Penn State, Team USA standout Janecke goes 3rd in 2026 PWHL entry draft

Courtesy of Onward State

 The 2026 Entry Draft for the Professional Women's Hockey League was held in Detroit on Wednesday evening, with some local-ish talent drawing sufficient interest to be welcomed into the fold as the next generation of stars to populate the 12-team league.

An expansion franchise, the Las Vegas contingent used the 3rd-overall pick to select left-handed Penn State forward Tessa Janecke and the 13th overall selection (first pick of the 2nd round) to snag right-hand shooting Princeton forward Issy Wunder. 

Janecke, a native of northern Illinois, finished her senior campaign by compiling 26 goals and 22 assists over 31 games for the Frozen Four entrant Nits, while adding an Olympic gold medal with Team USA this past February in Milano/Cortina. Janecke was on the ice for both USA goals in its 2-1 victory over Team Canada in the tournament's terminal contest.

Over 4 seasons in State College, she recorded a program-best 201 points (89G, 112A) in 145 contests. 

"I'm super excited just to get into that fan base and that city, that community," Janecke said after greeting her GM, Dominique Didia, at the podium. "I'm really looking forward to (the next season) and I can't wait to get out to Sin City."

For those in her hometown of Orangeville, Illinois (population 800) who supported her, Janecke said, "Thank you for everything. The schools my parents work at, just so much support and love from this small town. I appreciate it."

Wunder, a 22-year-old native of the Toronto metro region, ended her senior season at Princeton by posting team highs of 27 goals and 43 points over 34 appearances. Since 2022, she compiled 146 points (70G, 76A) in 129 games.

The 3rd pick in the 3rd round (27th overall) was used by the Boston Fleet to select right-hand shooting defense Leah Stecker. A native of north Jersey, Stecker posted career bests in assists (17) and points (20) over 39 appearances for the Nittany Lions. Over 152 collegiate contests, Stecker recorded 57 points and accumulated a plus-75 overall rating.

With the 3rd pick in the 3rd round, departing senior forward Madelyn Christian was scooped up by the Minnesota Frost. The left-handed shooter led all D1 women in short-handed goals en route to 19 goals and 35 points over 39 outings at Penn State.

"I'm at a loss for words. It's just an honor to be drafted by your hometown team," said Christian, who was born and raised in the northern Minneapolis suburbs.

In the later rounds, goaltender Katie DeSa from the Nittany Lions was taken with the 37th overall pick (1st in the 4th round) by the Vancouver Goldeneyes. 

From PSU Collegian

The senior netminder finished second in the nation with a 1.36 goals-against average and led the country with 12 shutouts among her career-best 27 victories. In addition, her .936 save percentage ranked 9th in the country. DeSa finished her 4-year collegiate sojourn by compiling an 63-13-2 record, 1.43 GAA, .932 save pct and 25 clean sheets. 

New York utilized the 43rd overall pick to select PSU's Katelyn Roberts, who finished fifth on the club with 33 points (16G, 17A) during her senior campaign. The native of the Twin Cities spent all 4 years with the Nittany Lions, totaling 103 points across 153 contests.

With the very next slot, the Toronto Sceptres welcomed right-handed shooting winger Jane Kuehl out of Princeton University. Kuehl, also a Twin Cities native, notched career bests in goals (13) and points (27) during her senior season with the Orange and Black.

Pick No. 49 -- the opener of the fifth round -- was given to Vegas, who selected defender Kendall Butze from Penn State. Butze, a left-handed shooter born in Cleveland, completed her collegiate career as the highest-scoring backliner in PSU history, having recorded 94 points over 151 games during her 4-year tenure in Central PA. She served as an alternate captain in her senior campaign.

"I'm a play-making defenseman so I'm ready to set up some teammates. I'm just really excited to get to work," Butze said when asked what her new club should expect during her rookie campaign."

Emerson O'Leary, a 22-year-old forward and four-year starter at Princeton, went 56th overall to Toronto. 

Mya Vaslet, a five-year performer at Penn State who shoots left-handed as a forward, was chosen with the 66th pick by the expansion Hamilton franchise.