A Milestone for Penn State Hockey
The 2026 Professional Women's Hockey League Draft turned into a showcase of Penn State’s growing influence on the women’s game, as seven former Nittany Lions hearing their names called across six franchises.
Tessa Janecke made history by becoming the highest‑drafted alum, slipping to the third overall pick and joining the newly minted Las Vegas franchise. The milestone marks Janecke not only as the program’s first Olympic gold‑medalist but also as a trailblazer for future Penn State talent.
Leah Stecker, Maddy Christian, Katie DeSa, Katelyn Roberts, Kendall Butze and Mya Vaslet followed with selections ranging from the mid‑twenties to the late sixties, landing with the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Vancouver Goldeneyes, New York Sirens, Las Vegas expansion team and Hamilton franchise respectively.
Beyond the draft numbers, the article highlights individual achievements: Janecke continues to hold multiple program records, while DeSa’s career marks include the best shutout rate, winning percentage and goals‑against average in Penn State history.
The broader context of the league adds intrigue. The Minnesota Frost, fresh off back‑to‑back Walter Cup titles, remain a benchmark of success, whereas the Vancouver Goldeneyes finished their inaugural season with 37 points but missed the playoffs. The New York Sirens, despite three seasons, have yet to qualify for the postseason, and the upcoming Hamilton franchise will become the first PWHL team without an NHL counterpart in its city.