Vanessa Upson
Vanessa Upson is a Canadian ice hockey forward for the Minnesota Frost of the Professional Women's Hockey League.
She played college ice hockey for the Mercyhurst Lakers from 2021 to 2025, totaling 147 points in 148 games. Upson was selected in the fifth round, 38th overall, by the Minnesota Frost in the 2025 PWHL Draft.
Early life
Upson is from Stoney Creek, Ontario. She played youth hockey with the Stoney Creek Sabres 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.Playing career
College
As a freshman in 2021–22, Upson led Mercyhurst with 39 points 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.She posted 28 points in 37 games as a sophomore in 2022–23. In 2023–24 she recorded 37 points 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.
As a senior in 2024–25, after the CHA transitioned to Atlantic Hockey America, Upson led Mercyhurst with 43 points in 38 games, topping the league in assists. She was named First Team All-AHA and the league’s January Player of the Month.