MADISON, Wis. – Six incoming freshmen have signed their National Letter of Intent to join the Wisconsin women's hockey program next fall, head coach
Mark Johnson announced on Tuesday.
Joining UW next fall will be forwards Adela Šapovalivová (Beroun, Czechia), Charlotte Pieckenhagen (St. Catharines, Ontario) Nicole Gorbatenko (Barrington, Illinois), defenders Mackenzie Jones (Andover, Minnesota) and Rachel Gorbatenko (Barrington, Illinois) and goaltender Ryhah Stewart (Antigonish, Nova Scotia).
"The entire class has seen success at all levels of hockey," Johnson said. "Many of them have skated for their national teams and have experience at the international level. They are all going to get an opportunity to play and continue to grow their game in Madison. It will be fun to watch them learn and develop."
Adela Šapovalivová | Forward | Beroun, Czechia | MoDo Hockey
Adela Šapovalivová is the first Badger to join the Badgers from Czechia. The forward joins Wisconsin from the MoDo Hockey Team in the Swedish Hockey League, where she's been since the 2023-24 season. Last season she played in 32 games, notching 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points. So far this year, she's appeared in 16 games and found eight goals and five assists for 13 points.
Šapovalivová has made a splash on the national scene, making the IIHF Under-18 World Championships with the Czech Republic in 2022, 2023 and earning silver in 2024. At the 2022 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships in Madison, she posted nine points and was named to the Media All-Star Team. In 2024 she was named the top forward at the tournament and her 11 points were the second most of any skater at the championship.
She's also represented her country with the senior national team at the IIHF Women's World Championships in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and earned bronze at the 2023 championships.
In her free time, Šapovalivová enjoys cooking and hiking or listening to her favorite artist Kabát. She has a brother, Matyáš Šapovaliv, who is in the Vegas Golden Knights' organization.
Why Wisconsin? "UW is one of the best schools in the NCAA and when I saw the city and arena at the 2022 IIHF Women's Under-18 World Championships, which were in Wisconsin, I loved it immediately."
Johnson on Šapovalivová: "Adela will be the first player from Europe to join our program. There's a Badger connection as her national team coach is Carla MacLeod. Adela has had the opportunity to play both on the U-18 team, where she served as captain, and the senior national team. She's had a great experience playing in Sweden the last couple of years with former NCAA players."
Charlotte Pieckenhagen | Forward | St. Catharines, Ontario | Burlington Jr. Barracudas
Pieckenhagen joins the Badgers from St. Catherines, Ontario, and is slated to be the 22nd Ontario native to join the women's hockey roster. Pieckenhagen's freshman season of high school was cut short by COVID-19, but she still earned Ridley College Rookie of the Year. The right winger enjoyed 49 points on 23 goals and 26 assists her junior year with the Mississaugua Jr. Hurricanes in the OWHL, finishing third overall. She earned the Hurricanes Commitment to Excellence Award for her contributions to that campaign. Pieckenhagen was a provincial champion with the Burlington Jr. Barracudas her senior year, posting 32 points on 12 goals and 20 assists.
The Canadian has already made an impact in international play, including a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF Women's U18 World Championship with Team Canada — a tournament where she played alongside her to-be Badger teammates and fellow Ontario natives Ava Murphy and Emma Venusio. She earned a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF Women's U18 World Championship.
Apart from hockey, Pieckenhagen enjoyed rowing in high school, a sport that's still her favorite sport apart from hockey. In her free time, you can find Pieckenhagen watching a lot
of Christmas movies or on a long walk jamming out to Noah Kahan or Taylor Swift. She plans to study kinesiology.
Why Wisconsin? "I chose Wisconsin because of the incredible atmosphere it has in and out of the rink. Nothing else compares to it!"
Johnson on Pieckenhagen: "Charlotte brings a lot of international experience with the Canadian under-18 team. She is a power forward on the ice and is a heck of an athlete as she is a national-team level rower for Canada. She's strong, well conditioned and has a great knack for scoring goals."
Mackenzie Jones | Defender | Andover, MN | Andover High School
Mackenzie Jones joins the Badgers with a Minnesota State Championship under her belt from her freshman year with a whopping 30-0-0 record with the Andover High School Huskies. The blueliner is a three-time conference champion with Andover during her freshman, sophomore and junior years.
The Andover, Minnesota, native has various honors, including two All-Conference Team honors, an All-Metro first and second team selection. In her junior year, she'd record a career-high 47 points on 18 goals and 29 assists, making the Minnesota All-State Team as Assistant Captain with the Huskies and earned the Andover MVP award. Now in her senior year, she's captain for Andover.
