Notebook: Breaking down UConn women's hockey's incoming class

UConn women’s hockey is set to bring in seven new players this season, all freshmen. The Huskies will keep just 24 on their roster — two under the limit — leaving them short at forward with just 13 options.

"We are excited to welcome the newest members to UConn," head coach Chris MacKenzie said in a release. "They will add to an experienced group of returners as we look to continue our climb as a program."

Forwards

Laurie Aubin

Height: 5-4
Hometown: Boisbriand, Quebec
Shoots: Left
Jersey number: 26

One of the top players in UConn’s incoming class, Aubin helped lead Team Quebec to its first-ever U18 National Championship with three goals and four assists at the tournament, then represented Canada at the 2026 IIHF U18 World Championships, where she put up three goals and seven assists in six games.

Caprie Chaulk

Height: 5-7
Hometown: Scarborough, Ontario
Shoots: Left
Jersey number: 11

Chaulk comes in after putting up 38 points (20 goals, 18 assists) in 45 games with the Durham West Junior Lightning last season. Like Aubin, Chaulk also suited up at the 2025 U18 National Championship, where she had an assist in six games for Team Ontario.

The freshman comes from a hockey family. Her dad, Colin, spent 15 years playing minor league hockey in the United States and is currently the head coach of the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. Meanwhile, her cousin, Luca Marrelli, just finished his first season with the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.

Addison Stewart

Height: 5-7
Hometown: Wilmette, Illinois
Shoots: Right
Jersey number: 78

Stewart didn’t begin playing hockey of her own accord. Instead, she had to be bribed by her mom. At age seven, Stewart agreed to give the sport a shot in exchange for an American Girl doll outfit. Now, she’s set to begin her college career at UConn.

Regarded as a 200-foot player with a scoring touch, Stewart is a winner. At the Illinois high school level, she earned four All-State nods and helped New Trier Township to a state championship in 2025, where she won MVP honors. In club hockey, Stewart led the Chicago Mission to three consecutive state titles and won MVP at the 2026 Motor City Tournament.

Caileigh Tiller

Height: 5-8
Hometown: St. Catharines, Ontario
Shoots: Left
Jersey number: 17

The Tillers are the latest set of siblings to join the UConn program under MacKenzie — along with the Foxes, Grimleys, Snodgrasses, Sveteks and Wabicks.

Caileigh Tiller is a highly-touted prospect who’s twice represented Canada at the IIHF U18 World Championships and claimed gold in 2025. She finished with six goals and 10 assists in 11 career games at the tournament.

This past season with the Burlington Barracuda of the OWHL, she had 33 goals and 32 assists in 34 contests. As a power forward, Tiller racked up a league-high 108 penalty minutes — 35 more than the next closest player, who played in 12 more games — and ranked second with 1.9 points per game. Her 102 career points are fourth-most in Burlington’s franchise history.

Tiller also received an invite to Hockey Canada’s National Women’s Development Team selection camp earlier this month, alongside teammate Claire Murdoch.

Defense

Grace Riley

Height: 5-8
Hometown: Winter Garden, Florida
Shoots: Right
Jersey number: 19

Although a native of Florida, Riley has spent the last two years in New England at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. As a senior, she served as team captain and won the 2026 Patsy Odden Large School Championship while taking home All-NEPSAC honors.

Chelsea Tiller

Height: 5-7
Hometown: St. Catharines, Ontario
Shoots: Left
Jersey number: 6

Tiller is a self-described stay-at-home defender, but she set the Burlington Barracuda’s franchise record for most career points by a blue liner with 75. She joined her twin sister on Canada’s 2026 U18 World Championship team and totaled two assists in six games while earning a bronze medal.

The Tillers grew up in St. Catharines, Ontario — the same hometown as UConn men’s hockey junior forward Ethan Whitcomb.

Goaltender

Amelia Wilkinson

Height: 5-6
Hometown: Holland Landing, Ontario
Catches: Left
Jersey number: 45

Wilkinson is already familiar with plenty of her classmates. She’s suited up alongside Chaulk with the Durham West Lightning then helped Canada win gold at the 2025 U18 World Championships alongside Caileigh Tiller thanks to a 0.50 GAA and .933 save percentage in two starts. Wilkinson also captured back-to-back national championships with Team Ontario in both 2023 and 2024, taking home MVP honors each time.

New jersey numbers

In addition to the seven newcomers, two returners changed jersey numbers.

Junior forward Ellie Markakis cut her digits in half, going from No. 28 to No. 14. The latter was recently vacated by Brooke Campbell, who wore it during her four years in Storrs.

Meanwhile, sophomore forward Leila Ricciuti snagged No. 15 after donning No. 26 in her first season. The digits opened up after Meghane Duchesne-Chalifoux graduated.

Development camps

Three UConn players all participated in various national team development camps this summer. Claire Murdoch and Caileigh Tiller both took the ice at Canada’s National Development Team selection camp, with Murdoch ultimately making the final roster.

The junior played in the three-game exhibition series against the United States, leading Canada with two points on a goal and an assist.

Meanwhile, Julia Pellerin was invited to USA Hockey’s Women’s National Festival but couldn’t attend.