Women's hockey signs seven players in class of 2026

MADISON, Wis. – Seven incoming freshmen have signed their National Letter of Intent to join the Wisconsin women's hockey program next fall, the team announced on Wednesday.

Joining UW next fall will be forwards Haley Box (Cheyenne, Wyo), Maddy Kimbrel (Orono, Minn.), Nela Lopušanová (Žilina, Slovakia), Rosalie Tremblay (Sherbrooke, Quebec), defenders Shayla Beaudette (Denver, Colo.), Emma Cerruti (Norwell, Mass.) and goaltender Kayla Swartout (Shakopee, Minn.).

"Looking at these seven recruits from top to bottom, it's one of our most skilled groups," Head coach Mark Johnson said.

"We've filled a lot of voids that we're losing next year; scoring, defensive toughness, goaltending. This bunch of players are respected by those below them, they all have a team first mentality and will come to the rink with smiles on their faces ready to compete."

Haley Box | Forward | Cheyenne, Wyo. | Etobicoke Junior U-22

Haley Box joins the Badgers as the program's first player from Wyoming. Box has excelled at multiple stops in her high school career. After her freshman season at Holy Family Catholic, she played for Shattuck St. Mary's for two years where she collected 72 points. In her senior year, Box currently plays for the Etobicoke Junior U22 team, scoring 13 goals and 13 assists in the season thus far.

On the national level, Box won gold at the 2024 IIHF U18 Women's Worlds Championship and silver in 2025 for Team USA. She also set a IIHF U18 record, scoring the fastest goal to start a game at nine seconds.

In her free time, Box enjoys playing spikeball, going to the beach, playing video games with her brothers and hanging out with family. She has two brothers, Tyler and Ben.

Why Wisconsin? "I love the coaching staff and the campus. Along with the facilities the girls hockey team gets."

Badger Coaching Staff on Box: "Haley is a playmaker who can score goals with great experience on the USA team. She's a strong skater who likes to get into the congested areas and work. Her experience across multiple elite programs will help out our team in years to come."

Maddy Kimbrel | Forward | Orono, Minn. | Holy Family Catholic

Joining Kayla Swarout from Holy Family, Kimbrel spent her first few years in high school dominating for Orono High School in Orono, Minnesota. Her last two seasons saw her collect 40+ points in both years.

Kimbrel now competes for Holy Family in her senior year, and has recorded four goals and four assists through her first three games with the team.

Kimbrel has represented Team USA on multiple occasions, winning a silver medal at the 2025 IIHF U18 World Championships, and earning a spot on the roster in the 2024 U18 Series against Team Canada.

Badger Coaching Staff on Kimbrel: "The first thing you notice when you watch her is the speed, she's going 110% all the time. She can take the puck to the net and also has great experience on big stages with Team USA. Fans will love watching her in the open ice.

Nela Lopušanová | Forward | Žilina, Slovakia | Bishop Kearney Selects

Nela Lopušanová joins the Badgers as the second European player in program history, following current freshman, Adéla Šapovalivová from Czechia. Lopušanová represents Slovakia, and has spent the last three years at Bishop Kearney Selects. Last season, Lopušanová put up 37 goals and 48 assists in just 59 games.

Lopušanová has certainly made her rounds in the national realm, playing in Paris, Austria, Sweden, Finland and China. Her freshman year. She won MVP, Best Forward, and Most Points (12) at the U18 World Junior Championships in Sweden. Lopušanová has also won the 2023 Piotr Nurowski prize by the European Olympic Committees to the best young European athlete in winter sports.

The Slovakian is a Flag football state champion where she had 74 flag pulls and 36 total touchdowns last season. She was also nominated by the Buffalo Bills as the Girls Flag Football National Player of the Year.

Lopušanová loves spending time with family and friends. She is looking forward to starting a new chapter in her life, meeting new people and being able to develop on and off the ice. Her best sports memory is spending time with her brother Simon.

Why Wisconsin: "I chose Wisconsin because of their great education and outstanding athletics. The community and culture is very welcoming and that's what drew me to this university."

Badger Coaching Staff on Lopušanová: "She's a very dynamic player, who'll get fans on their feet with her creativity. She plays extremely well in all three zones and competes even when she doesn't have the puck. She's very creative but also understands the game very well utilizing great experience with Slovakia in the World Championships.

Rosalie Tremblay | Forward | Sherbrooke, Quebec | Stanstead College

Rosalie Tremblay joins the Badgers as the 2026 signing class's lone Canadian, coming from Sherbrooke Quebec with many notable national accomplishments.

