Connecticut's Best CHSGHA High School Girls Ice Hockey Players Since 2021

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

New Canaan's Kaleigh Harden (4) skates with the puck while under pressure from ETB's Madison Archambault (88) during the CHSGHA girls ice hockey semifinals in Shelton on Saturday, March 5, 2022. (Dave Stewart/Hearst Connecticut Media)


At the halfway point of the decade, we've put together a team of the top Connecticut high school girls ice hockey players from the CHSGHA for the years 2021-2025.

The team is similar to our yearly GametimeCT All-State teams with 12 players chosen. For hockey, that includes six forwards, four defenders and two goalies. All the players were named to the GametimeCT All-State first teams at least once, with a few earning the honor multiple times.

Narrowing the list down to a dozen wasn't easy, but the players selected were among the best of the best during the past five seasons.

Here's who we chose:

Chelsea Donovan​

Darien, Forward (2023)​

Topped 100 career points, finishing with 115 on 52 goals and 63 assists, including 20 goals and 36 assists during her senior year. Helped lead the Blue Wave to a CHSGHA championship and three FCIAC titles, including a sweep in 2023. Twice named to the GametimeCT All-State first team and was named both the GametimeCT MVP and CHSGHA Player of the Year as a senior.

Maddie Epke​

Guilford, Forward (2022)​

Finished her high school career with 254 points on 162 goals and 92 assists, capped by a senior season with 41 goals and 22 assists. Led the Grizzlies to SCC championships in 2020 and 2021. Named to the GametimeCT All-State first team three times and was a three-time SCC Player of the Year. Played lacrosse for James Madison for three seasons before transferring to Northwestern, where she was named a preseason All-American by USA Lacrosse.

Nikki Ferraro​

New Canaan, Goalie (2022)​

Led the Rams to an undefeated season at 24-0-1 while winning FCIAC and CHSGHA championships. Allowed just 25 goals in 25 games with nine shutouts and a .944 save percentage. Amassed 40 saves in a 4-3 triple overtime victory against Darien in the CHSGHA final. Named to the GametimeCT All-State first team. Is now a senior playing for the Hotchkiss girls hockey team.

Lili Ficaro​

East Catholic co-op, Forward (2025)​

The forward from South Windsor holds many of the Storm's career offensive records including points with 131 and goals with 96. During her junior season, she set program marks with 53 points, 38 goals and a +45 rating. She was twice named to the GametimeCT All-State first team and received MVP honors as a junior. Also named the CHSGHA Player of the Year in 2024. Kicked off her college career with Oswego State this year and has scored two goals with one assist.

Lila Fiorita​

Darien, Defense (2026, active)​

Led a spectacular defensive effort last winter, with the Blue Wave allowing just 10 goals with 14 shutouts while going 22-0 and winning CHSGHA and FCIAC championships. Scored seven goals and dished out 13 assists as a junior. Has twice been named to the GametimeCT All-State first team and was the MVP last season. She has helped Darien go 13-1 so far this season. Fiorita will play for the Hamilton women's hockey team next year.

Kaleigh Harden​

New Canaan, Forward (2022)​

Finished a spectacular career with an appropriately spectacular goal, netting the game-winner in the third overtime of New Canaan's 4-3 victory over Darien for the 2022 CHSGHA championship. Finished career with 82 goals and 62 assists for 144 points. Led the Rams to two state and three FCIAC championships. Had 32 goals and 15 assists for 47 points during her senior campaign when New Canaan was 24-0-1. Named MVP of the FCIAC and CHSGHA tournaments in 2022. Named to the GametimeCT All-State first team three times and was MVP in 2022. Is now playing lacrosse for NCAA Division I champion North Carolina.

Bella Lonergan​

Darien, Goalie (2025)​

Lonergan missed three seasons with injuries, but delivered an amazing senior campaign, helping the Blue Wave go a perfect 22-0 with FCIAC and CHSGHA championships. She allowed just seven goals and had 14 shutouts that year. In addition to being named to the GametimeCT All-State first team as a senior, she was named Comeback Player of the Year for Girls Sports at the GametimeCT High School Sports Awards show.

Mary McKiernan​

East Catholic co-op, Defense (2022)​

Finished career with 43 goals, 36 assists and 79 points from her defensive position. Netted 10 goals and had 12 assists for 22 points during her senior season while helping the Storm reach the CHSGHA semifinals. Twice named to the GametimeCT All-State first team. Is now a senior on the Assumption women's hockey team.

Nicole Partridge​

Avon/Southington, Forward (2023)​

Finished her career as the Nighthawks' all-time leading scorer with 56 goals and 65 assists for 121 points in four seasons. Also had a +98 rating for her career. Helped the Nighthawks win two consecutive CCC championships and reach their first CHSGHA final. Twice named to the GametimeCT All-State first team and was the CCC Player of the Year in 2023. Is a junior on the Sacred Heart University women's hockey team.

Maya Sherman​

Stamford/Westhill/Staples, Defense (2024)​

Finished her four-year career with 48 points on 14 goals and 34 assists as a defender. That included two goals and 15 assists during her senior season, when the SWS co-op went 16-7 and reached the CHSGHA championship game for the first time in program history. Played on a defense which had six shutouts and allowed two or fewer goals in 18 of 23 games her senior season. The 2024 Hobey Baker High School Character Award winner. Named to the GametimeCT All-State first team in 2024.

Lexi Tully​

New Canaan, Defense (2024)​

Had 30 goals and 60 assists for 90 points while playing lockdown defense for four seasons. Netted 11 goals with 17 assists as a senior, when the defense allowed just 13 goals in 25 games while winning a CHSGHA championship. Won two FCIAC and two CHSGHA championships with the Rams. In her final two games, she scored the tying goal with 1:24 remaining and assisted on the game-winner in a 2-1 OT victory against the East Catholic co-op in the state semis, and then netted the first goal in the Rams' 3-0 win over the SWS co-op in the final. Named to the GametimeCT All-State first team three times and was a 2024 Hobey Baker High School Character Award winner. Plays lacrosse at Cornell.

Maddie Tully​

New Canaan, Forward (2025)​

Finished with career totals of 163 points on 92 goals and 71 assists. Led the Rams with 43 goals and 21 assists for 64 points in her final season. Helped lead New Canaan to two CHSGHA and one FCIAC championship. Earned GametimeCT first team honors three times and was the CHSGHA Player of the Year as a senior. Is now a freshman on the Cornell women's lacrosse team.

This article originally published at Connecticut's Best CHSGHA High School Girls Ice Hockey Players Since 2021.

Continue reading...