GAME DAY: No. 7/7 Penn State WHKY at RIT

ON THE ROAD

The Penn State women’s hockey team returns to conference action with a two-game series at RIT, facing the Tigers Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.

LAST WEEKEND

Penn State swept St. Lawrence in non-conference action. In Friday’s 3-1 win, junior alternate captain Abby Stonehouse scored twice, including the game-winning goal, while junior captain Grace Outwater added the third goal. First-year goaltender Morgan Stickney made 19 saves in the victory. On Saturday afternoon, first-year Megan Hosman scored her first collegiate goal to tie the game before Outwater netted the overtime winner for her second goal of the weekend. Stickney finished with 21 saves to secure the sweep. The pair of wins marked the Nittany Lions’ second sweep of St. Lawrence in program history, following their first-ever victories over the Saints to open last season on Sept. 25-26, 2025.

ABOUT RIT

RIT dropped both games against No. 4 Northeastern last weekend. On Friday afternoon,  RIT’s goaltender Oceanne Tiffault made 35 saves in the loss. On Saturday afternoon, Ireland Stein scored the Tigers’ lone goal, while Tiffault recorded 26 saves and Tahlia Vassuer added 13 in relief.

LEADING WITH GRACE

Junior captain Grace Outwater was named Atlantic Hockey America Forward of the Week after scoring two goals, including the game winner against St. Lawrence in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime win.

The game winner was the 12th of her career, making her the leader among active Atlantic Hockey America players. Outwater also tied Katelyn Roberts for third in Penn State history, and is just five shy of passing Natalie Heising’s program record of 16.

Outwater has now also scored in both games against St. Lawrence in each of the past two seasons. She also scored in Penn State’s wins on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26, 2025, which marked the program’s first two victories over the Saints.

Outwater also netted a shorthanded goal in the 3-0 victory against Lindenwood on Oct. 17, bringing her career total to five. That total is tied with Minnesota’s Caitlin Kraemer for the most among active players nationally, currently leads Atlantic Hockey America, and ranks third in Penn State history. She is just five shy of beating Tessa Janecke’s program record of nine and Meghan Agosta’s conference record of nine.

This marks Outwater’s first weekly honor of her career. She previously earned a spot on Atlantic Hockey America’s All-Rookie Team in 2024-25.

Through eight games this season, Outwater has recorded seven goals and one assist for eight points. In 82 career games, she has totaled 47 goals and 27 assists for 74 points.

 STONEWALL STICKNEY

Stickney earned starts on consecutive nights and posted back-to-back wins for the first time in her career against St. Lawrence on Oct. 23-24. She posted a .953 save percentage across the two victories, allowing just one goal in each game. She made 21 saves in Friday’s 3-1 win before adding 19 in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime victory.

This marks Stickney’s third weekly honor this season after earning Rookie of the Week recognition twice previously. She most recently received the award on Oct. 19 after making 18 saves for her first career shutout in Penn State’s 3-0 win over Lindenwood on Oct. 17. Lindenwood is located in her hometown of St. Charles, Mo.

Stickney also earned Rookie of the Week honors on Sept. 28 after recording 44 saves in her collegiate debut against No. 2 Ohio State on Sept. 24. She helped Penn 

State take the Buckeyes to overtime for the first time in program history before falling 2-1. Her 44 saves were the most by a Penn State goaltender in a collegiate debut since the 2016-17 season. The match up marked Penn State’s first one-goal game against Ohio State since a 3-2 victory on Jan. 3, 2016.

Through six career appearances, Stickney has posted a 4-1-0 record with a 1.90 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.

POINTS ON POINT

With an assist in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime win, sophomore Mikah Keller extended her point streak to six games, totaling two goals and four assists for six points during that stretch.

Keller recorded an assist in each game against the Saints for the second straight season, matching her contributions in Penn State’s 3-0 and 5-2 wins on Sept. 25 and 26 to open the 2025-26 season.

SOFIA'S SCORING

With an assist in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime win, Ismael brought her season totals to six goals and eight assists for 14 points. She leads all NCAA rookies in goals and ranks second in both assists and points.

MORE FROM MORROW

With an assist in Friday’s 3-1 win against St. Lawrence, Morrow has tallied a goal and eighth assists for nine points in her last seven games played.

Morrow earned Atlantic Hockey America Defender of the Week honors scored her first career game-winning goal and added two assists in the 5-4 victory over Lindenwood on Oct. 17. The goal marked her first of the season and her points marked her second career three-point performance.

The honor marks Morrow’s second Defender of the Week award this season. She also earned the recognition Oct. 5 after recording two assists, a plus-2 rating and a career-high eight shots on goal against Robert Morris on Oct. 3.

Penn State limited the Colonials to just four shots on goal in that contest, the second fewest in program history. The Nittany Lions allowed just one shot in their Oct. 11, 2025, win at Delaware.

Through 49 career games played, Morrow has tallied four goals and 21 assists for 25 points.

