December’s Commit list is very international and is highlighted by 11 Canadian players, 6 European players, and 5 Americans. The European players are a sign that the game is growing overseas, as seen by the results of this year’s IIHF U18 World Championships. Amongst those six European players are a plethora of medals, championships, and accolades that are stacking up. Plosová (Czechia) U18 Silver Medal/World Championship Bronze Medal/IIHF U18 Most Points award, Jungåker (Sweden) U18 Silver Medal/IIHF Best Defender award, Kyrkkö (Finland) U18 Bronze Medal/IIHF Best Goaltender award, Raunio (Sweden) U18 Silver Medal, Svensson (Sweden), Sapovalivova (Czechia) U18 Silver Medal/two World Championship Bronze Medals/ Czechia Women’s Championship/IIHF U18 Best Forward Award are just the beginning of what is to come from other countries that are not the US or Canada. All of these European women are currently playing pro hockey in some form outside of North American and should give them a strong head start to play at the collegiate level. Congratulations to all players on this month’s list and we look forward to watching you continue to grow the women’s hockey game at the next level.
European Players
Jenna Raunio – D (★★★★) – Commits to Ohio State University ‘25
Raunio is a Swedish defender currently playing pro in the Svenska damhockeyligan (SDHL) for HV71. She has 3 years of International playing experience on her resume at the U18 level and showed impressive improvement each year. Last year she helped her country to a silver medal at the U18 World Junior Championships where she was a point per game player. Raunio is one of three European players on this list committing to The Ohio State University. However, the 4-Star defender will still play another season before joining the Buckeyes in Columbus, OH.
NZ Scouts say: “Raunio is an offensively skilled defenseman who stands out for her exceptional puck control and distribution skills from the point. With adept edge work, she has the ability to create space on the blue line, utilizing quick and precise skating movements to force the defence to react. Her proficiency in controlling the puck allows her to orchestrate plays effectively from the back end.”
Adela Sapovalivova – F (★★★★1/2) – Commits to University of Wisconsin ‘24
Sapovalivova is a name that you will want to learn now because we will be hearing a lot of it in the years to come. The 4.5 star Cezchia native is currently honing her skills in the Svenska damhockeyligan (SDHL) for the MoDo Hockey club. At 17 years old she is playing in Sweden’s women’s professional league against older and stronger women. But she is more than holding her own as she currently has 24 in 26 games. But that is not all, to add to her strong season, Sapovalivova just added a U18 World Junior Championship silver medal to her already growing accolades that surly she will need a new trophy case for soon. Some of those other accolades include, U18 WJC Best Forward Award and 2 – Women’s World Championship bronze medals. Next season she will join the Badgers in Madion, WI where she will undoubtedly help them chase down another National Championship and add another trophy to her case.
NZ Scouts say: “Sapovalivova is a quick and dynamic skater, excelling in probing for space and showcasing effective forechecking skills with an active stick. She does well at receiving the puck in stride and exhibiting a burst of speed when entering the offensive zone. Sapovalivova is adept in her ability to cut inside with speed, and create prime shooting opportunities from the slot. A notable highlight is her scoring proficiency in 2-on-2 situations, where a tight cut inside, coupled with exceptional speed, set her up for a lethal snapshot. Sapovalivova demonstrates a knack for beating goalies high glove and through the legs in high-pressure scenarios.”
Tereza Plosova – F (★★★★1/4) – Commits to University of Minnesota ‘25
Plosova left her home country of Czechia this season to pursue her hockey dream while playing in the Svenska damhockeyligan (SDHL), Sweden’s women’s professional hockey league. She bet on herself and at the age of 17 that gamble is paying off. She is currently has 20 points in 27 games for Djurgårdens IF. To go along with her current regular season run, Plosova just added into her trophy case a U18 World Junior Championship silver medal to go along with her bronze medal from the previous year. Whoever she plays for next season will be getting a tremounous talent before she joins the Golden Gophers in 2025.
