Advanced 2025 PWHL Drafting: Winning Pucks

Whether it’s a loose puck, a face-off, retrieval of a rebound, or a 50/50 puck battle, players who win more pucks help their team gain or keep possession. Models like Corsi and Fenwick have tied possession to scoring chances, but before a player can shoot, they need to get the puck in the first place. In this section of our ongoing look at advanced statistics among eligible NCAA players for the 2025 PWHL Draft, we look at these scenarios.

Here’s a look at some of the top advanced statistics teams look at related to winning pucks and gaining possession.

Puck Battles %

Puck battles are a quick measure of how effective a player is in winning possession of the puck in a 50/50 opportunity against an opponent. It could be along the boards, in the corner, or a side by side race to a loose puck in open ice. The ability to enter a space without the puck under control, and leave with the puck, is a benefit to any team and player. St. Cloud State defender Dayle Ross is the top puck battle player in this draft class. Ross is a good skater who uses her feet and strength to push pucks free and position herself to gain control.

1. Dayle Ross, D, St. Cloud State – 65.8%
2. Elise Murphy, D, Maine – 65.8%
3. Nina Jobst-Smuth, D, Minnesota-Duluth – 63.2%
4. Sydney Pederson, D, Mercyhurst – 62.2%
5. Rory Guilday, D, Cornell – 62%
6. Keri Clougherty, D, Boston College – 61.3%
7. Maren Friday, D, Union – 60.8%
8. Olivia Muhn, D, Yale – 59.7%
9. Lyndie Lobdell, D, Penn State – 59.4%
10. Haley Winn, D, Clarkson – 58.9%
11. Kendall Cooper, D, Quinnipiac – 58.2%
12. Riley Brengman, D, Ohio State – 58.1%
13. Julia Shaunessy, D, Boston University – 57.8%
14. Hanna Baskin, D, Minnesota-Duluth – 57.7%
15. Nicole Gosling, D, Clarkson – 57.3%
16. Mia Biotti, D, Harvard – 56.7%
17. Tori Mariano, D, Northeastern – 56.6%
18. Karley Garcia, D, Penn State – 56.5%
19. Sidney Fess, D, Clarkson – 56.4%
20. Jenna Buglioni, F, Ohio State – 55.6%
21. Vita Ponyatovskaia, D, Yale – 55.2%
22. Brooke Becker, D, Providence – 55.0%
23. Brianna Brooks, F, Penn State – 54.8%
24. Dominique Cormier, D, Princeton – 54.8%
25. Jeannie Wallner, F, Long Island – 54.4%

Puck Retrievals After Shots

Think of it like offensive and defensive rebounds in basketball. In some ways, this is a measure of positioning, quick steps and reaction, and the unmeasurable “compete” levels we hear coaches talk about. These shot recoveries can come off rebounds in either zone, deflections, or missed shots. Much like a faceoff, puck retrievals after shots are opportunities to maintain possession, or regain lost possession. Here’s a look at the top 20 NCAA players eligible for the 2025 PWHL Draft in average puck retrievals after shots (PRAS) per game. We’ve also included an adjusted PRAS per 60 minutes played to show how often a player gains possession following a shot relative to their time on ice, which as you can see would propel players like Lily Delianedis and Peyton Hemp higher on the list.

1. Jenna Buglioni, F, Ohio State – 3.62 (9.57 PRAS/60)
2. Anne Cherkwoski, F, Clarkson – 3.38 (8.48 PRAS/60)
3. Vanessa Upson, F, Mercyhurst – 3.35 (9.31 PRAS/60)
4. Lily Delianedis, F, Cornell – 3.15 (10.29 PRAS/60)
5. Haley Winn, D Clarkson – 3.08 (5.81 PRAS/60)
6. Nicole Gosling, D, Clarkson – 2.95 (5.91 PRAS/60)
7. Laura Fuoco, F, Dartmouth – 2.89 (7.32 PRAS/60)
8. Peyton Hemp, F, Minnesota – 2.86 (9.37 PRAS/60)
9. Kira Juodikis, F, New Hampshire – 2.83 (7.91 PRAS/60)
10. Morgan Neitzke, F, Lindenwood – 2.81 (7.41 PRAS/60)
11. Kristyna Kaltounkova, F, Colgate – 2.76 (6.90 PRAS/60)
12. Olivia Wallin, F, Minnesota-Duluth – 2.76 (7.21 PRAS/60)
13. Ella Huber, F, Minnesota – 2.74 (7.42 PRAS/60)
14. Brynn Saarela, F, Syracuse – 2.74 (6.96 PRAS/60)
15. Skylar Irving, F, Northeastern – 2.70 (7.59 PRAS/60)
16. Maya Labad, F, Quinnipiac – 2.68 (8.53 PRAS/60)
17. Nina Jobst-Smith, D, Minnesota-Duluth – 2.66 (6.47 PRAS/60)
18. Brianna Brooks, F, Penn State – 2.65 (8.19 PRAS/60)
19. Clara Van Wieren, F, Minnesota-Duluth – 2.65 (6.61 PRAS/60)
20. Kylie Aquaro, F, RIT – 2.58 (8.46 PRAS/60)

