Around a half-hour after BU’s season ended in a double-overtime loss to Northeastern in the Hockey East Quarterfinal, all four seniors in Tara Watchorn’s leadership group remained on the Walter Brown Arena ice sheet in full uniform. Sydney Healey, Clara Yuhn, Maeve Kelly and Maeve Carey — their NCAA careers officially over — still needed time to take it all in.
They weren’t the only Terriers who played their final game in Scarlet and White on that fateful Saturday afternoon. BU will graduate three more seniors — German twin sisters Luisa and Lilli Welcke and forward Riley Walsh — and its lone graduate student, goalie Michelle Pasiechnyk. And with the NCAA transfer portal officially open, there will be more who don’t return to Walter Brown in 2026-27. Per APX Hockey’s database, freshman defender Lucy Thiessen entered the portal on Tuesday.
But what does the future hold for BU’s departures? Will the graduates continue their careers professionally? And if so, in what league? The 2026 PWHL Draft is in June; in 2025, goalie Callie Shanahan and defender Tamara Giaquinto became the first Terriers to be drafted by the PWHL straight from BU. As for Thiessen, where will she end up? Will any of her former teammates follow her out the door?
But while the portal takes, it also gives: How will Watchorn use incoming transfers to supplement all of the experience and talent her roster is losing?
And finally — what does Watchorn’s incoming freshman class look like, and how will it help fill out BU’s 2026-27 roster?
The Blog is tracking all of those things in the story below. Follow along for updates, information and analysis as BU’s offseason progresses, starting with Thiessen:
Pro Draftees and Signees
Nadia Mattivi
What to know: Mattivi, who played for the Terriers for five seasons from 2019 to 2024, signed a standard player contract with the Montreal Victoire in the PWHL on March 24.
She was a two-year captain for BU and tallied 63 points in 141 games as a defender. Since graduating, Mattivi has played with Luleå HF in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League, where she was named SDHL Defender of the Year in 2024-25 after recording 27 points in 34 games.
Mattivi was named captain of Team Italy for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she recorded two assists in five games.
Analysis: Mattivi has been on the PWHL’s radar for some time, and after gaining additional seasoning over a season and a half overseas, Montreal jumped at the opportunity to sign her before the 2026 draft, where she was likely to be selected.
The 25-year-old chewed up major minutes for Italy at the Olympic Games, but she’s more than just a stay-at-home defender. She’s shown a knack for creating offense, with her production increasing at the professional level, albeit in Europe.
Although she won’t produce at the level she has in Sweden in the PWHL, it’s about time Mattivi gets her shot. Her 5-foot-10 frame will provide value at the blue line with a sprinkling of offense. — Eli Cloutier
PWHL Draft Declarations
Sydney Healey
What to know: Over four seasons in scarlet and white, Healey earned a string of accolades, including Hockey East Tournament MVP in her junior year and three Hockey East Player of the Week honors. Tallying 45 goals and 33 assists by the end of her collegiate career, the forward was an essential piece to the Terriers’ lineup.
Healey led BU in points in both her junior and senior seasons and consistently proved to be the most dominant goal scoring force for the Terriers.
Riley Walsh
What to know: After transferring from Union after two years, Walsh made an immediate impact for BU, playing all 38 games her junior season. The forward kept up her momentum this past season, finishing with two goals and eight assists.
Walsh’s forecheck was her most valuable asset, as she consistently forced turnovers in the neutral zone and recovered pucks well in the offensive zone to sustain offensive pressure.
Lilli Welcke
What to know: Lilli Welcke spent the last three years with BU after playing at Maine her freshman season. The forward’s performances were essential in big matchups, including her goal in the Friendship Series Championship against Harvard in January.
Lilli Welcke represented Team Germany in the 2026 Winter Olympics, showcasing her skating and playmaking abilities alongside her twin sister, Luisa.
Luisa Welcke
What to know: Luisa Welcke, with her sister, played at BU the last three years after transferring from Maine. Boasting a similar playing style to her sister, Luisa Welcke used her playmaking abilities to constantly build momentum for the Terriers.
Luisa Welcke also represented Team Germany in the 2026 Winter Olympics, tallying three assists in the five games.
Clara Yuhn
What to know: A fixture in the forward lineup since her freshman year, Yuhn capped her time at BU as an assistant captain. Ending her senior season with eight goals and nine assists, the forward was a key factor for the Terriers when it came time to keep their season alive.
Maeve Carey
What to know: After playing two seasons at Stonehill, Carey spent the last two years as a staple at the blue line, earning the captain title her senior year. She racked up three points during her senior season, including an overtime goal against Northeastern in the Beanpot Semifinals.
Maeve Kelly
What to know: Stepping into the assistant captain role her senior season, Kelly ended her fourth year at BU with one goal and eight assists. With 29 blocks at the end of the season, the defender picked up Hockey East Defender of the Week honors in late February.
Michelle Pasiechnyk
What to know: After earning NCAA and ECAC Goaltender of the Year honors at Clarkson, Pashiechnyk took a year away from collegiate hockey before joining BU.
The transfer started in 16 of the Terriers’ matchups in her final collegiate season. The goaltender ended the year with a .919 save percentage. — Jane Guay
Portal Departures
Lucy Thiessen
What to know: The 5-foot-5 defender from Alexandria, Va., who will be a sophomore next season, entered the portal on March 24. A recruit from the BK Selects, she was originally committed to Dartmouth before signing with BU, where she played 19 of a possible 35 games in 2024-25 and recorded four points (one goal, three assists).