ALL HALL

Junior alternate captain Nicole Hall was named to Sweden’s National Team roster for the Lidl Hockey Games, held Oct. 28–31 in Södertälje, Sweden, and the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship, scheduled for Nov. 6–16 in Herning, Denmark, the Swedish Ice Hockey Association announced Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Sweden earned a 2-0 win over Czechia on Oct. 28 and will face Switzerland at 1 p.m. ET  on Friday and Finland at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in the LIDL Hockey Games.

Sweden will begin Women’s World Championships, facing Canada on Friday, Nov. 6, at 9 a.m. ET before taking on Finland on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 9 a.m. ET. Sweden will then compete against Denmark on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m. ET and Japan on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. ET.

Hall is one of 24 players selected to represent Sweden in the two international tournaments.

Internationally, Hall has represented Sweden in 83 games, recording 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points. She helped Sweden’s U16 team capture silver at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics before captaining Sweden’s U18 team at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. Hall made her Olympic debut at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games, skating in all seven games. She most recently competed at the Four Nations Tournament in mid-August.

Through eight games this season, Hall has tallied four goals and two assist for six points, highlighted by a two-goal performance in the 4-0 win over Syracuse on Oct. 10. In 81 career games, she has recorded 22 goals and 16 assists for 38 points.

PRE-SEASON PREDICTIONS

Penn State was picked to finish first in the AHA preseason poll, released Monday, August 24.

Junior captain Grace Outwater was named AHA Preseason Player of the Year, and both Outwater and sophomore defenseman Danica Maynard earned spots on the AHA Preseason All-Conference Team.

OH CAPTAINS, MY CAPTAINS

On Wednesday, September 2, juniors Grace Outwater and Taya MacDonald were announced co-captains while juniors Abby Stonehouse and Nicole Hall were announced as alternate captains.

RETURNING ROSTER

Penn State women’s hockey welcomes back 12 returners, including six forwards - sophomores Matilde Fantin and Mikah Keller; juniors Nicole Hall, Grace Outwater, Abby Stonehouse and McKenna Walsh. Five defensemen - sophomores Danica Maynard, Sophie Morrow and Shelby Shane; juniors Taya MacDonald and Grace Tullock - and sophomore goaltender Maddy Campbell.

FRESH FACES

Penn State welcomes 10 newcomers, including six forwards: first-years Kylie Amelkovich, Sofia Ismael, Kayla McCarthy, Sydney McIntosh and Lorelai Nelson, and junior Alanna Devlin; two defensemen: first-year Megan Hosman and senior Ashley Kokavec; and two goaltenders: first-year Morgan Stickney and junior Savanna Muir.

FORWARD FLEET

Penn State returns a solid core of juniors Grace Outwater, Abby Stonehouse, and Nicole Hall, sophomores Mikah Keller and Matilde Fantin.

Outwater had a standout sophomore campaign, recording 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. Outwater’s 24 goals set Penn State’s sophomore single-season record while ranking second in the AHA and tied for 11th nationally. Outwater earned a spot on All-AHA First Team following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

Stonehouse recorded career highs of 14 goals and 10 assists for 24 points in her sophomore campaign. Her 14 goals ranked fifth all-time by a Penn State sophomore, while her 10 assists ranked eighth and her 24 points ranked sixth. Stonehouse also recorded a +28 plus/minus, which ranks eighth on Penn State’s single-season list.

Hall recorded career highs of 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points as a sophomore. Her 11 goals ranked seventh all-time by a Penn State sophomore, and her 10 assists and 21 points ranked eighth.

Internationally, Hall has represented Sweden in 83 games, recording 12 goals and 12 assists for 24 points. She helped Sweden’s U16 team capture silver at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympics before captaining Sweden’s U18 team at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. Hall made her Olympic debut at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games, skating in all seven games. She also competed at the Four Nations Tournament in mid-August and was named to Sweden’s roster for the 2026 Lidl Hockey Games, held Oct. 28–31 in Södertälje, Sweden, and the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship, scheduled for Nov. 6–16 in Herning, Denmark.

Fantin recorded 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points as a freshman. She earned All-Tournament Team honors after recording a goal and an assist to help Penn State capture its fourth straight AHA tournament title. Her 10 goals ranked seventh on Penn State’s freshman single-season list, while her 23 points ranked eighth.

Fantin was named to Team Italy’s Olympic roster for the first time in her career and competed on home ice at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. She appeared in all five games tallying three goals and was just one of 16 women to score at least three goals during the tournament. All three of Fantin’s goals came in Italy’s two victories, helping propel the host nation to the playoff round. She opened the tournament with a goal in Italy’s 4-1 win over France on Feb. 5 before netting two goals in a 3-2 victory over Japan on Feb. 9. Fantin has made eight international tournament appearances across U18s, national team, and Olympic levels, totaling 36 games, 25 goals and 21 points for 46 points.

