ON THE PUCK: Princeton University women’s hockey player Maggie Johnson, right, controls the puck during a game in the 2023-24 season. Junior defenseman and co-captain Johnson figures to bring leadership and production to the blue line this winter for the Tigers. Princeton, which is being guided by new head coach Courtney Kessel, opens its 2025-26 campaign by playing a two-game set at UConn on October 17 and 18. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)
By Bill Alden
Courtney Kessel is enjoying a homecoming as she has taken the helm of the Princeton University women’s hockey program.
Having served as an assistant coach for the program from 2019-23, Kessel has quickly developed a comfort level in her return engagement.
“It feels like I never left which is great,” said Kessel, who served as the head coach of the Boston Fleet in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) last year. “I really feel like this is home. It has just been so nice to reconnect. I don’t feel like I missed a beat here.”
Kessel is looking to have her players connect on and off the ice as they open their 2025-26 campaign by playing a two-game set at UConn (2-2) on October 17 and 18 as they look to build on a solid 18-12-2 season last winter.
“I think one of our big things is stick to our habits; we want to be a team that outworks the other team no matter what the result is at the end of the game,” said Kessel. “Off the ice, we have really been stressing that this is a family. We are going to show up for each other on good days and bad days. We are going to take care of each other.”
The Tigers should get a lot of good work from its quartet of senior forwards, Issy Wunder (26 goals, 24 assists in 2024-25), Emerson O’Leary (7 goals, 29 assists), Jane Kuehl (5 goals, 14 assists), and Katherine Khramtsov (6 goals, 5 assists).
“From a leadership standpoint, they have been absolutely amazing in how far they have come since I was here when they were first-years,” said Kessel. “It has been really cool to watch that development happen. Also on the ice, just leading by example, showing up, working hard and doing the small things. It is getting the warmups and the cool downs done and just teaching the younger ones the ropes of transitioning into being an NCAA athlete.”
Two of those seniors, co-captains Wunder and O’Leary, will skate on a line with sophomore star Mackenzie Alexander (14 goals, 32 assists).
“It has been really fun just to see how far Issy has come and how elite she is; she is a true professional, she is different,” said Kessel. “It is exciting to watch her grow. Mac is super special. She has got speed, she has got hands, she can rip the puck and she sees the ice. I am really excited to watch her develop here. Our hope is to get her on that national team one day. Emmie is looking good, she is putting the puck in the back of the net with those two but also finding them in the soft areas. Her game has come a long way. She is going to be a great forechecker for us, she is going to turn pucks over for us and then get those pucks to players that are tremendous hockey players.”
Khramtsov and co-captain Kuehl bring work ethic and game to the ice.
“Katherine works harder than everyone I have ever seen, she seems to be healthy, she is ready to go,” said Kessel. “Jane is a firecracker. She always has a smile on her face. She loves competing.”
A pair of sophomores, Angelina DiGirolamo (6 goals, 13 assists) and Hannah Fetterolf (3 goals, 2 assists), figure to see more ice time this winter.
“Angelina is that kid who works her butt off, she is so detail-oriented and so skilled,” said Kessel. “I was excited to recruit her in the day, I am excited to watch her hold down the middle. She can also put the puck into the net too. Hannah will play a role for us, I am looking forward to seeing what she can do.”
In addition, freshmen forwards Sawyer Fleming and Riley Sorokan look ready to play a role in their debut season.
“Sawyer is very tenacious and feisty, I think she is going to do well with the physicality of the next level,” said Kessel. “Riley is someone to watch. I think she is going to be stellar and just continue to grow. Her sense away from the puck is tremendous but when she has the puck you will know it. She is a great hockey player.”
On defense, the trio of sophomore Rosie Klein (4 goals, 11 assists), junior Gabby Kim (1 goal, 11 assists), and junior co-captain Maggie Johnson (2 goals, 14 assists) will be leading the way.
“Rosie is only a sophomore, it is crazy to see how far she has come since we recruited her,” said Kessel. “It is really exciting to know that we have her for three years. Gabby and Maggie are a dynamic duo, they work really well together. Gabby is something special. The way she can break the puck out is incredible. Maggie is a true leader, she really engages with every single person in our locker room. I think that is so important. She competes and she battles. She is the glue in our locker room.”
Freshman Megan Healy and junior Teja Gatfield (1 goal, 2 assists) should contribute along the blue line as well.
“Megan is an incoming freshman so we are excited to watch her,” said Kessel. “She has been with Team USA U-18 program. She has some real talent and some poise with the puck so I am excited to see how she does at this level. Teja can see the game really well and I think she slows it down a bit out there which is nice. We are going to lean on her in some important moments.”
At goalie, Princeton boasts plenty of depth with junior Uma Corniea, who was sidelined by injury last winter, and senior Taylor Hyland (1.99 goals against average and .898 save percentage in 10 appearances last season) returning along with a pair of freshmen newcomers in Lia Nevo and Kitty Williams.
The two veterans, Corniea and Hyland, are looking sharp.
“Uma has been tremendous, she is cleared and ready to play,” said Kessel. “Taylor is looking good. She is looking confident. She is aggressive on pucks which is what we want to see from her. She is in her senior year so we hope for good things.”
In the view of Kessel, the two freshmen have the potential to do some good things as well.
“Kitty is just the most genuine human I have ever met and just works her butt off,” said Kessel. “She is just so kind but also wants to compete. I think Lia is going to be a great goalie. Being a first-year and having two great goalies already being here, she is going to compete for a spot. She is going to push our older goalies as well. It is exciting, we have a good group.”
Kessel is fired up to see what her team can do on its opening weekend up in Connecticut.
“It is get on the bus and get away from school; we are just going to have finished fall break which is nice for the players, they have a fresh mind,” said Kessel. “They can bond on the bus. We are excited for the puck to drop. We have been waiting, they are all anxious and ready to go. I am hoping we can just manage the emotions of that. Our hope is that we can break pucks out and create offense. We are going to go from there. Our biggest thing is I want this to be a family. That is the most important thing. You are going to play a little bit harder for the player beside you if you love them.”