Northeastern Defender Tory Mariano Is Ready For The 2026 PWHL Draft After A Year Away From The Game
When Tory Mariano chose a five-year undergrad at Northeastern, she had no idea that playing professional hockey could have been an option. Now, she's on the cusp of entering the Draft.
“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, 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.”
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.