Women’s Hockey Welcomes Eight Newcomers to 2025-26 Roster

MADISON CAMPBELL | FR | G | COURTICE, ONTARIO, CANADA | DURHAM WEST

Hailing from Courtice, Ontario, Canada, Madison Campbell joins the Nittany Lions as one of two elite goaltending prospects heading into the 2025-26 campaign. Campbell has spent the last three years with Durham West JR Lightning in the OWHL, with her most recent season featuring a 1.56 GAA with a .937 save percentage. Campbell published a 43-12-2 individual record during her time with Durham West and is fresh off a 14-5 effort in 2024-25. She has secured Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in the OWHA League Championship over the past three seasons. Campbell served as Durham West’s captain last year, helping lead her squad to a Silver Medal finish at the OWHA League Championship a year ago. She boasts additional experience in the National Women’s U18 Championship with Team Ontario, serving as Assistant Captain for Team Ontario Blue in 2024. She is the eldest child and only daughter of Samantha and Andrew Campbell and has one younger brother named Cole. Her mother, Samantha, played university lacrosse in Canada while her younger brother is still participating in junior lacrosse. Campbell plans to study business in the prestigious Smeal College of Business at Penn State and looks to leverage that into a career in sports business following the conclusion of her playing days. In her spare time, Campbell enjoys living an active outdoor lifestyle, working out, spending time with friends and walking her dogs.

WHY MADISON CHOSE PENN STATE

“When I arrived at Penn State, I immediately walked the grounds of the campus and was amazed with the facilities, the buildings and the school spirit everywhere. I said to my family - ‘This is going to be my home. I love it here!’ Coach Kampersal and the staff were absolutely amazing. I immediately felt that I was a part of the Penn State family! I knew that Penn State would give me the best opportunity to grow as an athlete and as a person, all while obtaining my degree in business.”

MATILDE FANTIN | FR | F | COMO, ITALY | HC LUGANO

Penn State’s only transatlantic addition in the 2025-26 newcomer class, forward Matilde Fantin joins the Blue & White from Como, Italy. Representing HC Lugano, a club in the Swiss U17 men’s circuit, Fantin is fresh off a 2024-25 campaign that saw her appear in 23 games with a 1-6—7 effort under her belt. Simultaneously representing HC Ambrì-Piotta in the Swiss Women’s Hockey League, Fantin made 12 appearances and booked a 7-6—13 season while helping lift HCAP to a third-place finish in the 2024-25 Swiss Women’s National Cup. On the international circuit, Fantin is a member of the Italian Senior Women’s National Team and Italian U18 squad. She is fresh off a dominant appearance at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship Division I B, finishing as the tournament’s leading scorer with a 5-5—10 showing in a mere five appearances, powering Italy to an unbeaten finish at the event while earning the national team promotion to Division I A in 2026. Fantin is currently attending all training camps vying for a spot on the Olympic roster for Team Italy ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. She is the youngest daughter of Damiano Fantin and Patrizia Tesini and has one older sister named Margherita. Her father, Damiano, played in the Italian second league in men’s hockey, representing HC Como from 1992 to 1996. Off the ice, she enjoys playing and watching tennis.

WHY MATILDE CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State for its culture and atmosphere. Since I first came to campus during my visit, I felt it would be a great place to spend the next four years studying and playing hockey.”

LAUREN HERNICK | FR | G | FRANKENMUTH, MICH. | PHILADELPHIA JR FLYERS

A native of Frankenmuth, Michigan, netminder Lauren Hernick joins the Blue & White after spending a productive 2024-25 season with the Philadelphia JR Flyers of the JWHL, publishing a 2.61 GAA and 8-3-0 individual record between the pipes while recording a quartet of individual shutouts. With the JR Flyers, Hernick helped contribute to a USA Hockey Atlantic District Championship in 2025 and also boasts a prior MAHA State Championship with HoneyBaked AA 14U earlier in her junior hockey career. She was also tabbed as a selection to the USA Hockey District Camp in Bowling Green, Ohio, in 2021. Hernick arrives as a multi-talented athlete, competing in varsity soccer and track and field at Frankenmuth High School while also competing in junior varsity lacrosse. She is the youngest child of Tom and Sandy Hernick and has one older brother named Payton, who is two years her senior. Hernick plans to study biology in the Penn State Eberly College of Science and will look to pursue a career as a dentist upon the completion of her hockey career. In her time away from the rink, she enjoys art, weightlifting and hiking.

