How are the former North Dakota players doing?

As much as any women’s hockey fan wishes it didn’t, the University of North Dakota did drop women’s hockey following the 2016-17 season. This left the entire team looking for a new college to play for. All but two have moved on elsewhere and are back on the ice. So how are they doing now?

Goaltenders

Kristen Campbell, Wisconsin - The freshman backup to senior Lexie Shaw last year for the Fighting Hawks, Campbell joined the Wisconsin Badgers. She has huge skates to fill after the graduation of Patty Kazmaier Award winner Ann-Renée Desbiens. So far, she’s done very well, posting a perfect 14-0-0 record to go along with a sparkling .949 SV% and 0.93 GAA.

Kennedy Blair, Mercyhurst - Blair redshirted her freshman year, so she still gets to play four years of college hockey, albeit not where she originally hoped to. With Mercyhurst, she’s been splitting time with Sarah McDonnell in net, and has an .880 SV% along with one win (a 6-1 win at Lindenwood on Oct. 14).

Defenders

Taylor Flaherty, Vermont -  Flaherty has proven to be an awesome pickup for the Catamounts. During her two years in Grand Forks, she posted a combined total of two points. So far, in eleven games at UVM, she’s posted six, the most by a defender and tied for fifth on the team overall. Her shot from the point has been a great weapon for the team offensively, and she’s filled a physical role as well.

Anna Kilponen, Quinnipiac - An alternate captain on the Fighting Hawks in their final season, Kilponen has also started strong out east, with three points in her first seven games as a Quinnipiac Bobcat.

Abbey Stanley, Boston University - As a freshman, Stanley posted six points in 33 games for the Fighting Hawks. So far, in her first year with the Terriers, she’s halfway to matching that, with three points in nine games.

Abby Thiessen, St. Cloud State - Like Stanley, Thiessen is also halfway to matching her freshman production, with three points in the early going with the Huskies, who have gotten off to a somewhat slow 2-6 start.

Forwards

Charly Dahlquist, Ohio State - The forward out of Eden Prairie has been a big piece of the Buckeyes’ early season success. After a 15-point sophomore campaign at UND (up from seven the year before), Dahlquist seems to have improved even more this season, posting six points in her first ten games in Columbus.

Rebekah Kolstad, Minnesota State - The Mankato native decided to return home for her last three seasons of college. Coming off a 11-point freshman season, she’s been a bit snakebit so far this year. In nine games, she’s managed one goal, which came on Oct. 14 against Wisconsin. Also, this:

S/o to @markkennedyund for giving me the opportunity to take this picture #notmyund pic.twitter.com/wZ28J2PXgx

— Rebekah Kolstad (@Kolstad22) September 8, 2017

Vilma Tanskanen, Mercyhurst - The second of the three ex-Fighting Hawks to choose Mercyhurst, Tanskanen started a bit slow with no points in her first five games in Erie. But since then, she’s found her form, and currently leads the Lakers with six points, five of which are goals.

Emma Nuutinen, Mercyhurst - The final Mercyhurst transfer, Nuutinen had a huge rookie season with 19 points, good for third on the Fighting Hawks. But she’s had some sophomore struggles, with just a single point from her first eight games.

Ryleigh Houston,  Minnesota Duluth - Houston was nothing short of fire during her rookie year in Grand Forks, with 26 points (second on the team) landing her on the WCHA All-Rookie Team. So far in Duluth, she’s had some ups and downs, with five points in her first twelve games.

Hallie Theodosopoulos, St. Cloud State - After going eight pointless to start  the year, Theodosopoulos posted her first point this weekend. Her first season in St. Cloud comes after she posted nine points in 35 games last season as a freshman at North Dakota.

Sarah Lecavalier, Robert Morris - After eight points in Grand Forks as a freshman, Lecavalier has started okay for a RMU side that’s started quite strong, with 4 points in her first ten games. Besides Campbell, she’s had the most team success so far as the Colonials sit at 7-1-2.

Alyssa MacMillan, Ottawa - One of two players to head north for further college hockey, MacMillan has played in every one of the Gee Gee’s official games, and has yet to point.

Breanna Berdsen, Toronto - Berdsen is the other former Fighting Hawk to head north, and has played in each of the Varsity Blues’ official games, earning her first USports point in a 3-2 win over Windsor on Oct. 27.

Annelise Rice - Rice currently has bigger fish to fry than hockey; she recently sued her abusive father, as well as several social workers and court professionals. I can’t find any updates, but it’s a thing that happened.

Dorottya Medgyes - Medgyes is Hungarian and was playing on a visa. It’s unclear if she found another US or Canadian school to play at, or if she returned to Hungary. (UPDATE: Cool 98.7 in Bismarck reached out to Medgyes; she remains at UND pursuing her degree. She received an offer from the University of Maine, but she could not afford it, even after scholarships.)