WATERLOO, Ont. – Building off the momentum of a 17-win season—the program's best since 2014—and cracking the U SPORTS Top 10 rankings for the first time in over a decade, the Golden Hawks women's hockey team is thrilled to announce the newest additions to its roster for the 2025-26 season.Â
This year's recruiting class features five incoming first-year players, bringing skill, leadership, and versatility to the lineup. Additionally, two key transfers will bolster the team's blue line with experience and elite-level play.
"We are excited to welcome our incoming recruit class to the women's hockey team at Laurier. Each athlete brings a unique combination of skill, passion, and determination that will have an immediate impact on our on-ice performance," said Laurier's manager of women's hockey operations and head coach
Kelly Paton.
"Beyond their athletic abilities, their character and leadership will strengthen our team culture, creating an atmosphere of hard work, accountability, and unity."
Name: Estée FodorÂ
Pronunciation:Â ES-tay FO-der
Position: Forward
Prior Team: U22 Bluewater Hawks AA
Hometown: Dutton, ON
A dynamic, 200-foot center, Fodor is known for her relentless work ethic and defensive responsibility.
As an assistant captain, alongside teammate and fellow Laurier commit Hayley Murphy, she leads by example with her high competitive level and two-way game.Â
She is one of the top goal scorers on her junior team and can finish around the net while also being a dependable presence in her own zone.
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Name: Haley Murphy
Pronunciation: HAY-lee
Position: Forward
Prior Team: U22 Bluewater Hawks AA
Hometown: London, ON
Murphy is a scoring winger who brings elite-level puck skills and offensive creativity to the Golden Hawks. A shifty skater, she utilizes changes in speed and direction to create space and generate scoring chances.Â
As an assistant captain for her junior team, she has demonstrated strong leadership. Her ability to convert in shoot-out situations makes her an asset in tight games.
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Name: Zoey Dupuis
Pronunciation: Dew-PWEEÂ
Position: Forward
Prior Team: U22 Ottawa Jr. 67's AA
Hometown: Ottawa, ON
A well-rounded center, Dupuis excels both offensively and defensively. As the captain of her junior program, she has developed into a faceoff specialist who can control possession and dictate the game's flow.Â
Her ability to read the play and find open ice allows her to be a consistent scoring threat.Â
She enters Laurier with championship experience, having won the 2024 OFSAA (provincial) AAA gold medal in girls' high school hockey, where she was teammates with current Golden Hawk, Mariève Roussel.Â
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Name: Lily Spencer
Position: Forward
Prior Team: U22 Nepean Wildcats AA
Hometown: Richmond, ON
Spencer is a tenacious forward who plays a responsible game in all three zones. A key contributor to her junior team, she brings a strong work ethic and a willingness to battle in high-traffic areas.Â
Whether playing wing or center, she is reliable on faceoffs and consistently positions herself well in the defensive zone. Offensively, she adds depth by crashing the net and capitalizing on opportunities in the slot.Â
She follows in the footsteps of her older sister and current Golden Hawk
Elle Spencer and will be reunited with Nepean teammate Marra Klassen as a fellow recruit.Â
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Name: Marra Klassen
Pronunciation:Â MAR-ah CLASS-en
Position: Defense
Prior Team: U22 Nepean Wildcats AA
Major: Financial Math
Hometown: Manotick, ON
A strong, puck-moving defenseman, Klassen brings size and reach to the Laurier blue line. As the captain of her program, she has proven leadership qualities and a calm presence on the ice.Â
Off the puck, she is a reliable defender who makes smart reads. On the power play, her puck skills allow her to contribute offensively. She also has a knack for excelling in high-pressure situations, boasting a high success rate in shootouts.
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Name: Kara Den HoedÂ
Pronunciation: CARE-ah Den-HODE
Position: Defense
Prior Team: Nipissing Lakers (OUA)
Hometown: Fergus, ON
One of the top defenders in the country, Den Hoed joins Laurier from the Nipissing Lakers, where she was named the 2024 OUA Defender of the Year. She brings championship pedigree as a 2022 U SPORTS silver medalist.
Over her OUA career (74 GP, 9 G, 22 A, 31 PTS), she has showcased her ability to contribute offensively while maintaining a dominant presence in her own zone.
Her size and reach make her an imposing force on the blue line, and she will be a key player in Laurier's defensive core.
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Name: Gabby Lehoux
Pronunciation: GAB-ee Le-HOO
Position: Defense
Prior Team: Western Mustangs (OUA)
Hometown: Windsor, ON
Lehoux arrives from the Western Mustangs, where she was a reliable, minutes-eating defender, averaging over 23 minutes of ice time per game last season.
A smooth skater, she excels at transitioning the puck up ice and generating offence from the blue line.Â
With 92 OUA games under her belt (8 G, 9 A, 17 PTS), she brings valuable experience and a steady defensive presence. Her ability to create shots from the point and distribute the puck effectively will add another dimension to the Golden Hawks' attack.
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