What’s become an annual offseason trading post, also known as the NCAA transfer portal, has heated up again this offseason for NCAA women’s hockey. Several schools have been active early in recruiting via the portal.
For some of the nation’s top teams, including Ohio State, who has appeared in three straight national championship games, the transfer portal has become their main recruitment path.
This offseason, Minnesota-Duluth, who finished the year as the sixth ranked team in the nation, has been one of the more active teams. They picked up defender Ashley Messier from Cornell. Messier played for Canada’s national development team this season. The Bulldogs also signed Kate Kosobud (Minnesota) and Josie St. Martin (Ohio State) from WCHA rivals.
To date, the top scoring transfer is now former Minnesota State forward Jamie Nelson. Nelson will play her fifth season of eligibility with WCHA rival Minnesota. Heading in the reverse direction is former Minnesota Ms. Hockey winner Ayla Puppe. Puppe finished her rookie season with Minnesota this year, but found herself buried on the roster. She’ll head to Minnesota State for a new start.
Quinnipiac recently added a pair of players via the portal including former Boston University forward and U-18 Canadian standout Alex Law, as well as former Merrimack goalie Calli Hograth.
A large number of talented players remain available in the NCAA women’s hockey Transfer Portal. Among those are Julia Pellerin (Boston College), Molly Jordan (Boston College), Julia Minotti (Clarkson), Thea Johansson (Merrimack), Megan McKay (Merrimack), Jenessa Gazdik and JuliAnna Gazdik (Minnesota State), Reese Logan (Minnesota-Duluth), Andrea Trnkova (RPI), Lara Beecher (Vermont), and Emma-Sofie Nordstrom (St. Lawrence).
