This season presents an opportunity for the rest of the AHA as Penn State graduated a generational class of players that took them (and the conference) to their first-ever Frozen Four and had seven PWHL draft picks. The Nittany Lions are still the favorite to take the league title, but the door is as open as it’s been in recent memory for other teams. PSU lost just eight conference games over the past four seasons and have won the conference championships in five of the last six years.
Mercyhurst and RIT saw little turnover in their rosters and seem the most likely to put pressure on Penn State, but the most interesting part of this conference might happen in the middle of the table. In 2026, just seven standings points separated third through sixth place at the end of the season.
Syracuse has a new veteran coach in Biran Idalski while last season saw a program record in wins from Lindenwood. Delaware comes back with experience and on the heels of a near-upset of RMU in the AHA Tournament. There was a clear build from them throughout the season Robert Morris ices their best team in a few seasons with a ton of experience.
AHA games stream on FloHockey.tv and league play is scheduled to open on October 2.
Delaware
The Blue Hens enter their second season of DI play with a pair of wins last season, but four overtime losses, including in their final game of the season. They return almost the entire roster who are no longer facing a season of firsts. They have experience not just in games, but in the rhythm of the season and should be much more prepared to close out games. The framework of what this team is capable of showed last season and now they have to take the next step forward, building on that foundation. If they even just keep the trajectory of last season, they’re in a great place to have an impact this year.
Last Season
2-31-0, 1-23-0 (seventh). Lost to Robert Morris in the opening round of the AHA tournament.
Key Returners
Sophomore forward Francesca Barresi, sophomore defender Lexi Lonask
Lonask racked up an unfathomable 141 blocks last season. Barresi was second on the team in scoring.
Key Departures
Forward Kaitlin Finnegan (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Forward Katie Belk
She had 15 goals and 25 assists in 45 games in the OWHL last season.
Prediction
Seventh
Lindenwood
It was an outstanding season for the Lions, who won nine more games and finished higher in the AHA standings than they ever had before. Now they have a new coach in Max Gavin and ice a roster with players from 12 countries on three continents.
Last Season
14-21-2, 11-12-1 (third). Lost to Mercyhurst in the semifinals of the AHA tournament.
Key Returners
Sophomore forward Tatiana Blichova, junior goalie Madison Bowtell
Bowtell did get several starts last season, but she hasn’t handled the bulk of the load before now. If the Lions want to make last season the standard and not a fluke, they need a solid base in net, so they need Bowell to be very good.
Key Departures
Graduate goalie Lexington Secreto (Mercyhurst)
She transferred in for one year and took the bulk of the starts in net, but moved on, leaving some questions marks about how strong the Lions can be in the net.
Most intriguing newcomer
Defender Thea Rustbakken
There are three Norwegian nationals in this incoming class that I’ll be keeping an eye on, but Rustbakken seems to be a real two-way player that will bring strength on defense and offense.
Prediction
Third
Mercyhurst
I really like the young talent on this roster. Losing Julia Schalin takes some of the experienced heart of this group, but I think this is a team that, if it gels, could surprise some people. The Lakers have been so stable and consistent over the years, but I feel like this young group could add a little more flare and flash to Mercyhurst’s game. Their steadiness is a calling card, but I think they can maintain that while stealing a few games and flashing some flair that can put pressure on Penn State.
Last Season
23-11-3, 17-5-2 (second). Lost to Penn State in the CHA Tournament championship game.
Key Returners
Sophomore forward Julia Perjus
She led the team last season as a redshirt freshman with 17 goals and 21 assists.
Key Departures
Junior forward Julia Schalin (Minnesota), defender Payten Evans (graduation)
Schalin was third on the team in scoring and seemed to have a breakout performance at the 2026 Olympics. Evans was second on the team in blocks and was fifth on the team in scoring.
Most intriguing newcomer
Swiss defender Sonja Inkamp, Russian forward Mariia Polozkova
Inkamp has been a standout for the Swiss at the last two U18 World Championships. She’s incredibly smart with the puck, reads the ice well and gets involved on offense. As she settles in, look for her to get more comfortable unleashing a deceptively good shot from the blue line. Polozkova was captain of the Russian women’s U18 national team and earned both Best Forward and Top Scorer of the Russian girls’ U18 championship.
