Penn State captain Tessa Janecke is one of 19 players from the AHA that declared for the PWHL draft. Credit: Photo by; Bryce Mosmen via gopsusports.com

The 2026 PWHL draft is less than 10 days away! We are continuing our series on the best players available from each NCAA program. Today, we take a look at Atlantic Hockey America (AHA).

Eighteen of the players who declared for the draft played in the AHA last season. This conference is led by one of the best teams in college hockey: the Penn State Nittany Lions. Olympic gold medalist Tessa Janecke leads the pack, followed by a majority of her assistant captains. It’s not all Penn State though, as one of the best defenders from Mercyhurst also makes an appearance. Plus, there are honorable mentions included here as well.


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Hockey writer covering women's college hockey, St. Cloud State hockey, and the Ontario Reign of the AHL for a living. Lover of para ice hockey.