Vanessa Upson

Upson is from Stoney Creek, Ontario. She played youth hockey with the Stoney Creek Sabres (OWHL U22) and multi-sport in high school. Her youth highlights include OMHA gold and bronze medals with the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs, an Esso Cup bronze medal in 2019, and participation with Team Ontario at the Ontario Summer Games. She was also invited to a Hockey Canada U18 summer camp.^[1]

As a freshman in 2021–22, Upson led Mercyhurst with 39 points (19 goals, 20 assists) in 35 games and was named USCHO National Rookie of the Year and CHA Rookie of the Year. She earned All-CHA First Team and CHA All-Rookie Team honors, and was selected to the USCHO All-Rookie Team.^[2][3][4]

She posted 28 points (16 goals, 12 assists) in 37 games as a sophomore in 2022–23.^[5] In 2023–24 she recorded 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) in 38 games, earned CHA All-Tournament Team honors, won the conference’s Individual Sportsmanship Award, and tied a CHA postseason single-game record with five points in a semifinal game.^[1][6][7]

As a senior in 2024–25, after the CHA transitioned to Atlantic Hockey America (AHA), Upson led Mercyhurst with 43 points (13 goals, 30 assists) in 38 games, topping the league in assists. She was named First Team All-AHA and the league’s January Player of the Month.^[8][9][10]

On June 24, 2025, the Minnesota Frost selected Upson with the 38th pick in the 2025 PWHL Draft.^[11] Following pre-season training camp, she signed a one-year contract with the Frost prior to the 2025–26 season.^[12]

Source: College Hockey Inc.; HockeyDB; Mercyhurst Athletics.^{[5][13][14][1]}