Sixteen-year-old Skylar Ruschpler of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario has officially committed to the NCAA Division I Boston University Terriers women’s hockey program for the fall of 2027. The standout forward will join the prestigious Hockey East conference as part of the Terriers’ incoming class.
Ruschpler has quickly made a name for herself across Ontario’s top-tier women’s hockey programs. Over the past two seasons, she has competed as an affiliate player with three different teams in the Ontario Women’s Hockey League U22 (OWHL U22). In the 2023-24 campaign, Skylar lit up the scoreboard with the U15AA Hamilton Hawks, scoring an astounding 84 goals and tallying 44 assists over 68 games.
Continuing her upward trajectory in the 2024-25 season, Ruschpler suited up for the U18AA Brampton Canadettes. She netted 63 goals and added 28 assists through 75 games, solidifying her reputation as one of Ontario’s most dangerous offensive threats.
Looking ahead, Ruschpler will take her talents back to southern Ontario for the 2025-26 season, joining the U22AA Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins in the OWHL U22 league — a key developmental step before heading south of the border to Boston University in 2027.
Northern Elite Female Hockey Academy owner Brianne Shunock who has worked with Skylar since the age of seven told Saultsports that “There’s no one I’ve worked with who’s more dedicated than Skylar. Many young hockey players have goals of playing at the highest level, but around Skylar’s age you start to see who is putting in the extra work to reach that goal. Skylar has natural talent, but she knows that she needs to be consistently training both on and off the ice to be a top player now, and in the future.”
“I’m so proud of her and her family for what they have accomplished in the last few years. No decisions were easy, but they were made with her future in mind. This is one of her many goals when it comes to hockey, and I can’t wait for our community to follow along her journey, added Shunock.
Ruschpler told Saultsports that “committing to BU to play for the Terriers was an easy decision in the end. I had done a lot of research on the school, its facilities, and its history. I had the opportunity to attend a hockey camp there just last weekend and it was amazing! It was everything I hoped it would be, the coaches were great, the rink and facilities were beautiful and the city itself was a place I could see myself spending my four years. When we had the zoom call with the staff a few days later it only made me more sure about committing! I know this is a place where I could become the best version of myself.”
When asked what she can offer the Terriers hockey program in the fall of 2027 is “an even stronger version of the player I am now. I have two years to continue to grow and further develop my physical game and I will continue to style my game as someone who is dedicated to making the right plays and best decisions on the ice to best benefit the team,” added Skylar.
Boston University’s women’s hockey program has produced numerous Olympians and professional athletes, and Ruschpler’s commitment places her on a clear path toward elite competition and academic achievement.
