and set career highs in assists and points. She also helped lead the team to their record 20th Beanpot Championship title.

Now she’s ready for one more milestone.

“I think just to hear my name called and be a part of a team, I mean, that’s what I want. That’s what I’ve been putting my whole year towards,” Mariano said. “I miss the team aspect. It’s not easy to go to the gym or go skate and you don’t have 26 or 28 girls with you. So, I mean, just to be in a team dynamic again would be awesome. Just to have a family again and just be a part of something bigger than yourself would just be great.”

The road to the PWHL Draft may not have been exactly how Tory Mariano drew it up back when she first laced up her skates, but the work she’s put into the journey will be worth it when she pulls on a professional jersey for the very first time.

My full conversation with Tory is out now on YouTube.

Molly Jordan sees the game differently than most defenders her age. She processes quickly, slows things down when the play speeds up around her, and has the confidence to make the right decision at the right time rather than the safe one. That quality does not always show up cleanly in a box score, but it shows up in how she has produced at every level she has played.

My full conversation with University of Minnesota defender Molly Jordan is available now on YouTube.

That foundation was built with the Bishop Kearney Selects, one of the more respected programs in the American development pipeline, before Jordan went on to Boston College, where she spent the first two seasons of her collegiate career, and put up 42 points in 72 games, including a career-high 24 points in 2024-25. The step up to one of the most defensively structured programs in NCAA women’s hockey has not slowed her down. She is a skilled defender with good foot speed and great hockey sense who can contribute at both ends of the ice, and her 16 points in 39 games this season show just how well she’s adjusted to a new program.

Molly has also represented the United States twice at the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, earning silver in 2022 and bronze in 2023, and was named to the All-Star team in the latter tournament while serving as alternate captain. She also suited up for the U-18 Series against Canada and, most recently, the 2025 Collegiate Series.

How Molly Jordan’s Path to the University of Minnesota Was Always About Chasing the Biggest Challenge

On this week’s episode of Rinkside Rundown, Molly talks about her development path, what drove her decision to transfer to Minnesota, and what her game looks like as she continues to chase the biggest stage in hockey.

Molly Jordan’s introduction to hockey came by way of an outdoor rink, and her enjoyment of it was cemented by quality time with family.

You see, it was at an early age, maybe two or three years old, as Molly recalls, when her father would build a rink in the backyard of her home in Berlin, Connecticut, and she would watch her brother glide across the ice. Molly would stand at the back door, pressed up against the glass, wanting so badly to get out and enjoy it with him, despite not knowing how to skate.

Molly would go on to learn how to skate, play lacrosse, field hockey, and golf, and she was glad she did. “I think being able to kind of play those other sports, you start to build yourself as more of an all-around athlete versus just a hockey player,” she said. “I think it was super important for my development, and I think it definitely helped me.” The friendships that came with having three teams’ worth of teammates didn’t hurt either.

My full conversation with University of Minnesota defender Molly Jordan is available now on YouTube.

By the time she was making her way through her youth career with the Connecticut Polar Bears and the Bishop Kearney Selects, Molly’s skillset and passion for the game were undeniable. She also looks back on that time with nothing but appreciation and thanks for the many coaches who helped her along the way. “My youth career, I look back, and I just get the biggest smile on my face because of all the people that kind of helped me along the way,” she said. “I obviously still look back and give all thanks to them for kind of getting me to where I am now.”

The international stage came calling early for Molly, a reflection of the hard work and dedication she had for the craft she loved so much. She represented the United States twice at the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, first in 2022, where she earned a silver medal, and again the following year, earning bronze in 2023. It was also in that tournament where she served as an alternate captain and was named to the All-Star team. Not done there, she would also suit up for the U-18 Series against Canada and, most recently, participated in the 2025 Collegiate Series.

Next, it was time to make the jump from junior to collegiate level hockey, first with Boston College. Following two seasons with that program, Molly made another important decision, one based on her commitment to not taking the easy route and to continue challenging herself. And that’s exactly what she did when she went off to the University of Minnesota.

Her new head coach, Brad Frost, described her as “a very skilled defender with great vision and feet,” and the program has delivered exactly what she was looking for as she continues to pursue her hockey dreams. “Every day you show up to the rink, you want to give your best just to make those around you better, and it’s truly special being a part of a team that I can see competing for national championships for a really long time,” she said. “It’s Minnesota. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Beyond the rink, Molly makes it a priority to stay active in her community and has been spending time with Children’s Minnesota. “It’s something that I really wanted to do,” she said. “It’s my first time in the Midwest, and I wanted to put myself out there and give back to a community that has already given me so much.” She also makes it a priority to return to Connecticut to coach and inspire the next generation, paying forward the kind of support that has followed her throughout her career.

When Molly first peered through the glass as a young girl and watched her brother skate laps on the backyard rink her father built, she may not have realized exactly what was being set in motion. But, as she says, “the path along the way is sometimes more important.” And that path will undoubtedly lead to even more chapters full of even more incredible milestones.

My full conversation with University of Minnesota defender Molly Jordan is available now on YouTube.