Has Ava McNaughton Become USA's Goalie of the Future?

If you look at the last several years of USA national team selection camps, you won't see Ava McNaughton's name. If you look at the next several years of USA national team selection camps, Ava McNaughton will almost certainly be among those vying for spots on the US national women's hockey team.

In fact, the six-foot netminder from Wexford, Pennsylvania might be USA's goalie of the future.

Since 1990, USA Hockey has played 17 netminders at the World Championships. That number drops to 10 at the Olympic Games. It's an elite group currently occupied by Minnesota Frost netminder Nicole Hensley, and Boston Fleet goalie Aerin Frankel.

While it's smaller goalies like Frankel and Hensley who have won the crease for the Americans recently, USA Hockey has shown a trend of looking for a bigger netminder to step into the blue paint. With shooters continuing to improve on the international level, smaller goalies are now finding themselves exposed more often. Despite their search, USA Hockey has yet to land on a bigger starting goalie. Many thought it could be Cornell's Annelies Bergmann.

If recent trends continue however, USA's goalie of the future may be Ava McNaughton. McNaughton has already beat some odds. This past summer, McNaughton was not selected to play for USA's Collegiate Select team that faced Canada in a three game series. In her U-18 national team eligibility McNaughton made the team, but it was Bergmann who played the bulk of the tournament.

Having grown up playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and Bishop Kearney, McNaughton is in her second season at the University of Wisconsin. Sometimes with a team as good as Wisconsin in front of a goalie, they can be overlooked. But make no mistake, McNaughton can elevate her game against tough opponents. She's proven it at Wisconsin, compiling a 38-4-0 record in her first two seasons at Wisconsin, including being part of the 2023 National championship run. She also has 11 shutouts, a 1.26 GAA, and a .943 save percentage.

In the opening game of the Women's Euro Hockey Tour, McNaughton was rock solid earning her first shutout in a 4-0 win. While she only had to make 14 saves, several were quality opportunities. More importantly, McNaughton made the shots she did face look easy. She was calm, square, and controlled her rebounds. In the face of strong Finnish shooters, McNaughton was a steadying presence.

While it's just won game, and McNaughton is only in her second season in the NCAA, it's clear to see how quickly she's climbing in the eyes of USA Hockey. From a team snub this summer, to starting the first game of the Women's Euro Hockey Tour and earning a shutout, McNaughton is making her case for the future of Team USA's crease.