This hockey offseason, senior women’s hockey defenseman Stephanie Bourque ‘26 declared for the 2026 PWHL draft. She is the first Union player to declare for the PWHL draft after its inception in 2024. Bourque currently holds the program record for career points (70) and assists (54) for both forwards and defensemen.
Bourque was the team captain this past season and had a record-setting career at Union. Bourque finished her career with 16 goals, 54 assists, 70 overall points, and 131 blocked shots. Her 54 career assists are 16 more than the second-highest career assist leader, and she tied the program’s single-game point record with 1 goal and 4 assists against Delaware on November 28th.
Bourque has also received several ECAC hockey awards throughout her career; she has been named the ECAC player of the week 5 times (including 4 times as a senior), and won this year’s Wayne Dean Sportsmanship Award, given to the student-athlete who shows the highest level of integrity, sportsmanship, and respect to coaches and teammates.
Bourque intends to become the 9th Union women’s hockey alumna to play professional women’s hockey. Union has had 4 alumna play in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) and 4 play in the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF). Courtney Turner ‘16 was selected first overall in the 2017 CWHL draft. A total of 236 players have declared for the PWHL draft, and this year’s draft is expected to include 12 teams and 6 rounds, with 72 total players selected. The Hockey News has ranked Bourque 43rd out of 100 top draft prospects.
