By: Alexis Caines | Follow me on Twitter/X @alexiscaines_
It’s no cliché when people say Natalie Stott is at the top of her game. The 22-year-old goaltender is the save percentage leader in all of college hockey. That’s right: men’s, women’s, all divisions. Stott sits at the top with a career .960 SV%.
And that’s not all: she holds two other Division III records. Her 45 career shutouts stand alone, as does her win percentage of .768% (86 wins in 112 games).
She’s cemented herself as one of the most decorated goaltenders in college hockey history. But not to long ago, she thought she’d be hanging up the skates.
“Until I got invited to training camp, I really thought that my hockey career was over,” she told Black N’ Gold Productions.
Stott was invited to the Boston Fleet training camp after she went undrafted in the 2026 Professional Women’s Hockey League Entry Draft. With only 72 players getting drafted, the D3 goalie knew that it might be a long shot to hear her name called.
With the third goaltending slot still open behind Aerin Frankel and Amanda Thiele, Stott, along with two other goaltenders, will battle for the spot.
“I think one of my biggest strengths is that I’m very competitive and always strive to bring my best, whether it’s in practice or in a game,” she reflected. “I’m always going to battle as hard as I can and do whatever I can to help my team succeed. At the same time, I bring a lot of positive energy and take great pride in being a good teammate. I love being a part of a team, supporting the people around me, and contributing however I can.”
Her invitation to Fleet training camp brings her journey full circle. The Massachusetts native has always played hockey close to home.
She played four seasons at the Williston Northampton School in Easthampton, MA, where she helped lead the team to a first-ever New England Prep School Athletic Council Elite-Eight Championship Title. She took home two trophies that day, also earning Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Stott then took her talents across the river to Amherst College and played D3 ice hockey. As a Mammoth, she won three New England Small College Athletic Conference titles, made three Frozen Four appearances, and two National Championship game nods.
The success is meaningful to Stott, but for her, it goes a lot deeper than what happened on the ice.
“Something that will stick with me about Amherst for the rest of my life is the people. The team was, and still is, like family to me. I had so much fun playing hockey over the last four years because of the people and coaches I was surrounded by,” she said. “I am really grateful for the experiences we shared, both on and off the ice.”
Off the ice, the athlete lived a double life as Amherst’s mascot, the Mammoth. Stott recently returned to Williston after graduating from college, where she now teaches a variety of math courses and coaches Girls Varsity Hockey.
Fleet Head Coach François Méthot is excited to watch Stott get to work in a few weeks.
“Natalie had a really strong college career as her numbers speak for themselves,” he told Black N’ Gold Productions. “What stood out to us was how well she moves inside the crease and her strong ability to track the puck. We’re looking forward to seeing what she can do and to be able to give a local player this kind of opportunity makes it even more special.”
The goaltender will join the 29 players on the training camp roster come November. She’s excited for the chance to keep playing the game that she loves.
“It’s an incredible opportunity, and I am so grateful for it,” Stott said. “I grew up in Massachusetts and have been a Boston sports fan my entire life, so having the chance to compete for a spot on a professional team’s roster in Boston is really special. When I put my name in the draft, I was hoping that someone would take a chance on me and give me an opportunity to prove myself, and it’s even more meaningful that it was Boston.”
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