Last week, the hockey world turned its attention to the highly anticipated 2025 Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Draft, held on June 24th. As the league continues to solidify its place as the premier destination for elite female talent, the draft provided a fascinating snapshot of where the next generation of stars are coming from. Unsurprisingly, NCAA Division I programs once again proved to be the powerhouse pipeline, alongside a strong showing from European leagues.
Leading the charge in player development was Ohio State University, which saw an impressive six of its athletes selected, showcasing the strength and depth of their program. Close behind, the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) celebrated five of its own making the leap to professional ranks, reinforcing their consistent high-level output.
Quinnipiac University had a phenomenal draft, with four players hearing their names called, a testament to their growing influence in women’s hockey. Following them with three draftees each were Clarkson University, the University of Minnesota, and St. Cloud State University, highlighting the continued excellence across multiple conferences.
The draft also recognized talent emerging from beyond North American collegiate play, with three players selected directly from European leagues, emphasizing the global reach of the PWHL.
Further contributing to the NCAA’s robust representation, a strong contingent of programs each had two players drafted: Boston University, Colgate, Cornell, Penn State, Providence, St. Lawrence, UConn, and Wisconsin. Rounding out the selections were Boston College, Mercyhurst, Northeastern, and Yale, each celebrating one draftee.
Please note: The numbers above reflect the last college or university the drafted player attended. Schools like Wisconsin, Penn State, New Hampshire and Brown had drafted players transfer out prior to this past season.
With the surprise announcement that Brian Idalski will be leaving St. Cloud State to become the inaugural head coach of PWHL Vancouver, the Huskies face a critical decision. Idalski helped elevate the program’s competitiveness in the WCHA during his tenure, and his successor will be tasked with maintaining that upward trajectory. Here’s a breakdown of the leading candidates to take the reins—and how their credentials stack up in 2025.
Current Role: Associate Head Coach, St. Cloud State (2019–present)
Why She’s a Top Choice: A silver medalist with Team USA (2010) and two-time NCAA champion at Wisconsin, Zaugg‑Siergiej has been a steady hand behind the bench for the past six seasons. She knows the program inside and out, has strong relationships with current players and recruits, and would provide continuity at a time of transition. She has never been a head coach, but she’s well-positioned to step up.
Mira Jalosuo
Current Role: Assistant Coach, PWHL Minnesota (2023–present)
Why She’s a Top Choice: After spending the 2022–23 season as an assistant at St. Cloud, the Finnish Olympian joined Ken Klee’s staff in the PWHL and helped guide Minnesota to back-to-back Walter Cup championships. Known for her defensive acumen and elite playing background, Jalosuo brings both credibility and a championship mentality. Her return would inject high-level tactical knowledge and energy into the program.
Molly Engstrom
Current Role: Head Coach, University of Maine (since 2022)
Why She’s a Top Choice: A former assistant at St. Cloud State (2018–2022) and two-time U.S. Olympian, Engstrom has transformed Maine into a defensively responsible team. She was one of three finalists for the St. Cloud State job in 2022 before Idalski was ultimately hired. Her success at Maine and familiarity with SCSU make her a very attractive candidate—if she’s interested in returning.
Erik Strand
Current Role: Assistant Coach, University of Vermont (since May 2025)
Why He’s a Top Choice: Strand was also a finalist for the SCSU head coach role in 2022. Prior to joining Vermont, he spent 10 years as head coach at UW–Eau Claire, guiding the DIII program to consistent success, including multiple NCAA tournament appearances and conference championships. A veteran of player development and known for his high-character leadership, Strand is ready for the Division I spotlight.
🔁 Long-Shot Options
Jeff Giesen
Current Role: Associate Head Coach, Minnesota State
Why He’s Notable: Giesen was St. Cloud State’s head coach from 2006 to 2014, leading the team through eight seasons. While he’s been at Minnesota State for nearly a decade, his familiarity with the Huskies’ program and the WCHA landscape gives him a theoretical path back—though it’s unclear whether he’s looking for a return to head coaching.
Britni Smith
Current Role: Head Coach, Syracuse (since 2022)
Why She’s Notable: A former Clarkson assistant and Hockey Canada coach, Smith has turned around Syracuse’s program in the CHA. While she’s respected as a rising leader, her current commitment at Syracuse may keep her focused out east.
Nick Carpenito
Current Role: Associate Head Coach, Northeastern
Why He’s Notable: A key architect of Northeastern’s success over the past decade, Carpenito is highly respected in NCAA circles. A jump to head coach in the WCHA would be a bold but potentially rewarding move—for both sides.
Greg May
Current Role: Associate Head Coach, Minnesota (joined July 2023)
Former Augsburg University DIII Head Coach (Sept 2021–July 2023), where he led the team to back-to-back NCAA Division III appearances and MIAC titles with a 41–15–2 record
Named an assistant coach for the 2026 U.S. Women’s U18 National Team
Why He’s Notable: Proven leadership at DIII and college program building. Now adding national-team experience. A fresh, well-rounded external hire.
