UConn women's hockey announces incoming class

UConn women’s hockey announced its incoming class of six players — five freshmen and one transfer broken down into three forwards and three defenders.

The group will help replace Cam Wong, Coryn Tormala, Claire Peterson, and Ainsley Svetek, who all graduated, as well as Kathryn Stockdale and Brigitte McGuire, who transferred out.

Sadie Hotles — Forward

A native of Markham, Ontario, Hotles grew up playing for the the Durham West Jr. Lightning. In 2022, she helped them win the Esso Cup — Canada’s U18 club championship — where she brought home MVP honors. This past year, she was invited to Canada’s U18 Nationals and suited up for Ontario Red.

Listed at 5-7 with a right-handed shot, Hotles put up 11 goals and 31 assists in 39 games this past season with Durham West. She’s the youngest member of the incoming class — she won’t turn 18 until September.

Hotles’ great-grandfather is George “Red” Sullivan, a five-time NHL all-star who played 11 seasons with the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers (where he was captain from 1957-61), then served as head coach of the Rangers (1962-66), Pittsburgh Penguins (1967-69) and Washington Capitals (1974-75).

Jade Lore — Defense

Lore, a 5-8 blue liner out of Richmond, British Columbia, has waited three years to get to campus after committing to UConn back in Dec. 2021. While she spent most of her youth playing for the Fraser Valley Rush, she moved to the Central York Panthers after graduating from high school in 2023. Lore has a right-handed shot.

Ellie Markakis — Forward

After spending time with the Oakville Hornets early in her career, Markakis — a 5-7 right-shot forward from Oakville, Ontario — joined the Burlington Barracudas this past season. There, she and fellow incoming forward Claire Murdoch helped the Barracudas win the OWHA Provincials. Markakis put up 26 goals and 24 assists in 39 contests this past season.

Claire Murdoch — Forward

The top player in UConn’s freshman class, Murdoch recorded a ridiculous 124 points in 42 games with the Burlington Barracudas last season thanks to 51 goals and 73 assists. She played for Canada at the 2024 U18 World Championships and put up a goal and six assists in six games while taking home bronze. Murdoch also received an invite to Hockey Canada’s National Women’s Development Team, where she’ll face-off in a series against the United States from Aug. 14-17.

A Toronto native, she’s listed at 5-7 with a left-handed shot.

Taylor Porthan — Defense

The lone American among the incoming freshman, Porthan comes from the hockey-crazed state of Minnesota, where she played for her local Edina High School squad. As a senior, she donned the captain’s “C” and recorded 14 assists in 31 games.

Porthan committed to UConn back in September 2022.

"I couldn't have been more impressed with the program and staff and how great everyone was to work with," she told The Rink Live at the time. "It just felt like the best fit for me. They've done a lot of things right by taking their time and building their programs based on a lot of great values that align with mine."

Though she played both forward and defense in high school, the Huskies listed Porthan (5-4 with a right shot) as a blue liner.

Sophie Robinson — Defense

The lone transfer in the class, Robinson joins UConn after spending the previous four years at Dartmouth. She didn’t play as a freshman in 2020-21 when the Ivy League canceled all sports during the Covid pandemic but went on to suit up in 54 games with the Big Green. A defensive defensemen, Robinson has totaled just three goals and eight assists in her collegiate career.

Listed at 5-9 with a left-handed shot out of Baxter, Minnesota, Robinson is expected to compete with the two freshmen for a spot in the lineup.