Leading scorer from Bemidji High School commits to Bulldogs – Duluth News Tribune

DULUTH — Bemidji High School’s leading scorer from the past two seasons, Bailey Rupp,

has committed to Minnesota Duluth

for the future.

She’s the second recruit for Bulldogs coach

Laura Schuler’s 2027-28 freshmen class

along with Bishop Kearney Selects defenseman

Gigi Martin.

The 16-year-old Rupp has been on Bemidji’s varsity since she was an eighth grader in 2022-23 and has already accumulated 80 goals and 62 assists in three Minnesota high school seasons. Rupp has posted a combined 68 goals and 46 assists over the previous two seasons.

She’s also a standout tennis player

for the Bemidji Lumberjacks.

Over the weekend, Rupp was named to USA Hockey’s Under-18 Women’s Select Team for this week’s three-game series against Canada in Lake Placid, New York. Games begin Wednesday and run through Saturday. She took part in

USA Hockey’s U18 select player development camp last summer

as a 15-year-old.

Jed Carlson / File / Duluth Media Group

In addition to Rupp,

future Bulldog Alaina Gnetz

of Woodbury will also take part in this week’s U18 series against Canada in Lake Placid. Gnetz, 17, is entering her senior year at Woodbury High School in 2025-26 and

will be joining the Bulldogs in 2026-27, along with her twin sister, Brooke,

who was unable to attend this summer’s USA Hockey camps.

Alaina Gnetz has led Woodbury in scoring each of the two previous seasons, scoring 30-plus goals and 50-plus points as a sophomore and junior.

Also making the U.S. U18 Women’s Select Team for this week’s series against Canada is

Hermantown native Taylee Manion.

The defenseman is the youngest player on the team at 15 years old, not turning 16 until November.

Like Rupp, Manion has been playing high school hockey since she was in eighth grade. She has eight goals and 22 assists combined over the past two seasons with the

Proctor/Hermantown Mirage.

She isn’t eligible to make verbal commitments to NCAA Division I programs until June 15, 2026, and can’t make official or unofficial visits to schools until Aug. 1, 2026.

Clint Austin / File / Duluth Media Group

UMD redshirt senior captain Mary Kate O’Brien

will play for the U.S. Collegiate Women’s Select Team against Hockey Canada’s National Women’s Development Team this week. The three-game series is scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday in Lake Placid.

The 22-year-old forward

is coming off a collegiate-best 25 points last season that included seven goals and 18 assists. She had five multi-point games last year.

Also taking part in this week’s series is senior defenseman Tova Henderson, who will suit up for Canada. UMD fifth-year senior transfer Ashley Messier,

previously of Cornell,

was invited to play for Canada, but is listed as unable to attend the series.