WHY LAUREN CHOSE PENN STATE

“From the moment I saw the legendary Penn State football white out game versus Michigan in 2019, I knew that PSU was where I wanted to go to college. The strong school spirit is what drew me in first, but they also have the perfect combination of strong academics, a vibrant campus life with countless opportunities, and a large alumni network.”

MIKAH KELLER | FR | F | MOSINEE, WIS. | NORTH AMERICAN HOCKEY ACADEMY

One of the most dominant forwards in the nation, PSU welcomes the reigning JWHL Liz Turgeon Player of the Year in Mikah Keller. A native of Mosinee, Wisconsin, Keller joins the Blue & White following a torrid stretch of offensive dominance with the North American Hockey Academy, highlighted by an eye-popping 37-45—82 scoring season in 2024-25. Keller has been an anchor for the academy over the past four years, leading the organization to JWHL League Championships in each of the last three seasons while securing JWHL First Team honors in 2023-24 and 2024-25. Keller has been named the NAHA Offensive Player of the Year by her club in each of the past two seasons, with her astonishing 2023-24 effort featuring a 45-45—90 line. A dual-sport athlete, Keller also competed in varsity softball in Wisconsin, securing First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference honors in 2022-23 while logging the highest single-season batting average in school history. The youngest child and only daughter of Jim and Stephanie Keller, she has two elder brothers named Kobe and Mason. Her father, Jim, played collegiate basketball at Kansas City, while her mother, Stephanie, was a volleyball athlete at Kansas. Both of her older brothers play hockey, with Kobe formerly competing at Division III Wisconsin-Stout while Mason continues his junior career. In her spare time, Keller enjoys boating and attending country music concerts.

WHY MIKAH CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State because it offers the opportunity to grow both as a hockey player and as a person. I was also drawn to the atmosphere of State College and the strong sense of community that comes with being a Nittany Lion.”

TAYLOR LUM | GR-TR | F | ETOBICOKE, ONTARIO, CANADA | ETOBICOKE JR DOLPHINS / ST. LAWRENCE

Penn State’s only addition out of the transfer portal ahead of the 2025-26 season, Taylor Lum joins the Blue & White after a quartet of productive campaigns with ECAC rival St. Lawrence. During her time with the Saints, Lum was pivotal to the program’s resurgence on the national stage, helping lift SLU to back-to-back NCAA Tournament Regional Finals in 2024 and 2025. During her collegiate career, Lum has accumulated 57 points with a 22-35—57 breakdown, with her 2023-24 effort featuring a 4-18—22 finish that is currently her highest-scoring single season. A year ago, Lum produced her best goal output with nine, racking up a 9-7—16 season to wrap up her time in Canton. In the classroom, she has picked up distinction as an AHCA Krampade All-American Scholar in each of the last four years, landing ECAC All-Academic Team honors in each season of her career to date. Lum was named an ECAC Commissioner’s List Honoree in 2024 and 2025, secured CSC Academic All-District laurels in 2024 and was named an ECAC Mandi Schwartz Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award finalist last season. On the international circuit, Lum has represented the Chinese Senior Women’s National Team, playing for China in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. In the junior ranks, Lum competed with Etobicoke JR Dolphins, finishing with an impressive 6-25—31 season in 2019-20 before having the end of the year cut short due to the COVID Pandemic. Lum also won Gold at the Canada Winter Games representing Team Ontario Red in 2019. She is one of two children of Sam and Karen Lum, with one sister named Nicole. At Penn State, Lum plans to pursue her master’s in business analytics with the intention of becoming a data scientist following the conclusion of her hockey career.

