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Photos / Augustana Athletics "It was the best thing ever," Flaherty said. "I mean, you get to miss a couple days of school. All you have to do is focus on playing a couple of hockey games with your best friends." It was an experience and a packed arena that left a lasting impression. From the State Tournament to the Frozen Four Years later, staying in Minnesota felt right when it came time to choose a college. When looking at schools, her parents asked her to look beyond hockey. They asked whether she would still love a university if hockey was removed from the equation. The University of Minnesota Duluth was the school that checked that box. Flaherty was drawn to the North Shore and Lake Superior as an avid outdoors enthusiast. The fact that UMD had one of the most successful programs in women's college hockey helped too. During her time w ith the Bulldogs, she was a par t of the program returning to nationa l prominence. The team made multiple Frozen Four appearances and played i n a nationa l cha mpionsh ip ga me dur ing her senior sea son. The title game appearance broke a drought of over 10 years of UMD missing the championship game. "Everyone is aiming towards the same goal," Flaherty said. "To be able to get there with some of your best friends is awesome." A New Era Soon after, she graduated from UMD and signed with the Minnesota Whitecaps in the PHF. A few weeks later, the league folded and uncertainty began to surround the future of women's professional hockey. Flaherty, like many players, suddenly found herself wondering what would come next. Then came the announcement of the PWHL. "I had not a lot of clue what the league was going to be like," Flaherty said. Flaherty attended the inaugural draft with her parents in Toronto and was selected by Minnesota 24th overall. The opportunity brought her back home. For t wo seasons, she played professionally in front of the Minnesota hockey community that shaped her own journey. She got to share the ice with other 18 M H J ON L I N E . C O M | N O V / D E C 2 0 2 6 Flaherty notched 77 points in 153 games for UMD, helping the Bulldogs reach the Frozen Four twice, including a National Championship appearance. "There's a future that you can have, and you can have hockey as your job." - MAGGIE FLAHERTY