Sara Swiderski

POSITION

Defender

SHOOTS

Right

HEIGHT

5'9

AGE

21 (Nov '04)

Shifts

A big, mobile two-way defender who handles heavy minutes without sacrificing offensive upside. Uses size, reach, and straight-line speed to cover ground and close plays, while her long stick disrupts passing lanes and facilitates clean breakouts. Carries the puck with confidence through the neutral zone, pushing play forward. At the point she's a constant threat—quick release, accurate from range, fires pucks through traffic. Far from a mindless trigger, reads the play quickly and distributes effectively. Defensively reliable without being a specialist. Pro-ready, championship-tested, immediate top-four contributor.

Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	TP	PPG	+/-
25–26	Ohio State	NCAA	33	8	19	27	0.82	40
24–25	Ohio State	NCAA	37	1	11	12	0.32	8
23–24	Clarkson	NCAA	38	2	8	10	0.26	23
22–23	Clarkson	NCAA	40	2	7	9	0.23	11

2025–2632 Games Tracked

Goals

Per 600.59

Percentile92%

Assists

Per 601.84

Percentile99%

Points

Per 602.43

Percentile98%

Breakouts

Per 6015.26

Percentile97%

Corsi%

Total64.8%

Percentile96%

Source: InStat · Per 60 minutes · NCAA Defenders 2025–26 · min. 20 GP · n=314

2026 NCAA Draft Eligible DefendersLast 2 NCAA Seasons Pooled

Assists

Per 601.32

Rank

6/20

PointsPoints

Per 601.65

Rank

6/20

Breakouts

Per 6013.70

Rank

6/20

Net xG

Per 601.35

Rank

9/20

Corsi%

Total64.8%

Rank

5/20

Source: InStat · Pooled totals · NCAA D1W Defenders · 2024–25 to 2025–26 · n=20

Similar Players

Boxer's Mentality

Sara is a unique presence on the blue line, standing as the tallest right-handed defender in her draft class and among the tallest players in the league. She combines rare physical tools—elite size and reach—with impressive straight-line skating speed that sets her apart at her stature.

Her training in boxing and other martial arts growing up shows in the way she plays. She understands leverage, timing, and body positioning, using her length to control space, absorb contact, and make opponents work for every inch. She thrives on physical play and makes sure opponents feel her presence. Sara aims to build a reputation as one of the toughest players to play against in the PWHL.

Mobile Two-Way Threat

Sara builds momentum through the neutral zone, using her length and body positioning to navigate through traffic and push play forward. Big, mobile, and versatile, she can drive the play or support it effectively in all three zones. Defensively, her long stick disrupts opponents by closing off passing lanes in tight spaces, while her mobility allows her to recover loose pucks quickly and initiate clean breakouts.

Offensively, Sara is a constant threat from the point. She brings a heavy, impactful shot that creates real scoring opportunities, whether she is firing through traffic from distance or timing her release to find shooting lanes. In the offensive zone, she plays with confidence, walking the line, distributing effectively, and processing the game quickly. Her ability to identify seams and make smart, heads-up passes allows her to keep plays alive and create chances.

Pro-Ready

Having developed at Ohio State, one of college hockey's most demanding environments, Sara stands out amongst her peers as a battle-tested defender from a pro system. She thrives in high-standard environments surrounded by committed teammates, consistently elevating her game when expectations are at their highest. A proven winner, she has been part of three Frozen Four runs and captured two National Championships, while also gaining valuable international experience representing Canada at the National Development Team level and at the U18 World Championships. With her combination of size, speed, and high-end hockey IQ, she has all the tools to transition seamlessly into a top-four role at the PWHL level, projecting as an immediate and top-four contributor.

Sara is the kind of player every program wants in their locker room. She brings a professionalism and consistency to her game that you don't always see at this age — she competes hard every single day, whether it's a practice or a championship game, and the people around her notice that. What stands out about Sara is her ability to impact the game in multiple ways. She's a big, mobile defender who can shut down the opposition's best players and still contribute offensively. She reads the play well, moves pucks quickly, and has the skating ability to be effective in all three zones. But beyond the on-ice toolkit, Sara is a connector. She's someone who invests in her teammates, builds trust, and makes a locker room feel like a team. That's not something you can coach — you either have it or you don't.

Nadine Muzerall
Ohio State University Head Coach

Accolades

3× Frozen Four Participant

2× NCAA Runner-Up

WCHA Playoff Champion

2× WCHA All-Academic

2025 Dean's List

WCHA Defender of the Week

National Development Team

U18 IIHF World Champion

U18 IIHF All-Tournament Team

U18 Canada Games MVP

Nationals Best Defender

Key Traits

Complete Defender

Culture Driver

Supersonic Shot

Offensive Zone

On the Puck

Powerful shot that gets through traffic and beats goalies clean. Uses speed and skill to open up seams and distribute pucks. Shows confidence activating offensively and dictating play.

Off the Puck

Timely pinches to maintain offensive zone possession; uses skating to recover quickly when plays break down.

Neutral Zone

On the Puck

Puts opponents on their toes with mobility and straight-line speed to create space and controlled entries.

Off the Puck

Uses length, skating, and gap control to angle forwards into boards, force dump-ins, and generate turnovers. Closes space aggressively and disrupts rush chances. A legitimate transition stopper.

Defensive Zone

On the Puck

Uses size and skating to win retrievals under pressure and start breakouts. Makes smart, simple plays to her winger or partner to move the puck up ice quickly.

Off the Puck

Not scared to use her size and physicality; boxes out in front of the net and breaks up cycles. Elite reach and stick, disrupts passing lanes and kills plays. Day one PK contributor.

Sara is the definition of a complete defender. Her elite skating allows her to defend quickly, close gaps efficiently, and execute clean breakouts with the awareness and confidence to join the rush and contribute offensively. In her final year at Ohio State, she elevated her offensive impact significantly — showing excellent timing and spatial awareness, creating offence for herself and her teammates in equal measure.

What truly sets Sara apart is her leadership and intangibles. She is deeply committed to improving her game on the ice, in the gym, and through video analysis, and that mindset is infectious within a team environment. She has matured in her approach, learning to move past mistakes quickly and stay focused on the next shift.

At the elite level, where physical and technical skills are a given, it is the intangibles that separate individuals — and Sara has them in abundance. I am confident she will excel at the professional level and be a strong, reliable presence within any organization.

Glenn Carnegie
Development Coach, formerly Vancouver Canucks

Off-Ice Profile

Sara brings a never-too-high, never-too-low energy to everything she does. She doesn't take herself too seriously, and that positivity is genuine and contagious within a team environment. Away from the rink, she stays active and competitive — running a half-marathon last summer, golfing regularly, and hosting teammates for dinner parties that reflect her outgoing, inclusive nature. She's a full-time sports fan, following the PWHL, NHL, and PGA closely. Sara leads by example through her work ethic and conditioning, and goes above and beyond to build real connections with those around her.