Leah Stecker “Can’t Stop Smiling” About Her Boston Future, Even If She’s Been A New York Fan
(Penn State)Frances KlemmSun, June 28, 2026 at 11:37 a.m. UTC·2 min readLeah Stecker might have grown up a “die-hard New York fan,” but that’s all shifting after she was drafted 27th overall in the third round by the Boston Fleet.
“I’m changing now,” Stecker said in a press conference following her selection on June 17 in Detroit, Mich. “As you can tell, I can’t stop smiling. I’m very excited.”
Stecker was one of seven Penn State players to be drafted to the PWHL, a record for the growing program. The seven seniors led the Nittany Lions to the most wins in program history and making the team’s first-ever Frozen Four appearance. While Wisconsin knocked Penn State out in the semi-finals, Stecker had a season high five blocks in front of the record-breaking home crowd.
A ferocious blueliner, Stecker tallied 17 assists, three goals and 32 blocks her senior season.
“I’m really physical. I definitely like to separate the body and the puck,” Stecker said. “[Boston] can expect a lot of getting it, moving it and changing, a lot of hard work.”
She grew up in Randolph, New Jersey, close enough to Boston that it was a common tournament and vacation site for her. She’s also not unfamiliar with the team— newly crowned rookie of the year Haley Winn was her roommate at a camp “years and years ago.”
“It’s like a fun little reunion,” Stecker said.
When she watched the Boston Fleet last season, it was clear to her that they played as a unit.
“It looked like they were having a lot of fun when they were playing. And that’s something I live by, I feel like I play my best when I’m having a lot of fun,” she said.
When she spoke to Fleet players at the draft, they told her the team culture was their winning factor.
“I’m really looking forward to that,” Stecker said.
Stecker is just the second player from New Jersey to be drafted, according to NJ.com. She was NJ.com’s girls ice hockey player of the year before her four-year stint at Penn State.
“It’s going to be hard for my dad to support a Boston team. He’s a die-hard New York fan,” Stecker laughed. “But I’m just kidding, he’ll love Boston.”
The Fleet also drafted Cornell’s Grace Dwyer, Northeastern’s Jaden Bogden, Frölunda HC’s Jenna Goodwin and Boston University’s Maeve Kelly. A total of 235 players declared for the draft in wake of the league’s four-team expansion.
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