GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota women's hockey head coach Brian Idalski announced the addition of eight freshmen for the upcoming season. Kennedy Blair (Bismarck, N.D.), Ryleigh Houston (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Sarah Lecavalier (Strathmore, Alberta), Alyssa MacMillan (Penticton, British Columbia), Emma Nuutinen (Vantaa, Finland), Annelise Rice (Excelsior, Minn.), Abbey Stanley (St. Louis, Mo.) and Abby Thiessen (Red Deer, Alberta) have all joined the program for the 2016-17 season.
Stanley joined the team during the spring of 2016 and will enter the fall as a redshirt freshman, while the other seven will enter as true freshmen.
“This talented group of student-athletes will definitely make an impact for us on the ice this fall,” head coach Brian Idalski said. “These eight freshmen bring a tremendous amount of national and international experience with them and I know they will be contributors for our program.”
Kennedy Blair • Goaltender • 5-6 • Catches: Left • Bismarck, N.D. (Minnesota Revolution)
Before UND: Played for the Minnesota Revolution Tier I team … Also played for the Bismarck Blizzard … Earned all-state and all-tournament team honors in 2013 and 2014 … Named the state tournament MVP in 2013 ... Also lettered four years in softball at Bismarck High School.
Personal: Daughter of Mike and Sue Blair … Undecided on a major.
Ryleigh Houston • Forward • 5-4 • Shoots: Right • Winnipeg, Manitoba (Balmoral Hall)
Before UND: Played four years with the Balmoral Hall Blazers in the Junior Women's Hockey League … Totaled 156 points (83g, 73a) through 92 JWHL games played in her four years … Named to the 2016 JWHL All-Star Game … Member of the Canadian Women's Under-18 team for the IIHF Women's U-18 World Championships in 2015 and 2016 … Scored one goal in the 2016 world championship and recorded two assists in the 2015 world championship.
Personal: Daughter of Curtis and Dena Houston … Undecided on a major.
Sarah Lecavalier • Forward • 5-4 • Shoots: Right • Strathmore, Alberta (Pursuit of Excellence)
Before UND: Played for the Pursuit of Excellence Midget Prep Female team … Totaled 13 points (6g, 7a) through 26 games with POE … Invited to the Team Canada Under-18 August Camp … Also lettered three years in both badminton and track and field at George Elliot Secondary.
Personal: Daughter of Stephan and Nelia Lecavalier … Undecided on a major.
Alyssa MacMillan • Forward • 5-9 • Shoots: Left • Penticton, British Columbia (Okanagan)
Before UND: Played four years with the Okanagan Hockey Academy prep team … Was her team's top scorer in 2014-15 and earned the team's citizenship award in 2015-16 … Recorded 36 points (10g, 26a) through 46 games during her senior season … A four-year honor roll student at Penticton Secondary.
Personal: Daughter of Doug and Lorraine MacMillan … Brothers, Mark and Mitch, both played hockey at North Dakota … Undecided on a major.
Emma Nuutinen • Forward • 5-9 • Shoots: Left • Vantaa, Finland (Finnish National Team)
Before UND: Made her debut with the Finnish Women's National team at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia … Scored one goal in a 4-2 loss against Sweden during the quarterfinals … Played in all six games at the 2015 IIHF World Championships, recording one assist … Has played in three Four Nations Cup tournaments (2013, 2014, 2015) … Played in three IIHF Women's Under-18 World Championships (2012, 2013, 2014), including being named Finland's best forward of the tournament in 2013.
Personal: Daughter of Tapio and Päivi Nuutinen … Undecided on a major.
Annelise Rice • Forward • 5-7 • Shoots: Right • Excelsior, Minn. (Minnetonka HS)
Before UND: Four-year letterwinner at Minnetonka High School … Named team captain in 2015-16 … Earned all-conference honors in 2015 and all-conference honorable mention honors in 2016 and 2014 … Helped her team to a state championship in 2013 and a second-place finish at state in 2015 … Also played one season with the Tier 1 AAA Minnesota Elite Black team, coached under Winny Brodt-Brown, helping the team to a national finalist in 2016 … Lettered in both cross country and track at Minnetonka High.
Personal: Daughter of Brent and Caroline Rice … Sister, Lauren, is a professional runner who also ran cross country at North Carolina, San Diego and Augsburg … Undecided on a major.
Abbey Stanley • Defenseman • 5-8 • Shoots: Right • St. Louis, Mo. (Minnesota Jr. Whitecaps)
Before UND: Played with the Minnesota Jr. Whitecaps, coached under Winny Brodt-Brown … Helped her team to a second place finish at the national tournament … Four-time national camps attendee … four-time USA National Championships participant … Named MVP of the Manon Rheaume Tournament in 2012 … Named MVP of the Belle Tire Tournament in 2013 … Selected to USA Hockey's Under-18 National Festival in 2015 … Skated for the U.S. U-18 team in the Under-18 Series against Canada in 2015.
Personal: Daughter of David Stanley and Karen Ruehl … Mother played tennis at Colorado College … Great Uncle, Barney, is played for the PCHA's Vancouver Millionaires and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962 … Cousin twice-removed, Allan Stanley, played for the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981 … Undecided on a major.
Abby Thiessen • Defenseman • 5-9 • Shoots: Right • Red Deer, Alberta (Red Deer Chiefs)
Before UND: Played four seasons with the Red Deer Chiefs Midget AAA team … Helped her team to a second-place finish at the 2015 Esso Cup, while finishing that season with 21 points in 28 games … Participated with the Team Alberta Under-18 team … Selected to the Team Canada Under-18 selection camp … Also played three years of roller hockey … A four-time honor roll student at Notre Dame High School.
Personal: Daughter of Todd and Deeadra Thiessen … Plans on majoring in business.