NZ Scouts say: “Plosova stands out as a strong and dynamic skater, showcasing impressive bursts of speed and effective shielding techniques. She consistently position themselves as the first to reach the puck in offensive plays, displaying a keen sense of timing and anticipation. As an efficient puck mover, Plosova contributes to offensive transitions and creating scoring opportunities. Defensively, Plosova is adept at forcing turnovers with well-timed stick checks in the neutral zone, and clogging passing lanes.”
Elin Svensson (F) – Commits to Ohio State University ‘25
Despite being one of the older players on this list at 21 years of age to commit, Svensson will still wait until the ‘25 season to join The Ohio State Buckeyes. Svensson is currently playing pro in the Svenska damhockeyligan (SDHL) for HV71 where she currently has 27 points in 27 games. She also has a number of years of International experience on her resume playing for Sweden’s U18 and Senior teams.
Emilia Kyrkko (G) – Commits to St. Cloud State University ‘24
Kyrkko is a Finnish netminder currently playing in the Naisten Liiga, Finland’s Elite Women’s Hockey League. She has put up strong numbers in each year she has played in the league, with improvement each year. Along with her league play, Kyrkko has added some International accolades as well. In the 2021-22 U18 World Junior Championships she walked away with the Best Goaltender award and Best Save Percentage to go along with her Bronze Medal. The rising Finnish star will join the Huskies at St. Cloud State next season where she will look to backstop them to their first NCAA Tournament appearance.
Mira Jungaker (D) – Commits to Ohio State University ‘24
Jungaker is Swedish born defender currently playing pro in the Svenska damhockeyligan (SDHL) for HV71 where she currently has 19 points in 27 games. The 18 year old already has a number of accomplishments to her resume as well. In the 21-22 season she was Rookie of the Year in the SDHL and had the most points by a U18 player (21 points). Last year she added a U18 World Junior Championships silver medal, along with the Best Defender award, and Most Goals and Points by a defender in the same tournament. She will be the first of the SDHL players on this list as other follow in the ‘25 season to join the Buckeyes in Columbus, OH, in hopes of adding NCAA glory to the resume.
USA/Canada Players
Josie St. Martin – F (★★★★) – Commits to Ohio State University ’24
St. Martin, a Stillwater High School standout and assistant captain of the USA-U18 squad will have a bit of a change of scenery next season. From the land of 10,000 lakes, she will head southeast to join the Buckeyes in Columbus, OH. St. Martin has consistently proven that she is a high-end offensive threat and this season has been no different. She currently has 47 points in 17 games for her Stillwater High School and added 6 goals and 3 assists in 6 games at U18 World Juniors.
NZ Scouts say: “St. Martin has a strong/powerful stride and uses her low center of gravity to make a wide base to protect pucks. She hard to knock off the puck because of her strength and stability on her skates. She utilizes that leg strength in her shot as well and has an absolute cannon of a slap shot that she can unleash from anywhere in motion. But she is not just a goal scorer, but also a playmaker with excellent vision of the ice and ability to create passing lanes that are not entirely there.”
Isabelle Michaud – F (★★★3/4) – Commits to University of Maine ‘24
Michaud will not have far to move next season. The New Brunswick, Canada player will just have to jump across the board into Maine and throw on that Black Bears jersey. Last season she put up 40 points in 24 games and this year had a nice showing for Team Atlantic.
NZ Scouts say: “Michaud is a solid two-way player, using her quick stick check to force turnovers that lead to successful zone entries. Her quick hands and ability to release a wicked wrist shot from the high slot make her a scoring threat. Additionally, Michaud’s good separation speed gives her an edge on the ice. She is a deft stick handler, using a smooth drag and releases to change shooting angles and following her shot to retrieve rebounds quickly.”
Olwen Jones – F (★★★1/2) – Commits to Carleton University ‘24
Jones comes from the always stellar Lady Sens program. She will conclude her 3rd and final season with the program this year. But do not look to far for her next season, as she has opted to stay closer to home and continue her education and playing career with the Ravens at Carleton University. She will look to help the Red and Black elevate their offensive game.