Dan Koch
Current Role: Assistant Coach, University of Wisconsin
Why He’s Notable: Koch has spent years in the powerhouse Wisconsin program, developing elite players. Like others on this list, he’d represent a fresh external hire with deep knowledge of what winning programs look like.
🏁 Final Thoughts: Familiarity or Fresh Blood?
St. Cloud State has no shortage of qualified candidates, and their decision may ultimately come down to priorities:
If the goal is continuity, promoting Zaugg‑Siergiej or recruiting Jalosuo back from the pros makes the most sense.
If the program seeks a proven leader, Engstrom or Strand—both past finalists—are strong, familiar names with NCAA and program-building experience.
For a bold shake-up, external hires like Carpenito, Smith, or Koch could introduce a new culture and broader recruiting reach.
Whoever takes over will inherit a program on the rise and a passionate fanbase eager for sustained WCHA and NCAA success.
The next head coach of the Tigers will almost certainly have deep ties to the Ivy League — if not Princeton itself. With the unique demands of balancing elite athletics and academics, experience within this system is not just preferred; it’s practically essential.
A number of qualified candidates already stand out as possible hires, and several have previously been part of the Princeton program.
Shelly Picard is a prominent contender. Currently an assistant coach at Long Island University, Picard served as a Princeton assistant coach from 2021 to 2023. A former U.S. National Team player, Picard combines elite playing experience with Ivy familiarity, and her recent time with Princeton gives her valuable insight into the current roster and culture.
Jamie Lundmark, Princeton’s current Director of Player Development and Assistant Coach since the 2023-24 season, could be an internal hire. A former NHL forward, Lundmark has already earned the trust of the current team and staff. While his Ivy League experience is limited, his presence in the program could provide needed continuity after Morey’s departure.
Another compelling candidate is Kelly Nash, currently the Head Coach at Long Island University. Nash was an assistant at Princeton from 2017 to 2019, playing a key role in the program’s growth during that period. With recent head coaching experience and a past connection to the university, she checks many of the right boxes.
Mel Ruzzi, now the Head Coach at Brown University, also brings a strong resume. She served as an assistant at Princeton from 2019 to 2021 before taking the helm at Brown, where she’s made steady progress. Her current Ivy League head coaching experience could be a significant asset in the selection process.
Lee-J Mirasolo, the current Head Coach at Stonehill College, has a long history with Princeton as an assistant from 2011 to 2015. She also spent nearly a decade at Harvard. Mirasolo’s combination of head coaching experience and extensive Ivy knowledge could make her a strong fit.
Edith Racine, Associate Head Coach at Cornell since 2009, brings over 18 years of Ivy League coaching experience. Though she has never coached at Princeton, her long tenure at Cornell — and previous time at Brown — demonstrates her deep understanding of the Ivy hockey landscape.
Among the longer shots, two names stand out. Courtney Kessel, who recently took over as Head Coach of the PWHL Boston franchise, was Princeton’s assistant coach from 2019 to 2023. While her new pro role might make her unavailable, she’d be a dream hire if interested. Jeff Kampersal, now at Penn State and formerly Princeton’s head coach for over two decades (1996–2017), also fits the mold — but a return seems unlikely.
With such a strong pool of candidates who know the Ivy League inside and out, Princeton is well-positioned to find a leader who can build on Morey’s legacy and continue to elevate the Tigers on and off the ice.
In a decision poised to reshape the landscape of collegiate athletics, a federal judge in California approved the House v. NCAA settlement on June 6, 2025, finalizing a multibillion-dollar agreement that introduces direct athlete payments, redefines scholarship structures, and addresses past inequities. This landmark class-action lawsuit, consolidating House v. NCAA, Carter v. NCAA, and Hubbard v. NCAA, marks a seismic shift from the NCAA’s long-standing amateurism model. For Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey—sports cherished in pockets of the country but dwarfed by the revenue giants of football and basketball—the settlement brings both opportunity and uncertainty, particularly in the realms of scholarships and protections for current players.
A New Framework for College Sports
Effective July 1, 2025, the settlement permits Division I institutions to share up to $20.5 million annually with athletes, a figure derived from 22% of the average athletic revenue of Power 5 conference schools. This revenue-sharing cap, which will adjust upward yearly, allows schools to compensate athletes directly for the first time. Additionally, the agreement replaces traditional scholarship limits with roster caps, granting programs flexibility to distribute full or partial scholarships across their teams. Nearly $2.8 billion in back-pay damages will also be distributed to athletes who competed from 2016 onward, though ice hockey players are likely to receive modest sums compared with their counterparts in football and men’s basketball.
The transition to this new model requires schools to opt into revenue sharing by June 15, 2025, and designate athletes who can remain on rosters above the new caps—known as “grandfathered” players—by July 6, 2025. These provisions aim to ease the shift but have sparked debate, particularly in sports like ice hockey, where roster sizes and scholarship allocations are critical to maintaining competitive balance.
