The Penn State women’s hockey program reached new heights the last three seasons, achieving the first three NCAA Tourney appearances in the program’s 13-year history and winning a school-record 31 games in 2024–25. Two of the players most responsible for that success made history this summer by being the first two Nittany Lions drafted by the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

The routes taken by Brianna Brooks and Lyndie Lobdell speak to the two paths to success in women’s college hockey. Brooks ’25 H&HD played three seasons at the University of New Hampshire before coming to Happy Valley and putting together two outstanding campaigns for the Nittany Lions. A 5-foot-9 forward, Brooks was selected by expansion PWHL Vancouver with the 32nd pick in the 2-year-old league’s June draft. While Penn State hockey fans rejoiced, Brooks struggled to contain her shock. “I honestly couldn’t believe it when it happened,” she says. “I only had calls with two teams, and they don’t tell you much. I was going to go to Sweden to play. But getting drafted is what’s meant to be, and it is an honor to be the first from Penn State.”

Brooks was one-of-one for about half an hour: With the 40th pick, the other expansion PWHL team, Seattle, chose her friend and teammate Lobdell ’24, ’25 MBA Bus. With a school-record 84 points as a defender and a record 136 games played over her five college seasons, the 5-foot-7 blueliner is a perfect example of a homegrown college star. She’s eager to bring her rugged style of play to the big time. 

“I’m excited to bring my physicality to the league,” she says. “These are top-tier legends in the PWHL, and I’m going to try to bring that younger game, style, and physical play there.”

While expansion in pro sports leagues typically means a race to the bottom, in the process of growing from an “Inaugural Six” to an eight-team league, the PWHL created an environment in which both Vancouver and Seattle got the chance to build rosters that are stacked with veteran talent. This means Brooks and Lobdell could be jumping right into contention for the Walter Cup, the young league’s championship trophy.

Given that cup winners are allowed to travel with the trophy in the offseason, and the fact that both Brooks and Lobdell remain big fans of their alma mater and coach Jeff Kampersal’s ever-improving program, don’t rule out seeing one of the rookies stroll through campus with the cup in their arms next summer.