Rising star Abby Stonehouse eager to make mark at Penn State

Abby Stonehouse is hungry to wear the Maple Leaf again.

A two-time member of Canada’s under-18 hockey team, the Blenheim forward leaves soon for the national women’s development team camp.

A strong showing could land her on the Canadian under-22 squad for an exhibition series against the United States on Aug. 12-15 in Richmond, B.C.

“It’s super exciting,” said Stonehouse, 20. “Not getting that invite last year had me working extra hard. It’s a goal I’ve had, so I wanted to get the invite this year.

“Once I got the e-mail, I was kind of relieved, but I’m not done working yet. I still want to put in all the work and (do) everything I can. I want to make that team, so that’s the next goal.”

After camp, she heads to Penn State for her junior year. The Nittany Lions are coming off the best season in program history.

They spent all last season ranked in the Top 10 and reached the Frozen Four for the first time.

Penn State had seven players chosen in the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League draft, more than any other NCAA school. It’s a lot of talent to lose, but their bar remains high.

“Our goals don’t change,” Stonehouse said. “We want to keep on building on that. We had a great senior class. It’s sad to see them go, but excited for next season and the players coming in.”

She set career highs last season in goals (14), assists (10) and points (24) while playing all 39 games as Penn State went 33-6-0.

She was also named an All-American Scholar by the American Hockey Coaches Association.

The Nittany Lions graduated several key leaders. Stonehouse feels ready to help fill their shoes and mentor the rookies.

“(I’ll) do everything that the seniors taught me when I was coming in my first year: be there for them, be a good team player and someone that they can come to if they need,” she said.

There’s also the chance to play a bigger role on the ice, but Stonehouse is more concerned with being a strong leader.

“The ice time comes with hard work,” she said. “I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, but mostly be a good teammate and be there for my team.”

Last season ended with a 4-3 overtime loss to Wisconsin in the national semifinals. The game in University Park, Pa., set a Frozen Four record with 5,176 fans.

“The next step is just to keep building on that,” Stonehouse said. “The program’s on the map now. We’re getting the recruits we need to keep building for success.”

The PWHL was just getting off the ground when Stonehouse arrived at Penn State. She hopes to someday follow her former teammates into the league.

“It’s super awesome to see the growth,” she said. “We deserve this. It’s great to have it now. It something young girls, people my age, can look forward to playing after college (and) playing professionally. I think it’s great for everyone.”

Stonehouse is preparing for school by playing in the Athletes Fuel Cup tournament Tuesdays and Thursdays at Thames Campus Arena. Former Penn State teammate Tessa Janecke – the No. 3 pick in the PWHL draft and a 2026 Olympic gold medallist – joined her as a special guest for the first week.

Stonehouse is on a team captained by her older brother, Brady, an Edmonton Oilers prospect. They sometimes skate together in the morning, too.

“(I’m) learning from him,” she said. “Most of the things I know came from him, so watching him play and being on the ice with him helps me a lot and helps me work on things I need for the next level.

“I’m grateful to be able to skate with him in the summers and when I can.”

Younger brother Brett, of the Blenheim Blades, is also on their team.

“It’s cool. I haven’t done it before,” Abby said about all three being teammates. “I don’t think we’ll do it often, so it’s nice to do it now, now that we have that opportunity.”