Scholarships: Flexibility with Risks
Historically, NCAA rules restricted Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey programs to 18 scholarships each, often divided into partial awards to stretch limited resources. The House settlement dismantles these caps, allowing schools to offer scholarships to any number of players within the new roster limits, expected to range from 25 to 30 for ice hockey, pending final NCAA guidelines. This change offers a chance to deepen rosters and broaden access to the sport but introduces financial disparities that could reshape competition.
Wealthier programs, particularly those in Power 5 conferences, stand to benefit most. Schools like the University of Michigan or Boston University, with robust athletic budgets, could fund scholarships for an entire roster, giving them a recruiting edge over smaller programs in conferences like the ECAC or Atlantic Hockey. For instance, a program with ample resources might offer 30 partial scholarships, enhancing depth, while a less-funded school might struggle to support even 20. This financial divide threatens to widen gaps in conferences like Hockey East or the NCHC, where budget disparities already influence outcomes.
Women’s Ice Hockey, often operating with fewer resources, faces a dual-edged sword. The removal of scholarship limits could enable programs to attract more talent by offering partial awards to a larger pool of players, potentially narrowing the competitive gap with men’s teams. Yet, schools prioritizing revenue sports like football may allocate fewer resources to women’s programs, limiting their ability to capitalize on this flexibility.
Grandfathered Players and Roster Transitions
The shift to roster limits has been a flashpoint in the settlement’s rollout. Early proposals suggested caps as low as 20–25 players for ice hockey, far below the typical 25–30, raising fears that thousands of athletes could lose their spots. Following objections from players and a directive from Judge Claudia Wilken, the settlement now includes a grandfathering provision, allowing current athletes to remain on rosters above the new limits during a transitional period.
By July 6, 2025, schools must identify these grandfathered players, ensuring they retain their roster spots or scholarships temporarily without counting against the cap. For a Men’s Ice Hockey team with 28 players, for example, a school could designate several as grandfathered, preserving their eligibility for the 2025–26 season even if the roster limit is set at 25. Women’s teams, similarly, could protect players who might otherwise face cuts. This provision offers a lifeline to current athletes, many of whom feared being squeezed out by the settlement’s reforms.
Yet, the grandfathering process is not without flaws. The NCAA’s framework grants schools discretion over designations, meaning budget-conscious athletic departments might prioritize high-profile sports or incoming recruits over existing players. Some schools have already trimmed rosters in anticipation of smaller caps, and reintegrating cut players could strain resources for scholarships, room, and board. For ice hockey, where physical demands necessitate robust rosters, retaining grandfathered players is critical to maintaining competitiveness, particularly for women’s programs, which may receive less priority in revenue-sharing allocations.
The Road Ahead for Ice Hockey
The House settlement’s revenue-sharing model could intensify recruiting battles in ice hockey. Power 5 schools, flush with larger revenue pools, may lure top prospects with lucrative NIL deals and scholarships, challenging traditional powers like the University of North Dakota or Boston College. Restrictions on third-party NIL collectives, intended to curb pay-for-play schemes, may limit ice hockey players’ earning potential compared with athletes in revenue-driven sports.
Still, the settlement’s scholarship flexibility could democratize access to ice hockey, enabling more players to receive financial support. Smaller programs, however, risk falling behind if they cannot match the financial commitments of wealthier rivals. The grandfathering provision offers temporary relief, but its discretionary nature underscores the uncertainty facing current players, particularly in women’s programs, which may struggle for equitable treatment.
As college ice hockey navigates this new era, the House v. NCAA settlement promises to redefine the sport’s competitive and financial landscape. For players, coaches, and administrators, the challenge lies in balancing opportunity with equity in a system now driven by revenue and choice.
Carrington is a quick, aggressive defenceman known for her physical play and willingness to battle along the boards. She excels at making sharp, efficient breakout passes and contributes offensively when needed, all while staying solid at the blue line. Whether she’s backchecking with intensity or keeping the puck in the zone, Carrington consistently makes smart, impactful plays to support her team at both ends of the ice.
Caroline thrives competing at the highest level. A proud moment was her shutout vs. Assabet Valley, which helped her Chicago Mission team win the 2024 14U Nat’l Championship. Neutral Zone describes her as athletic and composed, with strong fundamentals, quick reflexes, and excellent rebound control.
A coachable, versatile, impact player who plays top minutes and can be relied upon in any situation. A powerful skater who plays a heavy, physical, hardworking and effective two-way, 200-foot game with speed and tempo. Sound positional defender who is patient with the puck in all zones, an accurate and creative passer, who is also a very effective scoring threat, particularly from the dots down.
I’m a calm technical goalie focused on consistent improvement. My strengths are my communication, rebound control, and hockey IQ. I play this sport because I love it.
I am a left-shot, smooth-skating defenseman from Ottawa, Ontario am committed to playing for the Durham West Jr Lightning team in the OWHL U22 Elite league next season.
Played for Quinte Red Devils AAA Boys hockey in Ontario for the last 6 seasons, being the only female in the OMHA U15 and U16 East and West Divisions. Won OMHA Championships in U15. Known for competitiveness, technical skill, and coach-ability, a valued team member with strong dedication and teamwork.
