BOSTON, Mass. - The Penn State women's ice hockey team was selected atop the 2025-26 Atlantic Hockey America Preseason Coaches' Poll the league announced on Tuesday morning. Senior forwards Tessa Janecke and Katelyn Roberts along with senior defenseman Kendall Butze and senior goaltender Katie DeSa were each named to the Preseason All-AHA team.
Penn State's selection as the AHA favorite comes after the Nittany Lions secured their third-straight regular season and tournament title in 2024-25. Tournament runner-up Mercyhurst was selected to finish second while RIT and Syracuse were picked to finish third and fourth. Robert Morris, Lindenwood and AHA newcomer Delaware rounded out the poll.
Penn State returns to the ice following a record-setting 31-6-1 season in 2024-25 which ended with a third-straight NCAA tournament appearance. The Nittany Lions set a program record with its 31 victories while posting an AHA record 19 conference wins. Penn State returns 13 letterwinners from a season ago while welcoming in eight newcomers to round out the 21-women roster.
On an individual front, four Nittany Lions earned spots on the Preseason All-AHA team, with Janecke earning her second-straight Preseason Player of the Year nod. Janecke has earned the league’s Forward and Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons and tied her career-high with 53 points in 2024-25. She racked up 24 goals and 29 assists and was a Patty Kazmaier top 10 finalist for the second-straight year while earning second team All-American accolades.
Senior goaltender Katie DeSa was named to the preseason All-AHA squad for the second-straight year. DeSa ranked as one of the top goaltenders in the nation last season earning the Brianne McLaughlin AHA Goaltender of the Year and an All-AHA First Team selection and was a semifinalist for the HCA Goalie of the Year Award. She compiled an impressive 27-6-0 record in 2024-25 with her 27 victories being the most in a season in program history. She finished tied for the most shutouts in a season in team history with nine, a mark good for second in the country. Nationally, DeSa finished the 2024-25 campaign ranking second in wins, second in winning percentage (.818), fourth in goals against average (1.418) and 16th in save percentage (.932). She led the AHA in all five categories.
Butze and Roberts are first-time preseason honorees after earning All-AHA First Team accolades at the end of the 2024-25 season. Butze was named the Molly Byrne AHA Best Defeseman a season ago following a 27-point campaign from the backend registering four goals and 23 assists with a plus-20 rating.
Roberts ranked second on the team with a career-best 35 points on 11 goals and a career-high 24 assists last season.
Penn State opens the 2025-26 season at home on Thursday, Sept. 25 when they host St. Lawrence.