Hailey Anderson Excited to be a Blue Hen

NEWARK, Del. - The University of Delaware ice hockey team is gearing up for its second season as a program, with the season opener just two weeks away. The Fightin' Blue Hens have some new faces on the roster with eight newcomers including six freshmen and two transfers. One of those transfers is junior forward Hailey Anderson, who will look to make an immediate impact in her first year in the Blue & Gold.

Her arrival to Newark is a fitting next chapter for Anderson. A product of the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, she is joining a program in Delaware that enjoys a strategic partnership with the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, a first-of-its-kind pairing between an NCAA Division I women's ice hockey program and an NHL organization. The partnership is centered around growing the game of hockey, personal and professional development, and launching a world-class women's ice hockey program. Flyers Charities, the charitable arm of the team, has also provided generous athletic aid support, which allowed the Blue Hens to increase its scholarship total heading into the 2026-27 season and land Anderson out of the transfer portal.

Anderson transferred to Delaware after playing the past two seasons at Franklin Pierce University where she appeared in 64 games and recorded 11 goals and 16 assists. When she entered the portal and Delaware's coaching staff reached out, Anderson fondly remembered her time living with a billet family in Wilmington, which made her decision to come to UD an easy one.

"Delaware was a no-brainer for me," Anderson said. "After my visit, I fell in love with the coaching staff. I had loved the campus before they even announced women's hockey. Then when I went off to college, they announced that they were adding women's hockey, and I was like, 'Dang, that's crazy. I missed it by a year.' When I went into the portal, Delaware was one of the first schools to reach out to me. I really loved the coaching staff, and when I was on my visit, the girls were awesome. It was the easiest yes. There was nothing that didn't check my box."

Anderson's journey to Newark was one that included several stops. It all started in Greer, South Carolina, which is not exactly a hotbed for ice hockey players. Anderson is the only active women's ice hockey player in Division I and there are just two NHL players that hail from The Palmetto State. The only professional hockey presence is the South Carolina Stingrays and Greenville Swamp Rabbits, two ECHL franchises.

"My parents were originally Canadian, so my dad was a huge part of us getting into hockey," Anderson said. "I have a younger brother and an older sister. Then my dad and some of his buddies - there's a group of Canadians who live in Greenville, and they've basically all been friends for a long time - created a travel youth program for boys. I played that growing up and just fell in love with the sport."

While she also played soccer for most of her time in South Carolina, hockey was Anderson's true passion. She was invited to a national camp and was scouted to attend Shattuck St. Mary's, a boarding school with an elite hockey program in Minnesota. She played there for one season, winning a national championship in 2023, before returning to the East Coast to play a season for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers, one of the top women's club programs in the country.

Anderson is one of four Blue Hens to have come through the Jr. Flyers program, joining senior goalie Mattie Robitzer, sophomore forward Billi Roman and sophomore defenseman Taylor Schooley. Since 2017, the Jr. Flyers have had more than 100 alums commit to NCAA programs and it was this reputation that enticed Anderson. Uncommitted out of Shattuck, she decided to head to Philadelphia following graduation with the hope of playing at the collegiate level.

"My coach at the Jr. Flyers, Chris Baer, was very knowledgeable in the collegiate world, and he had a lot of really good advice," Anderson said. "I got a lot of feedback from a lot of people, which was really nice. It's one thing talking to a coach, and then there's another thing about getting the experiences from people who are actually in it. I built a lot of connections with people throughout that process."

While an injury derailed most of her one season with the Jr. Flyers, Anderson leaned on the expertise of her Jr. Flyers' coaches in the recruitment process. She eventually chose Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire and joined the Ravens as a freshman ahead of the 2024-25 season. Anderson played in 29 games in her first year, finishing with two goals and three assists.

She broke out as a sophomore last season, scoring nine goals and added 13 assists for 22 points in Franklin Pierce's high-powered offense. The Ravens won the NEWHA Regular Season Championship and rolled through the conference tournament, winning the title with a 2-0 victory over Saint Anselm. Franklin Pierce earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament where it fell to Quinnipiac in the first round.

Anderson, who considers her strengths on the ice to be her hockey IQ and playmaking ability, is now one of the few upperclassmen on a Delaware squad that is still one of the youngest in the country with 15 sophomores and six freshmen. She is the only player on the roster who has won a conference championship and one of two (Tiana McIntyre) who have previously played in an NCAA Tournament game.

"It was such a huge thing for Franklin Pierce University, for our women's hockey team to go to the NCAA Tournament. You just can't explain that experience. It was a very unforgettable experience, for sure, and I'm very, very fortunate that I got to experience that.

"Coming in as a transfer, I think I can show that it's possible. And I think, as a new program, it's important to understand that it is very possible. That's something I want to bring to the team here—the understanding that it is not far-fetched. And there's no doubt in my mind that Delaware will be able to be at the top. One hundred percent."

The Blue Hens open the program's second season September 25-26 when they travel to Holy Cross for a weekend series. Delaware will return to Newark for its first home games at Fred Rust Ice Arena the following weekend, hosting Atlantic Hockey America foe Lindenwood for a two-game set, October 3-4.

TICKETS
Tickets for the 2026-27 season are on sale now. The Blue Hens will play 15 home games at Fred Rust Ice Arena, including 12 contests against AHA opponents. Season ticket packages are available at 50% off the single-game adult ticket rate. Group rates are also available and a variety of add-on experiences at every home game, including post-game meet-and-greets with players, and much more. For inquiries, please contact the Delaware Ticket Office at athletics-tix@udel.edu or call 302-831-2257.

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Hailey Anderson

Tiana McIntyre

Mattie Robitzer

Billi Roman

Taylor Schooley

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