Tremblay became a national champion with Team Quebec as captain, leading the team to its first ever National Championship at the U18 level - scoring the game-winning goal in the championship game. Tremblay is also a 2025 U18 World Champion with Team Canada.

At Stanstead College, Rosalie played alongside her sister Maxime, a freshman at Boston College, playing Division I hockey.

Tremblay's biggest role models are her mom and dad. The strongest part of her game is her hockey IQ. During her first season at UW, she hopes to have an impact and win a championship. Outside of hockey, Tremblay enjoys other sports, shopping, or listening to Zach Bryan. She can also juggle.

Why Wisconsin? "The student life, and the hockey facilities"

The Badger Coaching Staff on Tremblay: "Rosa is a 200-foot center who does the little things right. She was captain of the Quebec team that won gold for the first time ever at the National Championships. She will be a tremendous leader for us down the road, everywhere she goes, and every team she plays on, she's respected by her teammates.

Shayla Beaudette | Defender | Denver, Colorado. | Bishop Kearney Selects

Following her teammate at Bishop Kearney Selects, Nela Lopušanová, Beaudette hails from Denver and joins the Badgers as a defender.

Her time at Bishop Kearney has seen the school win New York state titles at both the 16U and 19U level. Beaudette has also attended USA Select camp every year in high school. She credits her offensive ability on the blue line and her decision-making for her success.

Apart from hockey, Beaudette can be found watching Stranger Things or listening to Noah Kahan. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching tv or sports, and enjoying nature.

Why Wisconsin? "Wisconsin felt like home once I stepped on campus, I loved the atmosphere, the energy and the opportunity to be a part of such a talented and successful team."

Badger Coaching Staff on Beaudette: "Shayla has great presence on the ice, a great defender offensively and defensively. She's very strong and very physical in the corners. She has underrated puck skills that are noticeable on power plays, and when she is coming up the ice."

Kayla Swartout | Goaltender | Shakopee, MN | Holy Family Catholic High School

Swartout joins the Wisconsin Badgers after making a .940% save percentage last season for Holy Family, as well as being named to the All-Conference team . In 31 games played in her junior year, she collected an All-State honorable mention honor. This season, the senior goaltender is a captain.

Her sophomore year, her save percentage was .928% and she earned the All-Conference award again. Swartout is a 2025 USA U16 National Champion. However on top of playing hockey, she also participates in varsity soccer and lacrosse at Holy Family.

Swartout's role models are Maddie Rooney and Simone Biles. Outside of hockey, she enjoys working out, playing pickleball or going on long walks with friends. In her free time, she plays card games and bakes with her sisters, Alexis and Brynn.

Why Wisconsin? "It felt like home, the moment I stepped on campus it felt right. The people, the culture and the hockey program all push me to be my best. I love how safe the campus is and the energy and atmosphere. I especially love that I can play great hockey while getting a great education."

Badger Coaching Staff on Swartout: "Swartout is the best Goalie at the top program in Minnesota right now, with multiple USA national tryouts as well. She's someone that's very patient, and will push the other goalies to do her best. We know that she will deliver when the opportunity arises"

Emma Cerruti | Defense | Norwell, Massachusetts | Shattuck St. Marys

Emma Cerruti is another in a long line of Badgers to come out of Shattuck St. Marys, but is also a 2025 Team USA U18 World Championship runner-up.

At Shattuck, Cerruti had six goals and 18 assists last season. Her sophomore year, she had 32 points in 43 games as well as a U16 Minnesota state champion.

So far this season, the Massachusetts native has four goals and seven assists in 21 games as a defender.

The strongest parts of her game are her tenacity, shot, speed and physicality. In her first season at Wisconsin, Cerruti hopes to transition from u19 hockey to the highest level of college hockey smoothly and be a contributing member of the team. She also aspires to be in the top six defensemen on the team.

She enjoys baking, playing pickleball and drawing/coloring.

Why Wisconsin? "When I was in middle school, I met Coach Koch at a showcase and I thought of how amazing it would be to play for him one day. Then I researched Wisconsin and I loved everything about it. I love the campus, I love how much school spirit students have, I love the business program, and I love the environment that is created in LaBahn Arena. I cannot wait to be a part of it. When I got on campus for my visit everything I loved about Wisconsin was confirmed. I got a feeling when on campus and I am ecstatic to be a Badger next year."

Badger Coaching Staff on Cerruti: "Emma is a great playmaker out of Shattuck. Right away, you notice her competitiveness, and how strong she is defensively. She plays one-on-one strong in both the corner and the net, and makes her opponents' jobs as tough as possible."

University of Wisconsin Athletics

Women's hockey signs seven players in class of 2026

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