Thiessen flashed her offensive skill early — she scored BU’s first power-play goal of the season in the Terriers’ fifth game — but ultimately endured a turbulent freshman year. She was mysteriously left in Boston during BU’s weekend series at Maine in early November, which Watchorn said was not injury related. She didn’t play in the Friendship Series (but did make the trip to Northern Ireland) or the Beanpot, which Watchorn called “team management.” She briefly returned in late January and early February, then didn’t play in BU’s final six games, which Watchorn said was injury related. The Terriers played those games with only five active defenders.
Analysis: Thiessen’s talent and creativity is exciting, but she never seemed to fit with Watchorn’s tactical identity.
There’s a lot to like. Thiessen is fast, brave and capable of carrying pucks coast to coast. But she’s also raw and undisciplined, and in 2025-26, she lacked the maturity in her game that Watchorn’s system demands. That’s not necessarily an indictment on Thiessen — she certainly wasn’t the only Terrier who struggled with discipline and maturity, and she was a freshman; those warts are hardly surprising. But she doesn’t project as the kind of defender Watchorn would want. A transfer feels like the best option for all parties.
With a coaching staff that values her skillset and is willing to develop the rest of her game, Thiessen could be a legit star. I’d guess she remains in Hockey East or ends up in the ECAC.
Thiessen’s departure — assuming she doesn’t end up returning to Comm Ave — leaves the Terriers even thinner on the blue line in 2026-27 than they already were. Carey and Kelly were two of three upperclassmen in Watchorn’s defensive core this season and both are gone. That leaves rising senior Ella Belfry, rising juniors Keira Healey, Tessa Demain and Kate Meinert and rising sophomore Avery Supryka as BU’s only returning defenders; only one of them, Healey, has been an every-day defender throughout her time at Wally B. Incoming freshman Kali Maechtel is an exciting prospect — she just recorded four points in six games for Team Canada at U-18 Worlds — and fellow Ontario native Mylie Ellis is arriving as well; both will need to contribute as freshman. Don’t be surprised if Watchorn looks to the portal for an extra body in the defensive core. — Sam Robb O’Hagan
Ella Belfry
What to know: After spending one season with the Terriers, junior defender Ella Belfry entered the transfer portal on April 6, ultimately committing to play at Minnesota Duluth her senior year. The 5-foot-6 blue liner recorded 10 blocked shots across 26 games. Her last recorded game with BU was on Jan. 31 against Merrimack.
Prior to BU, Belfry spent her first two seasons with Colgate, tallying a goal and nine assists for the Raiders. She also recorded 27 blocked shots across 36 games during her sophomore year.
Analysis: Ahead of BU’s matchup against Northeastern on Feb. 13, Belfry’s absence was listed as “roster management,” per BU Athletics. While we won’t know the exact meaning behind this “roster management” move – especially at a time when there were only five defenders listed on the line chart – it’s apparent that Belfry wasn’t developing at BU like she hoped to.
Belfry will take her talents to the WCHA, where she’ll face much more physical competition, including Ohio State and defending national champion Wisconsin.
As for BU, this departure means there are no returning senior defenders coming back into the lineup this season. The only senior on the blue line this upcoming season is transfer portal pickup Peyton Blaney, who spent her first three seasons at Providence. This means that returning juniors Keira Healey, Tessa Demain and Kate Meinert are expected to have a leading impact on the blue line. — Anthony Gasowski
Portal Arrivals
Ella Pukala
What to know: The freshman center from Minnesota Duluth appeared in 33 of 38 games during her debut NCAA season. Before joining the Bulldogs, the Arlington Heights, Ill., native played for the Chicago Mission U19 program.
Pukala brings a strong USA hockey resume. She earned an invitation to the U.S. Girls National U19 Training Camp in July 2025 and was previously selected for the U.S. Hockey Under-18 Select Player Development Camps in both 2023 and 2024. She also took part in the 2023 Festival, where she competed against Sweden.
Analysis: The Terriers lost their senior core. Five of eight graduating seniors for BU are forwards — including Lilli and Luisa Welcke and Sydney Healey, who down the stretch of the season were the team’s first line.
There are returning options in Anežka Čabelová, Lexi Bertelsen and Kaileigh Quigg, but much of their production didn’t emerge until the latter half of the season. That opens the door for a newcomer to carve out an early role.
That’s where Pukala becomes intriguing. Her stat line at Minnesota Duluth — zero points — could be misleading. The WCHA is a stronger, more physical league than Hockey East. Just look at the way Wisconsin and Ohio State swept through the NCAA tournament.
BU could benefit from that experience. Her size, pace and familiarity with high-tempo hockey gives her a chance to bring a different edge to a forward group in need of a spark. — Hannah Connors
Peyton Blaney
What to know: The rising senior defenseman from Providence College appeared in 30 of the team’s 35 games during her third season as a Friar. She registered three assists and ranked third on the roster with 44 blocked shots.
Before playing in Hockey East, Blaney competed for the Etobicoke Dolphins in the OWHL — the same team Lexie Bertelsen, Keira Healey and Mari Pietersen played for before arriving at BU.
Analysis: It’s no surprise Watchorn turned to the portal to reinforce the blue line. BU desperately needed defensive help, and last year’s d-core frankly didn’t look like the unit that lifted the Hockey East trophy in 2025.
Down the back half of the season, Watchorn frequently elected to dress five defenders. With Maeve Carey and Maeve Kelly graduating and Thiessen in the transfer portal, it leaves the blue line thin. There are returning members like Healey, Tessa Demain and Avery Suprakya, but that still leaves plenty of slots to fill.
Though Blaney’s point generation is low, her number of blocked shots speaks for itself. Watchorn’s philosophy revolves around playing hockey the “right way.” This means not cheating the game, being aggressive on forecheck and sustaining zone time. That comes from a willingness to gain possession of the puck in the defensive zone, which Blaney has the stats to back. It’s just a matter of if she can translate those skills to BU. — Connors
Incoming freshmen
We’re working on it.