Prediction
Second
Penn State
It’s probably still the Nittany Lions’ league to lose, but they’ll have to find a new way to do it this year after graduating what feels like half the roster and the record book. The roster is still plenty stacked, but its young and many of the returners were in smaller roles. PSU’s results will depend on how quickly they adjust. And the biggest question will be in net. Katie DeSa started 64 games over the last two seasons. Campbell appeared in 11 games.
Last Season
33-6, 22-2 (first). Lost to Wisconsin in overtime in the national semifinal.
Key Returners
Sophomore goalie Maddie Campbell, junior forward Grace Outwater, sophomore defender Danica Maynard
Outwater was the pick for pre-season AHA Player of the year. Maynard
Key Departures
Forwards Tessa Janecke, Katelyn Roberts, goalie Katie DeSa, defender Kendall Butze (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Goalie Morgan Stickney, forward Kylie Amelkovich, forward Sophia Ismael
Stickney will be fighting to earn the starting role in net. She was the starting backstop for team USA in 2025 and earned two shutouts in two starts en route to gold in 2026. Amelkovich showed herself to be a spectacular linemate at the 2026 U18 Worlds, tallying 12 assists.I like how she uses her size. Ismael had 15 points at the 2025 Worlds.
Prediction
First
Robert Morris
It’s completely fair that it’s been a couple of weird years for RMU as they tried to reestablish the program and earn players’ belief. But they return some experienced impact players across the lineup and have a strong and steady presence with Maggie Hatch in net. With the competition, I do think they could end up anywhere from third to sixth, but I’m giving them an edge over Syracuse because I think they have fewer unknowns.
Last Season
13-21-2, 8-14-2 (sixth). Lost to Lindenwood in the quarterfinals of the CHA tournament.
Key Returners
Junior forward Jessica MacKinnon
She’s the heart of this team, putting in the work and standing out on both sides of the puck. She’s just as likely to be earning a block or chasing down a play as she is to shoot the puck. I
Key Departures
Sophomore defender Linnea Misner (Vermont), forward Morgan Giannone (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Junior forward Greta Brezinski (Clarkson)
It feels like she is poised to have a big season. She was down the depth chart a little at Clarkson but she has great athleticism and with a little more time on ice and freedom I think she’ll do well.
Prediction
Fifth
RIT
The Tigers are going to surprise people who don’t pay as much attention to the AHA. They tied their program high for conference wins last season – the first time they’d won double digit conference games since 2013-14. It feels like things have really been coming together for Celeste Brown as she enters her seventh season at the helm. Their non-conference schedule is tough, but I think it will benefit them in the long run. With a big and prolific graduating class across the league, RIT comes in with five players on the top 15 active conference career list while no other school has more than three. I’d like to see the Tigers really take advantage of their experience and earn some points early in the season.
Last Season
16-18, 11-13 (fourth). Lost to Syracuse in the quarterfinals of the AHA tournament.
Key Returners
Senior defender Emma Pickering, Tilli Keranen
Pickering is already a two-time first team all-conference winner and she was the only player besides Outwater to get votes for preseason Player of the Year. She’s a moderate offensive threat herself, but she’s at her best leading the power play and carrying the play into the zone and setting teammates up. A strong and steady defender, she balances her 200 foot game well.
Key Departures
Goalie Sophia Bellina (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Goalie Oceanne Thiffault
I’d like to see her get some ice time this season in preparation for taking over full time.
Prediction
Fourth
Syracuse
While the Orange didn’t win any more games last season over the year before, they had fewer losses and more ties and I like what that tells me about their compete and discipline. New coach Brian Idalski is sure to make some changes, but there is a lot to build on with Syracuse. They return their top six scorers from last season. It’s going to be a tough league to crack the top half of this season, but I think it’s going to be a fun and entertaining fight.
Last Season
15-18-4, 11-9 (fifth). Lost to Penn State in the AHA semifinals
Key Returners
Sophomore goalie Ava Drabyk, forward Emma Gnade
Gnade led the team in points as a freshman, tallying nine goals and 11 assists. Drabyk earned the starting role and had five shutouts on the season.
Key Departures
Defender Maya D’Arcy (graduation)
Most intriguing newcomer
Sophomore forward Kerttu Lehmus (Merrimack)
Had as many blocks as shots on goal last season and tallied nine points. She is small but was a force at U18s and has been playing at the senior level in Finland since she was 13. I also think Idalski understands the European game better than most collegiate colleges and it helps him get the best out of those players. This feels like a good matchup.
Prediction
Sixth