NZ Scouts say: “Jones is a threat in the offensive zone when she wants to be. She uses her size to be a strong net-front presence and is a good forechecker, knocking the puck off her opponents’ sticks.”
Frederikke Foss – F (★★★1/4) – Commits to University of Maine ‘24
The 5’8” left handed forward from Denmark has had a strong season so far with Shattuck St. Mary’s U19 squad, putting up 31 points in 31 games as of this read. Foss has a plethora of International experience as she has been a member of the of the Denmark U18 team as well as the Women’s World Championship team since 2019.
NZ Scouts say: “Foss is a tall and strong forward who can show glimpses of dominance on the ice, with her tall frame, while protecting the puck, and getting pucks into the O zone. She is confident with the puck, which allows her to enter the zone with ease, and put a shot towards the cage.”
Catherine Proulx – F (★★★1/4) – Commits to University of Montreal ‘24
Proulx has had a productive last couple of seasons, leading her Cougars team to the QCHL playoffs the last two years. She will stick close to home and play in her home Province for University of Montreal.
NZ Scouts say: “Proulx is a solid defensive forward who clogs passing lanes and uses quick feet and stick to force turnovers on both ends. Works hard on the forecheck and battles in the corners for loose pucks. Proulx has solid hands and can make tight turns and changes of direction with the puck to keep the defense guessing.”
Stephanie Jacob – F (★★★) – Commits to University of Maine ‘24
Look out Orono, another hard working Canadian player is coming to join your team. This time from Winnipeg where Jacob has also represented her Province of Manitoba as well. She will trade in her Winnipeg Ice sweater for a Maine Black Bear one next season.
NZ Scouts say: “Stephanie is all over the ice, she provides constant pressure on not only opposing d-man but opposing forwards as well. She is a fast skater with a long stride, and has patience with her speed. She knows when to turn it on and when to slow down.”
Madisyn Ryan – G (★★★) – Commits to University of Maine ‘24
Ryan joined the Florida Alliance organization this year after spending the the last three with the Anaheim Lady Ducks. In that time she has had three USA Developmental Camp invites, proving that SoCal women’s hockey is legit and growing. However, now Ryan will have to trade in her sunny weather flip-flops for Northeastern snow boots as she heads from the very south to the very north to Ryan will pull over the Maine blue, navy, and white. While Maine is losing two netminders to graduation, Ryan will have the opportunity to step up and battle for a backup role for now.
NZ Scouts say: “Ryan gets out to the top of the blue paint to track pucks. Her quick pads and lateral movement allow her to get across quickly to handle low shots and bounce back up to face rebound attempts. She uses her stick effectively to take away the passing lane for any backdoor attempts.”
Emma Thornton – F (★★3/4) – Commits to University of Waterloo ‘24
So far Thornton has matched her previous season total of 20 points in the OWHL and she’s still going. The left handed Kitchener forward will join the USport ranks and continue her education and hockey career a little closer to home for the University of Waterloo.
NZ Scouts say: “A solid defensive-minded forward, Thornton picks up sticks as she hustles on the backcheck and clears her net front. She has an active stick and attacks aggressively on the forecheck, blowing past opponents to be first to the puck. She reads the play well and makes accurate passes to quickly move the play up ice. A nice skater, Thornton carries the puck with speed to get it deep. Has a good net presence and a heavy wrist shot.”
Karington Mollin (F) – Commits to MacEwan University ‘24
Mikayla Totten (D) – Commits to York University ‘24
Regina Metzler (F) – Commits to Mercyhurst University ‘24
Hannah Reagh (F) – Commits to University of Calgary ‘24
Marieve Roussel (D) – Commits to Wilfrid Laurier University ‘24
Julia Chedel (D) – Commits to St. Michael’s College ‘24
Darragh Browne (F) – Commits to University of Maine ‘25
Quinlyn Borner (F) – Commits to Lindenwood University ‘25