Takeaways Versus Puck Losses Per Game

It’s pretty simple, you want to be taking more pucks from opponents than you’re giving. Each takeaway or giveaway leads to a change in possession. Here’s a look at some of the top NCAA prospects with the best Takeaway/Puck Loss Ratios.

1. Dayle Ross, D, St. Cloud State – 2.21
2. Karley Gacria, D, Penn State – 2.19
3. Dominique Cormier D, Princeton – 2.12
4. Rory Guilday, D, Cornell – 2.08
5. Kendall Cooper, D, Quinnipiac – 2.04
6. Nicole Gosling, D, Clarkson – 1.98
7. Haley Winn, D Clarkson – 1.90
8. Olivia Muhn, D, Yale – 1.83
9. Julia Shaunessy, D, Boston University – 1.82
10. Vita Ponyatovsaia, D, Yale – 1.81
11. Mia Tsilemos, D, RIT – 1.79
12. Tori Mariano, D, Northeastern – 1.78
13. Sidney Fess, D, Clarkson – 1.73
14. Hanna Baskin, D, Minnesota-Duluth 1.70
15. Tamara Giaquinto, D, Boston University – 1.69
16. Maren Friday, D, Union – 1.64
17. Lyndie Lobdell, D Penn State – 1.63
18. Ava Rinker, D, Connecticut – 1.55
19. Nina Jobst-Smith, D, Minnesota-Duluth – 1.49
20. Brooke Becker, D, Providence – 1.47
21. Riley Brengman, D, Ohio State – 1.47

Defensive Zone Face-Offs (Total Taken / Win %) (Minimum 120 Draws)

Face-offs are some of the longest running stats kept where players are judged on a micro-action with a macro-result. Gaining possession off the draw is a huge advantage that has been predictive of team success. Here’s a look at the top face-off performers from the NCAA who are eligible for the 2025 PWHL Draft in the defensive zone, and all zones.

1. Marianne Picard, C, Wisconsin – 141 / 67.4%
2. Kristyna Kaltounkova, C, Colgate – 205 / 66.8%
3. Ella Huber, C, Minnesota – 123 / 60.2%
4. Neena Brick, C, Colgate – 154 / 59.1%
5. Casey O’Brien, C, Wisconsin – 255 / 56.9%
6. Maddy Samoskevich, C/D, Quinnipiac – 160 / 56.9%
7. Skylar Irving, C, Northeastern – 192 / 56.8%
8. Brianna Brooks, C, Penn State – 140 / 55.7%
9. Anna Segedi, C, Colgate – 247 / 55.1%
10. Lily Delianedis, C, Cornell – 201 / 51.2%

Face-offs (Total Taken / Win %) (Minimum 250 Draws)

1. Kristyna Kaltounkova, C, Colgate – 735 / 66.0%
2. Marianne Picard, C, Wisconsin – 468 / 65%
3. Casey O’Brien, C, Wisconsin – 822 / 62.3%
4. Neena Brick, C, Colgate – 524 / 61.5%
5. Peyton Hemp, C, Minnesota – 266 / 60.5%
6. Brianna Brooks, C, Penn State – 588 / 58.2%
7. Natalie Mlynkova, C, Minnesota – 395 / 58.2%
8. Anna Segedi, C, Colgate – 678 / 58.0%
9. Ella Huber, C, Minnesota – 709 / 56.1%
10. Skylar Irving, C, Northeastern – 579 / 55.6%