She's made the USA's U18 National camp all three years she's been eligible and also been a Green Giants Tier 1 National Champion. She also enjoyed a spot in Team US Festival Team Summer team in 2023.
Jones loves to explore the outdoors in her free time and enjoys hunting and traveling. Apart from hockey, she medaled at sectionals in track and field and was an All-Conference honorable mention in soccer. Her favorite TV show is The Office and she loves to listen to Noah Kahan. At Wisconsin, she plans to study biochemistry.
Why Wisconsin: "I think Wisconsin is a school that can help push me to achieve my goals academically and athletically."
Johnson on Jones: "Mackenzie skates very well, has good size and a solid skill set. She is an offensive threat from the blue line as she led Anodver last season in goals. She helped Andover to the Minnesota state title and currently serves as their captain. She also is a tremendous athlete as she plays soccer."
Nicole Gorbatenko | Forward | Barrington, Illinois | Chicago Mission/Barrington
Nicole Gorbatenko joins the Badgers after four-straight years as an Illinois All-State player selection with the Barrington Broncos in addition to suiting up for the Chicago Mission. During her time with Barrington, she led them to a state championship as a sophomore and earned all-state MVP honors as junior while also leading the Broncos to another state title.
With the Chicago Mission, Gorbatenko posted 304 points with 158 goals, including a Michigan goal that was featured on ESPN, and 146 assists.
Gorbatenko has made several USA Hockey camps during her career. She's a sister to current Badger Kelly Gorbatenko and also incoming-Badger Rachel. Her favorite artist is Taylor Swift and her favorite movie is Avatar.
Why Wisconsin? It's an elite academic school and UW has a great community and environment.
Johnson on Gorbatenko: "Nicole has a knack for scoring goals. She is gifted offensively and the puck follows her. She knows what our program is about with her sister playing for us the last two years. She is another power forward that has great work habits.
Rachel Gorbatenko | Defender | Barrington, Illinois | Chicago Mission/Barrington
Rachel Gorbatenko played as a blueliner alongside her sister forward Nicole for the Barrington Broncos. In her freshman year, she was selected for Illinois All-State Defense and the Dean's list. She was selected again in her sophomore year for the All-State Defense team and Dean's list, helping Barrington to her first state championship. As a junior, she'd again make All-State Defense and Dean's list, earning MVP in the state championship high school game to help Barrington to another team state championship.
With the Chicago Mission, Gorbatenko appeared in 199 games and posted 298 points off 104 goals and 194 assists. She also was a part of the Mission team that won the national championship in 2021 as she scored the game-winning goal.
In international play, Gorbatenko is a Gold Medalist with Team USA's U18 team. She's a sister to current Badger Kelly Gorbatenko and also incoming-Badger Nicole. In her free time, you can catch Rachel hitting the slopes on her snowboard or hiking listening to Noah Kahan.
Why Wisconsin? "It's close to home, has a fantastic women's hockey program and is a great academic institution."
Johnson on Gorbatenko: "Rachel will bring a heavy shot to our blue line next year. She's very competitive and is physical in puck battles. Like the rest of her family, she has great work habits. She's done very well with the Chicago Mission the last couple of years and she also won gold with the U.S. under-18 team."
Ryhah Stewart | Goaltender | Antigonish, Nova Scotia | Cape Breton West Islanders
Ryhah Stewart is the fourth Badger in history to join the roster from Nova Scotia and the first since Brette Pettet. In her freshman year, the goaltender received Nova U15 Major Team Defensive Player of the Year. She collected more accolades her sophomore year, earning Cabot Highlanders U16 AAA Team Rookie of The Year and NSU16AAA Hockey League Second Team All-Star and Provincial Bronze Medalist. In her junior year, she earned Cape Breton West Islanders U18AAA Team MVP. Cape Breton West Islanders U18AAA Team Playoff MVP and NSU18 Major Hockey League Second Team All-Star.
Stewart represented both Nova Scotia and Canada in hockey. She earned silver with Team Nova Scotia at the 2023 Canada Winter Games and represented Canada at the 2024 Under-18 Women's World Championships where she earned bronze.
Apart from hockey, Stewart is a decorated cross country runner. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering and spending time with family and friends.
Why Wisconsin? "I choose Wisconsin because of the winning culture, players, staff and the fans."
Johnson on Stewart: "Rhyah is a very athletic goaltender who has experience playing junior "A" boys hockey. We've had a lot of successful goalies in the past who have played boys hockey between Ann-Renee (Desbiens), Alex (Rigsby-Cavallini) and Jessie (Vetter). Rhyah is also patient, sees the puck well and is very competitive. She's played with Hockey Canada in the past and has been teammates with Charlotte (Pieckenhagen) and Emma (Venusio)."
