UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women’s hockey head coach Jeff Kampersal announced the team’s leadership group for the upcoming 2026-27 season Wednesday afternoon. Juniors Taya MacDonald and Grace Outwater will serve as captains, while juniors Abby Stonehouse and Nicole Hall will serve as alternate captains.
“Each season, the coaching staff is blessed to coach a team full of leaders and followers,” said Kampersal. “Grace, Taya, Nicole and Abby earned letters because they collectively represent our core values of trust, being team-first, grit and having a positive attitude. Overall, they celebrate their teammates while pushing everyone around them to be their best.”
Taya MacDonald • #7 • Junior • 5-11 • Defense • London, Ontario
MacDonald has skated in all 77 career games, tallying three goals and 13 assists for 16 points. She has consistently made a positive impact in the lineup, recording a career plus/minus of +56, which ranks 10th in program history. Her career-best +38 during the 2025-26 season alone ranks third on Penn State’s single-season list.
Grace Outwater • #8 • Junior • 5-8 • Forward • Picton, Ontario
Outwater was named Atlantic Hockey America Preseason Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Preseason All-Conference Team following a standout sophomore campaign. She recorded career highs of 24 goals and 16 assists for 40 points. Outwater led the AHA in conference scoring, contributing 31 points (19G, 12A) in 24 conference games to capture the AHA scoring title. Her 40 total points ranked third overall in the conference and tied for 27th nationally.
Her 24 goals set Penn State’s sophomore single-season record while ranking second in the AHA and tied for 11th nationally. Outwater also contributed six game-winning goals, which ranked second in the AHA and tied for fourth nationally, while her two short-handed goals tied for first in the conference and sixth nationally. She capped her season by earning All-AHA First Team honors.
Throughout her career, Outwater has skated in 74 games, tallying 40 goals and 26 assists for 66 points. Her 40 career goals rank seventh in program history.
Internationally, she most recently represented Canada in a three-game series against the United States National Women’s Collegiate Select Team in mid-August following her participation at Hockey Canada’s National Women’s Team Development Camp. Prior to that, Outwater was invited to Canada’s Women’s Team camp in the summer of 2023.
Abby Stonehouse • #11 • Junior • 5-4 • Forward • Blenheim, Ontario
During her sophomore campaign, Stonehouse recorded career highs of 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points. Her 14 goals rank fifth all-time by a Penn State sophomore, while her 10 assists rank eighth and her 24 points rank sixth. Stonehouse also recorded a +28 plus/minus, which ranks eighth on Penn State’s single-season list. Her career average of 0.30 goals per game ranks seventh in program history.
Throughout her career, Stonehouse has competed in all 77 games, tallying 23 goals and 15 assists for 38 points.
Internationally, Stonehouse represented Canada at the 2023 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, earned a bronze medal at the 2023 Canada Winter Games and competed in the 2023 National Women’s Under-18 Championship. She most recently represented Canada in a three-game series against the United States National Women’s Collegiate Select Team in mid-August following her participation at Hockey Canada’s National Women’s Team Development Camp.
Nicole Hall • #21 • Junior • 5-5 • Forward • Stockholm, Sweden
During her sophomore campaign, Hall recorded career highs of 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in 33 games. Her 11 goals rank seventh all-time by a Penn State sophomore, while her 10 assists rank eighth and her 21 points rank eighth.
Throughout her career, Hall has skated in 71 games, tallying 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 points.
Internationally, Hall has represented Sweden at various levels over the last seven years, skating in 83 games and recording 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points. She progressed through Sweden’s national team program as a member of the U16 team in 2020 before serving as captain of Sweden’s U18 team at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, helping the team capture gold. Hall made her Olympic debut at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games this past season, skating in all seven games.
She most recently represented Team Sweden at the Four Nations Tournament at the end of August, competing against Finland, Switzerland and Czechia following her participation at Sweden Women’s National Team Training Camp in June.
Women's Hockey opens the 2026-27 season versus Ohio State on Sept. 24 at Pegula Ice Arena.
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