Syracuse Ice Hockey’s Future in Net Is Bright
By Jared Valentin | @JaredValentin_
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Before Syracuse ice hockey (4-4, 2-0 Atlantic Hockey America) spent a single minute on the ice for the 2025-26 season, the Orange had to replace several key pieces from last year, including former goaltender Allie Kelley who set the NCAA career saves record in 2024-25. SU had three goalies on the roster to choose from to fill those shoes: Bella Gould who had 38 saves in 7 games last season, senior Maïka Paquin who was on the team but didn’t play in 2024-25 and Ava Drabyk, an incoming freshman from Saskatchewan, Canada. In its season opener against No. 5 Minnesota Duluth (6-2, 2-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association), Syracuse rolled the dice and sent out Drabyk in net. Six starts and four road wins later, that decision has more than paid off and SU has found its goalie for the long-term future.
The freshman tallied 78 saves with a .918 save rate in her first series against UMD, surprising everyone who was uncertain of the Canadian’s capabilities in net. Drabyk’s 39 saves per game led the entire AHA, her 78 saves through two games was fifth in the NCAA and that .918 save percentage led all freshmen in the conference.
“She’s battling. It’s good to get a first year some experience against the best to see where she is right now,” SU associate head coach Heather Farrell said after the Orange’s second loss to the Bulldogs. “She did a really wonderful job this weekend.”
Drabyk didn’t see any action in Syracuse’s second series against Stonehill (2-3, 2-1 New England Women’s Hockey Alliance), but when SU returned home to welcome No. 7 Quinnipiac (8-0, 0-0 Eastern College Athletic Conference Hockey) for a two-game series, the freshman started in both contests. Drabyk racked up 61 saves across the pair of matchups with an .898 average save rate in the two games.
Despite the Orange losing in all four home contests the freshman started in, her individual performances landed her two more chances to showcase her capabilities as a netminder against Delaware (1-7, 0-4 AHA). The Orange swept the Blue Hens to jump to 2-0 in conference play and improve to 4-0 on the road. Drabyk recorded 47 saves with a .981 average save rate in the two-game series, while also achieving her first career shutout in the second victory. That dominant performance was enough for the freshman to be named the AHA rookie of the week. Currently, Drabyk is second in the conference with 186 saves, is fifth with a .925 cumulative save rate, all while logging 359 total minutes, the third most in the AHA.
Being the successor to Kelley is no small task. However, in her first six collegiate starts, Drabyk has quickly risen up to the challenge and become a core piece of Syracuse’s future. The freshman has another chance to shine in net this weekend when SU battles RIT (4-4, 1-1 AHA) in a two-game series. The Orange visit the Tigers Friday and welcome RIT Saturday afternoon. Puck drop of Friday’s clash is at 3 p.m. from Gene Polisseni Center in Rochester, NY. For all coverage of that series and the first-half of Syracuse’s 2025-26 season, follow @JaredValentin_ and @CitrusTVSports on X/Twitter!
