With the NCAA playoffs just around the corner, the PWHL Draft is also looming at the end of the rainbow.
There has been plenty of noise with players who are almost guaranteed to be taken as high picks thanks to their dominance in college hockey and international tournaments — Laila Edwards, Caroline Harvey, and Abbey Murphy, to name a few. But other players have been quietly making their mark on their respective teams, therefore raising their stocks in the upcoming draft. Below are three Hockey East players who fall under that category.
Lily Shannon, F, Northeastern
Wearing the “C” on her jersey for the Northeastern Huskies this year, Lily Shannon is currently tied with the highest points this season on her team, with 43 points in 37 games. Her point production throughout her four years at Northeastern has steadily increased, as she has scored almost twice the number of goals she did last year. This year, Shannon has consistently centered the first line on a Huskies team that has few flaws. Known for her 200-foot game, she’s counted on during big moments, with six of her goals being game winners for the Huskies. At 5 feet 10 inches, Shannon has learned how to use her height to win board battles on both ends of the ice. That physicality helped her become the first player in Hockey East to reach 30 points this season.
Before stepping foot on Northeastern’s campus, she played at the Governor’s Academy and the Boston Jr. Eagles. She is sure to continue lifting the Huskies through the rest of the season, not only with her finishing touch, but also with her ability to find her teammates on the ice seamlessly. She has proven herself to be a valuable piece of any PWHL team.
Sydney Healey, F, Boston University
A shining light on an up-and-down Boston University team this year, Sydney Healey’s play steadily improved each year she was in Boston. With each passing year, her role grew, and her production followed suit. This year, Healey was counted on to bring offensive power to the Terriers, and she delivered. With 29 points in 35 games, she led the team in points and has impacted the team every year she’s been on the roster with her speed, nifty hands, and heavy shot.
Healey has a knack for getting to the net to create scoring opportunities. As alternate captain, she came up in big moments this year for the Terriers, scoring multiple tying goals and four game-winners. It was Healey who netted the game-winner that sent BU to win the Hockey East Championship last season. Her standout play this year on a weaker BU team has elevated her draft chances, and she could establish herself well on a team that needs depth scoring and that ever-elusive ability to deliver in big moments.
Alexia Moreau, F, Holy Cross
Holy Cross had a magical run this year, and Alexia Moreau was a large part of that. Second on her team in points with 22 in 35 games, she broke program records left and right. Moreau set a new mark for the most goals scored in a year and the most career points in Crusaders history. Though Holy Cross isn’t traditionally seen as an NCAA powerhouse, as they have never won a conference championship nor have qualified for the NCAA tournament, they are on the rise. Moreau has been a key cog in the accelerating machine that is Holy Cross’ hockey program.
Before Holy Cross, Moreau played three years at Stanstead College in Quebec before going to Shattuck St. Mary’s in her senior year. As her college career has ended, a PWHL team should take a chance on Moreau. She’s great at the dot, with a faceoff record of 337-262, and plays a disciplined game. Moreau doesn’t have the eye-catching offensive numbers of big-name prospects, but she has the makings of a quality bottom-six center at the pro-level.