DETROIT - Seven former Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) players were selected throughout the six rounds at the 2026 PWHL Draft at Detroit’s Fox Theatre on Wednesday.

All AHA alumni selected came from Penn State, playing under head coach Jeff Kampersal. No program had more players drafted on Wednesday night than Penn State's seven.

FIRST ROUND
In the first round, the all-time leading Penn State scorer, forward Tessa Janecke, was selected third overall by PWHL Las Vegas, becoming the franchise’s first-ever draft pick. The Orangeville, Ill. native was one of five United States Gold Medalists from the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics eligible for Wednesday’s draft.

As a Nittany Lion, Janecke totaled 201 points (89G-112A) in 145 career games.

THIRD ROUND
In the third round, a pair of Nittany Lions were taken with the first being blueliner Leah Stecker, who went 27th overall to the Boston Fleet, followed by forward Maddy Christian, who was drafted 33rd overall to head back to her home state by the Minnesota Frost.

Stecker tallied 57 points (12G-45A) in 152 games with Penn State, while Christian recorded 84 points (46G-38A) in 153 career games as a Nittany Lion.

FOURTH ROUND
Another duo of former Penn State student-athletes was taken in the fourth round with goaltender Katie DeSa and forward Katelyn Roberts. DeSa was the first pick of the round (37th overall), going to the Vancouver Goldeneyes and the third goaltender taken in the evening. Roberts was drafted 43rd overall by the New York Sirens.

DeSa’s 25 career shutouts serve as the program’s record. The new Vancouver netminder posted a 64-13-3 record in 81 games as a Nittany Lion and had a 1.43 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage over four seasons. Roberts reached the century mark with Penn State, as she notched 103 points (43G-60A) in 153 games.

FIFTH ROUND
Blueliner Kendall Butze led off the fifth round (49th overall), joining Janecke as a selection of PWHL Las Vegas. The former Nittany Lion tallied 94 points (15G-79A) in 151 contests over four seasons.

SIXTH ROUND
Forward Mya Vaslet was the seventh and final Nittany Lion taken in the draft, going 66th overall in the sixth round by PWHL Hamilton. The Stittsville, Ontario native recorded 60 points (30G-30A) in 149 career games with Penn State.

ABOUT ATLANTIC HOCKEY AMERICA
Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) enters its third season in 2026-27 following the merger between the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America. The conference fields nine Division I men's teams and seven women's teams. For more information, visit atlantichockeyamerica.com.

Connect with AHA on X (@Atlantic_Hockey), Instagram (@atlantichockeyamerica) and Facebook (Atlantic Hockey America).