2025-26 Season Week 3 3 Stars of the Week

The Columbus Classic didn’t disappoint as Week 3 of the CHS season is now in the books. With breakout performances, hat tricks galore, and tournament titles on the line, three players rose above the rest to earn CHS Three Stars of the Week honors.

1st Star: (F) Chloe Valente, University of South Florida (W) – 10 Goals, 6 Assists, 16 Points in 3 Game Played

The Ice Bulls’ newest forward wasted no time making her presence felt at the Columbus Classic. In her first three games with USF, Chloe Valente scored a hat trick in each contest, leaving opponents with no answers.

“Obviously, being new this year, I’ve never played with any of these girls, but I knew going in that we all have each other’s backs and that we would all prevail together to get the job done,” Valente said of her debut weekend. Ever humble, she was quick to highlight her teammates, giving “a special shoutout to Summer Garcia for dropping back to goalie from player with 24 hours’ notice.”

Her six-point night (3G, 3A) against Auburn — including an assist on the game-winner — was the standout performance of the weekend.

Off the ice, Valente also helped run the second annual “Girls Try Hockey for Free” event, where she reflected: “Seeing so many young girls lace up skates for the very first time reminded me of when I first fell in love with the sport… Giving (the girls) a fun, welcoming space to try hockey can spark a lifelong passion and help build the next generation of players and leaders in our sport.”

CHS, take notice — a rising star has arrived in Tampa.

2nd Star: (F) Grant Dietz, University of South Florida (M3) – 8 Goals, 5 Assists, 13 Points in 2 Game Played

Not to be outdone, another Ice Bull lit up the scoresheet in Week 3. Grant Dietz, last season’s CHS D2 MVP, opened his 2025–26 campaign in dominant fashion.

In USF’s 12–0 win over Florida Southern, Dietz posted a hat trick and four assists. The following night against Florida Atlantic M3, he refused to cool off, burying five goals and one assist to close the weekend.

Two games, thirteen points. Dietz showed that whether in AAU D2 or ACHA M3, he’s a force that can take over a game on any given night.

3rd Star: (F) Molly Braga, University of Tampa (W) – 4 Goals, 5 Assists, 9 Points in 3 Game Played

The University of Tampa Spartans captured their third consecutive Columbus Classic title, and veteran forward Molly Braga was at the heart of it.

She kicked off the tournament with a five-point performance (2G, 3A) in a 10–1 win over South Carolina. Braga then closed it out with two goals and an assist in the championship game, an 11–3 victory over Georgia.

“I feel like last year coming into CHS, I had no idea what to expect or what kind of hockey I’d be facing,” Braga said. “This year, I definitely feel more comfortable and confident in myself and my team as a whole.”

Looking ahead, Braga’s eyes are on bigger goals: “I’m honestly just so excited to see how this season plays out, and definitely hoping to bring back some more hardware by the end of it. I’m also looking forward to making the most of the rest of the season with my senior teammates, who’ve been such a big part of building this team.”

Congratulations to Chloe Valente, Grant Dietz, and Molly Braga for earning honors as College Hockey South’s three stars of Week 3!

ABOUT College Hockey South: Founded in 2008, College Hockey South is a 29-school, 45 team intercollegiate hockey conference spanning eight southeastern U.S. states. College Hockey South is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization.