Seven members of the Penn State Women’s Ice Hockey team were selected in the 2026 PWHL Draft on Wednesday evening at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan, marking the most selections from any NCAA institution in the 2026 draft.
Round 1, Pick 3 - Tessa Janecke
Senior forward Tessa Janecke was selected third overall by PWHL Las Vegas, becoming the highest-drafted player in Penn State women's hockey history. Janecke was also the first selection made by one of the league’s four newest expansion franchises.
A three-time Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Player of the Year and Forward of the Year, Janecke concludes her Penn State career as the program's all-time leader in goals (89), assists (112), and points (201). She also became the first Nittany Lion to be named a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award this season.
Janecke helped lead Penn State to its fourth consecutive AHA championship and first-ever Frozen Four appearance while recording 48 points (26 goals, 22 assists) during her senior campaign.
On the international stage, Janecke has represented the United States at the highest level. She made her Olympic debut this season, tallying five assists in seven games to help Team USA capture the gold medal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. She has also competed in three IIHF Women's World Championships, earning two gold medals and one silver medal.
Round 3, Pick 27 - Leah Stecker
Senior defenseman Leah Stecker was selected 27th overall by the Boston Fleet.
Stecker appeared in 151 career games for the Nittany Lions, recording 12 goals and 45 assists for 57 points. She served as an alternate captain during her senior season, posting a career-high 20 points and a +29 rating while earning AHA Defenseman of the Week honors. She helped lead Penn State to its fourth consecutive AHA Championship and first-ever Frozen Four appearance, and also made history at Beaver Stadium by recording an assist on the first goal scored in the venue during Penn State’s inaugural outdoor game.
Round 3, Pick 33 - Maddy Christian
Senior forward Maddy Christian was selected 33rd overall by the Minnesota Frost.
A two-time All-AHA selection and the 2025 AHA Tournament MVP, Christian appeared in 153 career games, totaling 46 goals and 38 assists for 84 points. As an alternate captain in her senior season, she recorded a career high of 35 points while helping lead the Nittany Lions to their fourth consecutive AHA Championship and first-ever Frozen Four appearance.
The Minnesota native tallied five game-winning goals in the 2025-26 season, the third-most on the team and tied for 15th nationally, while her 19 goals ranked third in the AHA and tied for 30th in the nation.
Round 4, Pick 37 - Katie DeSa
Senior goaltender Katie DeSa was selected 37th overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes.
DeSa established herself as one of the most accomplished goaltenders in Penn State women’s hockey history, finishing her career as the program’s all-time leader in shutouts (25) while setting school records for winning percentage (.818) and goals-against average (1.43).
The Pawcatuck, Connecticut native is a two-time Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Goaltender of the Year, a two-time All-AHA First Team selection, and a back-to-back semifinalist for the Hockey Commissioners Association Goalie of the Year Award.
During her senior season, she led the NCAA with a program-record 12 shutouts, posted a 27-4 record, ranked second nationally in goals-against average (1.36), and helped guide Penn State to its first Frozen Four appearance.
Round 4, Pick 43 - Katelyn Roberts
Senior forward Katelyn Roberts was selected 43rd overall by the New York Sirens.
Roberts became just the sixth player in school history to reach 100 career points and is a two-time All-Atlantic Hockey America selection, earning First Team honors as a junior and Second Team recognition as a senior.
In her final season, she set a program single-season record with seven game-winning goals, the most in the AHA and tied for second nationally. Roberts appeared in every game over her final two seasons and served as an alternate captain in her senior year.
Round 5, Pick 49 - Kendall Butze
Senior defenseman Kendall Butze was selected 49th overall by PWHL Las Vegas, joining Janecke and one of the league’s four newest expansion franchises.
Butze became the program’s highest-scoring blueliner with 94 points and set the all-time record for assists by a defenseman with 79. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, she is a two-time AHA Best Defenseman, multiple-time All-AHA First Team selection, and served as an alternate captain during her senior season.
In the 2025-26 season, Butze set a single-season record with 28 assists by a blueliner and matched the program mark for points by a defenseman in a season with 33, while also ranking among the nation’s top playmakers and leading the team in blocked shots.
Round 6, Pick 66 - Mya Vaslet
Graduate forward Mya Vaslet was selected 66th overall by PWHL Hamilton, joining one of the league’s four newest expansion franchises.
Vaslet finished her Penn State career with 60 points, scoring 30 goals and adding 30 assists across her time with the program. She also ranked among the program’s all-time leaders in AHA Tournament scoring with seven career tournament points (tied for second). Her most productive season came in 2023–24 when she posted 16 goals and 10 assists for 26 points.
THE ASYLUM
Seven taken in PWHL Draft
Seven members of the Penn State Women’s Ice Hockey team were selected in the 2026 PWHL Draft on Wednesday evening at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan, marking the most selections from any NCAA institution in the 2026 draft.
Round 1, Pick 3 - Tessa Janecke
Senior forward Tessa Janecke was selected third overall by PWHL Las Vegas, becoming the highest-drafted player in Penn State women's hockey history. Janecke was also the first selection made by one of the league’s four newest expansion franchises.
A three-time Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Player of the Year and Forward of the Year, Janecke concludes her Penn State career as the program's all-time leader in goals (89), assists (112), and points (201). She also became the first Nittany Lion to be named a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award this season.
Janecke helped lead Penn State to its fourth consecutive AHA championship and first-ever Frozen Four appearance while recording 48 points (26 goals, 22 assists) during her senior campaign.
On the international stage, Janecke has represented the United States at the highest level. She made her Olympic debut this season, tallying five assists in seven games to help Team USA capture the gold medal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. She has also competed in three IIHF Women's World Championships, earning two gold medals and one silver medal.
Round 3, Pick 27 - Leah Stecker
Senior defenseman Leah Stecker was selected 27th overall by the Boston Fleet.
Stecker appeared in 151 career games for the Nittany Lions, recording 12 goals and 45 assists for 57 points. She served as an alternate captain during her senior season, posting a career-high 20 points and a +29 rating while earning AHA Defenseman of the Week honors. She helped lead Penn State to its fourth consecutive AHA Championship and first-ever Frozen Four appearance, and also made history at Beaver Stadium by recording an assist on the first goal scored in the venue during Penn State’s inaugural outdoor game.
Round 3, Pick 33 - Maddy Christian
Senior forward Maddy Christian was selected 33rd overall by the Minnesota Frost.
A two-time All-AHA selection and the 2025 AHA Tournament MVP, Christian appeared in 153 career games, totaling 46 goals and 38 assists for 84 points. As an alternate captain in her senior season, she recorded a career high of 35 points while helping lead the Nittany Lions to their fourth consecutive AHA Championship and first-ever Frozen Four appearance.
The Minnesota native tallied five game-winning goals in the 2025-26 season, the third-most on the team and tied for 15th nationally, while her 19 goals ranked third in the AHA and tied for 30th in the nation.
Round 4, Pick 37 - Katie DeSa
Senior goaltender Katie DeSa was selected 37th overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes.
DeSa established herself as one of the most accomplished goaltenders in Penn State women’s hockey history, finishing her career as the program’s all-time leader in shutouts (25) while setting school records for winning percentage (.818) and goals-against average (1.43).
The Pawcatuck, Connecticut native is a two-time Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) Goaltender of the Year, a two-time All-AHA First Team selection, and a back-to-back semifinalist for the Hockey Commissioners Association Goalie of the Year Award.
During her senior season, she led the NCAA with a program-record 12 shutouts, posted a 27-4 record, ranked second nationally in goals-against average (1.36), and helped guide Penn State to its first Frozen Four appearance.
Round 4, Pick 43 - Katelyn Roberts
Senior forward Katelyn Roberts was selected 43rd overall by the New York Sirens.
Roberts became just the sixth player in school history to reach 100 career points and is a two-time All-Atlantic Hockey America selection, earning First Team honors as a junior and Second Team recognition as a senior.
In her final season, she set a program single-season record with seven game-winning goals, the most in the AHA and tied for second nationally. Roberts appeared in every game over her final two seasons and served as an alternate captain in her senior year.
Round 5, Pick 49 - Kendall Butze
Senior defenseman Kendall Butze was selected 49th overall by PWHL Las Vegas, joining Janecke and one of the league’s four newest expansion franchises.
Butze became the program’s highest-scoring blueliner with 94 points and set the all-time record for assists by a defenseman with 79. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, she is a two-time AHA Best Defenseman, multiple-time All-AHA First Team selection, and served as an alternate captain during her senior season.
In the 2025-26 season, Butze set a single-season record with 28 assists by a blueliner and matched the program mark for points by a defenseman in a season with 33, while also ranking among the nation’s top playmakers and leading the team in blocked shots.
Round 6, Pick 66 - Mya Vaslet
Graduate forward Mya Vaslet was selected 66th overall by PWHL Hamilton, joining one of the league’s four newest expansion franchises.
Vaslet finished her Penn State career with 60 points, scoring 30 goals and adding 30 assists across her time with the program. She also ranked among the program’s all-time leaders in AHA Tournament scoring with seven career tournament points (tied for second). Her most productive season came in 2023–24 when she posted 16 goals and 10 assists for 26 points.
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