Written by Luke Ballard
BOSTON, MA — One of the more unique roster battles of the Boston Fleet’s training camp will take place in the goalie room, where three undrafted rookies will compete for the third and final spot behind returning goaltenders Aerin Frankel and Amanda Thiele.
For Natalie Stott, earning a spot on a PWHL roster would mean more than a dream come true for the 24-year-old. A graduate of Amherst College in the NESCAC, Stott put together one of the most accomplished careers in NCAA Division III goaltending. She became just the third player in NCAA Division III history to earn ACHA/CCM First-Team All-American honors in all four years of her collegiate career, finishing with a .960 career save percentage and an 86–17–9 record.
For Stott, making a PWHL roster could show aspiring players across the hockey world that a division label does not determine a player's professional potential. If she earns a spot when final roster decisions are made, she could help open doors for players from lower NCAA divisions who hope to continue their careers beyond college. Talent exists throughout collegiate hockey, whether in Division I, II, or III. For the Franklin, Massachusetts, native, a PWHL roster spot would be proof that choosing a Division III program does not have to end a player's professional aspirations.
Stott's two competitors also come from less traditional PWHL backgrounds. Both were signed as undrafted free agents and added to the Fleet's training camp roster.
Abby Hornung, a two-year starter at the College of the Holy Cross, was named one of 12 semifinalists for the Hockey Commissioners Association's National Goalie of the Year Award. If Hornung secures the third goalie spot, she would become the first Holy Cross player to appear in the PWHL.
Harvard graduate Lindsay Reed will also compete at training camp. Reed last played competitive hockey during the 2021–22 season. She finished her collegiate career with a .927 save percentage across 60 games and will look to become just the fifth Harvard player to earn a PWHL roster spot.
The Fleet's approach to these undrafted free agents highlights the range of collegiate backgrounds represented in this competition. All three goaltenders are graduates of Massachusetts colleges, but none comes from one of the NCAA programs most commonly associated with producing elite women's hockey talent. In a league featuring alumni from powerhouse programs such as Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, their pursuit of roster spots offers an opportunity to highlight the talent developed elsewhere.
Seeing Stott, Hornung, and Reed compete for positions at the professional level could encourage prospective players to consider a wider range of college programs. Division I is not the only path to a professional career, and smaller programs can provide the development and opportunities players need to reach the next level.
Challenging the assumption that Division III programs cannot produce professional talent could benefit the game as a whole. Each of these goaltenders has a chance to demonstrate that players from different collegiate backgrounds deserve opportunities to compete at the highest level. Their pursuit of a roster spot is a reminder that talent can emerge from programs of all sizes.
A school's reputation or the number of its alumni in the PWHL should not determine how its players are evaluated. As the league continues to grow, creating opportunities for players from underrepresented collegiate programs could broaden the talent pool and open doors for future generations.
For Stott, earning a roster spot would make her just the second Division III player to appear in the PWHL, following Nikki Nightengale. It would also give aspiring college hockey players another example of a professional path beyond Division I. Hornung and Reed are pursuing the same opportunity, showing that a recognizable college hockey brand is not a prerequisite for reaching the professional level.
Although the three goaltenders will compete for the same roster spot, their pursuit represents something bigger than an individual opportunity. Each has worked to reach this stage of her career, and their performances will give the Fleet a chance to evaluate talent from different collegiate backgrounds. Regardless of who earns the final spot, their stories highlight a central truth about the sport: a player's potential cannot be measured by a division or a school's name alone.