WHY TAYLOR CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State because of its elite-level athletics and strong graduate programs, allowing me to continue both my academic and hockey careers in a place committed to excellence both on and off the ice.”

DANICA MAYNARD | FR | D | LAKE COUNTRY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA | RINK HA KELOWNA PREP

One of the most dominant defensemen entering women’s college hockey this fall, Danica Maynard heads to Happy Valley following a historic stint in the CSSHL with RINK HA Kelowna. A native of Lake Country, British Columbia, Canada, Maynard finished her junior career with the highest assist total by a female in CSSHL history, booking 107 helpers during her time split between RINK HA Kelowna and Okanagan HA Prep. Her most recent season in 2024-25 saw the pacific northwest native log a 10-36—46 campaign in which she was named the CSSHL Top Defenseman. Maynard has helped guide RINK HA Kelowna to a pair of CSSHL Championships in the last two years, establishing herself as one of the highest-profile blue-line prospects on the continent. Additionally, Maynard has played alongside the Canadian U18 Women’s National Team, helping power Team Canada to a WJC gold medal finish in 2024-25 with a 1-3—4 scoring effort across six games played. The youngest child and only daughter of Dean and Thasha Maynard, she has one older brother named Andon. Additionally, Maynard is a proud member of the Metis Nation of British Columbia and has won the Regional and Provincial Indigenous Youth Excellence in Sports Award from I-SPARC, the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council of Canada. While at PSU, Maynard plans to study marketing in the Smeal College of Business, ultimately hoping to begin a career as a police officer at the conclusion of her playing days. Away from the rink, she enjoys long distance hiking, biking, roller blading, swimming and playing pickleball.

WHY DANICA CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State because I like the atmosphere and big school feel. Once I learned about Penn State and went for a visit, I knew this would be my new home. The coaching staff and all the athletes were super friendly, and I knew I wanted to be in an environment like that.”

SOPHIE MORROW | FR | D | DARIEN, CT. | SHATTUCK-ST. MARY’S

An impressive blue-line prospect hailing from Darien, Connecticut, Sophie Morrow heads to Happy Valley following a decorated career at Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep. The incoming rookie is fresh off a 2024-25 campaign in which she published a 9-30—39 effort while leading her team to a 39-5-4 overall record. An impressive distributor of the puck, Morrow has totaled more than 25 assists in every season of her high school career, highlighted by a career-best 41-helper campaign in 2022-23. With Morrow anchoring the blue line, Shattuck St. Mary’s picked up the 2024 USA Hockey Tier 1 19U National Championship. The youngest of four children of Steve and Karen Morrow, she has two older brothers named Scott and Spencer, as well as an older sister named Sydney. Part of an elite American hockey family, Morrow becomes the sixth member of her family to participate in the sport on a major level, with both her father and uncle spending time in the AHL while all three of her siblings are currently playing at the professional, collegiate or major junior levels. In her spare time, Morrow enjoys cooking, traveling and playing board games.

WHY SOPHIE CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State for its outstanding academic and athletic resources and its women’s hockey program that reflects strong values and a winning culture.”

SHELBY SHANE | FR | D | KUTZTOWN, PA. | PHILADELPHIA JR FLYERS

A high-impact defenseman and lone prospect in the Nittany Lion 2025-26 newcomer corps hailing from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, PSU welcomes incoming rookie Shelby Shane following an impressive junior career with the Philadelphia JR Flyers. The righty-shot blue-liner spent the last five years with the Junior Flyers, capping off an impressive individual stint with the organization in the JWHL a year ago. Shane participated in 21 contests and published a dazzling 9-18—27 effort as a valuable contributor on both ends of the ice. Shane helped steer the Junior Flyers to an Atlantic District Championship in the 2024-25 campaign. She is the only daughter of Matt Shane, and she has one brother named Dylan. Her brother was also an ice hockey athlete, competing at NCAA Division III Skidmore College during his career. Upon her graduation from Penn State and conclusion of her playing career, Shane hopes to begin a career in the marketing field.

WHY SHELBY CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State because the girls were very welcoming, and I felt the school was the best fit for me as a person and a player.”