Keller appeared in all 39 games for the Nittany Lions as a freshman, recording eight goals and 26 assists for 34 points. Her 26 assists rank fifth on Penn State’s single-season list and set the program’s freshman record. Her 34 points rank sixth on the single-season list and second among freshmen. She was named to the All-AHA Rookie Team following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.

ANCHORING THE BLUELINE

Penn State returns a solid core of sophomores Danica Maynard and Sophie Morrow, and  junior captain Taya MacDonald.

Maynard emerged as one of the nation’s top rookie defensemen in the 2025-26 season, tying the program’s single season defenseman points record with 33 points while her nine goals tied the record for most by a defenseman in team history. On the national stage, her 33 points tied second nationally amongst all freshman defensemen. Maynard earned AHA Rookie of the Year honors for recording 26 points on nine goals and 17 assists in 24 conference games played. She also added All-USCHO Third Team honors an All-USCHO Rookie Team honors to her accolades.

Internationally, Maynard helped Canada win gold at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, recording one goal and three assists in six games.

Morrow skated in 39 contests as a first-year, tallying three goals and 13 assists for 16 points as a first year. Morrow also most recently represented the United States in a three-game series against Canada, August 10-16, on the National Women’s Collegiate Select Team.

MacDonald  skated in all 77 career games through two seasons, 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.

BRICKWALL BRIGADE

Penn State returns sophomore goaltender Maddy Campbell, who posted a 6-2 record with a .935 save percentage and a 1.44 goals-against average as a rookie last season. She played five periods against No. 2 Ohio State on Jan. 2–3 and appeared in the series against No. 15 Mercyhurst on Jan. 9–10. In her first appearance this season, Campbell made 31 saves with a .939 save percentage and a 2.02 GAA against No. 2/2 Ohio State on Sept. 25.

The Nittany Lions welcome first-year goaltender, Morgan Stickney. Stickney competed four years at Shattuck St. Mary’s. In the 2025-26 season, she recorded 13 shutouts in 34 games while compiling a 1.28 GAA and .950 SV%. She also helped Shattuck capture the 2024 USA Hockey National Championship title.

On the international stage, Stickney represented Team USA at the 2025 and 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships. In 2026, Stickney recorded two shutouts as Team USA won gold without trailing or being tied at any point in the tournament, including its 2-0 win over Canada in the gold-medal game. In 2025, she helped the U.S. earn silver, posting a 0.67 goals-against average and a .957 save percentage in six games while earning All-Star Team honors. She became the first goaltender in tournament history to record an assist and to post shutouts in all three preliminary-round games and set a tournament record with a 183:01 shutout streak.

Stickney also became the first American female selected in the 2023 WHL Draft.

Penn State also adds junior goaltender, Savanna Muir, to the roster. Muir most recently competed for BK Selects after spending two seasons at SUNY Cortland at the Division III level. While competing for Bishop Kearney, Muir compiled a 9-1 record in 11 starts with six shutouts. She helped Bishop Kearney capture the NYSAHA District Championship and finish third at the 2026 USA Hockey National Tournament as the team posted a 46-14-1 record.

TRIPLE THREAT

Along with Stickney, Penn State welcomes first-years Kylie Amelkovich and Sofia Ismael.

Amelkovich played 152 games for Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep team from 2023–26, recording 76 goals and 83 assists for 159 points. In 2025–26, she totaled 36 goals and 36 assists for 72 points in 53 games. She also helped Shattuck-St. Mary’s win the 2024 USA Hockey U19 Championship.

Amelkovich represented Team USA at the 2025 and 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships. Serving as an assistant captain in 2026, she recorded two goals and 12 assists in six games as the United States completed a “perfect gold,” never trailing or being tied throughout the tournament. Her 12 assists are the second most by an American in a single tournament. She also earned silver in 2025, recording three goals and two assists in six games.

Ismael spent three seasons with the Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins U22 team, totaling 71 goals and 100 assists for 171 points in 125 games. As an assistant captain in 2025–26, she recorded 31 goals and 53 assists for 84 points in 44 games.

Ismael represented Team Canada at the 2025 and 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships. She earned silver and tournament All-Star honors in 2026 after recording seven goals and eight assists in six games. Her 15 points set a Canadian single-tournament record at the U18 women’s championship. In 2025, she helped Canada win gold, contributing two goals and two assists in six games.

TWO TRANSFERS

Penn State added two transfers: junior forward Alanna Devlin from Boston College and senior defenseman Ashley Kokavec from Vermont.

Devlin spent two seasons at Boston College, recording nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points. She earned Hockey East All-Academic Team honors as a freshman and won 54.9 percent of her faceoffs last season. Internationally, Devlin represented Team USA twice at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, helping the team win gold in 2024. She recorded a goal and an assist in six games during the championship run.

Kokavec began her collegiate career at Maine before transferring to Vermont, where she recorded eight goals and 25 assists for 33 points in 74 games over two seasons. In 2025–26, she led Vermont defensemen with 17 points and 14 assists. Her 14 assists tied for third among Hockey East defensemen, while her 17 points tied for fourth. She also blocked 49 shots, the second most on the team.