2023 DIII Conference Awards + Laura Hurd/COTY/All-American Contenders

[Scott_TG]

Summary of the 2023 conference-awards. Players of the Year are almost always the Laura Hurd finalists and conference COTYs are usually the finalists for the national COTY.

NEHC

POTY: Ann-Frederique Guay, Norwich University, Senior Forward
ROTY: Emma Bradbury, Elmira College, Forward
GOTY: Haley McKim, Southern Maine, Junior (2nd straight GOTY award)
COTY: Tim McAuliffe, Castleton

FIRST TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Forward Ann-Frederique Guay, Norwich University
Forward Mikah Baptiste, Norwich University
Forward Madison Chagnon, University of Southern Maine
Defense Madi Morton, Elmira College
Defense Morgan Tefft, Norwich University
Defense Molly Flanagan, Norwich University
Goaltender Haley McKim, University of Southern Maine

SECOND TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Forward Morgan Mordini, Elmira College
Forward Aimee Headland, Norwich University
Forward Darby Palisi, Castleton University
Defense Jenny Heath, Elmira College
Defense Emma O'Neill, Norwich University
Goaltender Kristin DiCicco, Castleton University

THIRD TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
Forward Emily Lenzen, New England College
Forward Mary McCafferty, Elmira College
Forward Claire Meeder, Elmira College
Defense Lexi Hoffmann, Elmira College
Defense Katie Manning, Elmira College
Defense Annabel Ziskin, William Smith College
Goaltender Leonie Kuehberger, Elmira College

ALL-ROOKIE TEAM
Forward Emma Bradbury, Elmira College
Forward Olivia Boyer, Norwich University
Forward Meg Aiken, Castleton University
Defense Allyson Barry, Johnson & Wales (RI)
Defense Caroline Thompson, University of Southern Maine
Goaltender Leah Bosch, University of Massachusetts Boston

NESCAC

Player of the Year: Abby Kuhns, Hamilton, D, Senior
Rookie of the Year: Natalie Stott, Amherst, Goalie
Coach of the Year: Emily McNamara, Hamilton

All-NESCAC First Team
G - Natalie Stott Amherst Fy. Franklin, Mass.
D - Abby Kuhns Hamilton Sr. Skaneateles, N.Y.
D - Claudia Vira Middlebury Sr. High Bridge, N.J.
F - Rylee Glennon Amherst Jr. Burlington, Mass.
F - Nancy Loh Hamilton Sr. Syracuse, N.Y. 2022
F - Meg Rittenhouse Colby Jr. Tampa, Fla.

All-NESCAC Second Team
G - Evie Sheridan Hamilton Fy. Syracuse, N.Y.
D - Avery Flynn Amherst Sr. Berlin, Conn.
D - Bri Michaud-Nolan Colby Sr. Wells, Maine
D - Leslie Schwartz Amherst Sr. Wellesley, Mass.
F - Melanie Conca Conn. College Sr. Nutley, N.J.
F - Jenna Letterie Middlebury Sr. Winthrop, Mass.
F - Maddie Tix Williams Sr. Wayzata, Minn.

UCHC
Player of the Year: Erica Sloan, Utica
Rookie of the Year: Katrina Strauts, Lebanon Valley
Goaltender of the Year: Angela Hawthorne, Utica
Defensive Player of the Year: Julia Holmes, Nazareth
Coach of the Year: Dave Clausen, Utica

First Team All-UCHC
Forward: Gabrielle Cox, Manhattanville
Forward: Georgiana Santullo, Utica
Forward: Erica Sloan, Utica
Defense: Julia Holmes, Nazareth
Defense: Madison Novotny, Utica
Goaltender: Angela Hawthorne, Utica

Second Team All-UCHC
Forward: Allison Corser-James, Chatham
Forward: Abbey Luth, Nazareth
Forward: Ally Watrous, Nazareth
Defense: Olivia Gilida, Alvernia
Defense: Holly Silva, Utica
Goaltender: Julia Beaven, Alvernia

All-UCHC Honorable Mention
Forward: Ally Nolan, Chatham
Forward: Makenna Wiljanen, Nazareth
Forward: Carly Stefanini, Utica
Defense: Sydney Bradley, Alvernia
Defense: Holly Meredith, Manhattanville
Defense: Abigail Barcless, Wilkes
Goaltender: Franny Gerardi, Manhattanville

UCHC All-Rookie Team
Forward: Maeve Hourihan, Arcadia
Forward: Katrina Strauts, Lebanon Valley
Forward: Abby Flanagan, Nazareth
Defense: Abbi Komrofske, Arcadia
Defense: Tess Barrett, Utica
Goaltender: Sam Brophy, Chatham

CCC, MIAC, NCHA and WIAC haven't posted anything yet. NEWHL trickles them out and I will post when they're all out (assuming no one beats me to the punch).

My predictions for the unreleased ones:

CCC: Michaela O'Brien, Endicott (best goalie in the league who bulwarked the defense to the CCC championship game despite underwhelming offense all year).
WIAC: Sophie Rausch, UW-EC (only player in the conference averaging over 1 point per game) or Abigail Stow, UWRF (active WIAC/NCAA DIII career leader and they vote her in to set her up for Laura Hurd nomination).
MIAC: Katie McCoy, GAC (Approaching NCAA shutouts record with a phenomenal season)
NCHA: Darci Matson, Aurora (Blowing away the rest of the conference offensively)
NEWHL: Sarah Krauseneck, Plattsburgh or Kaylee Merrill, Potsdam (lead in the offensive categories)

[Scott_TG]

2022-23 Women's NCHA All-Conference Team (alphabetical)

Forward: Une Bjelland (Sr./Stavanger, Norway), Adrian College
Forward: Natalie Hogan (So./Hoffman Estates, Ill.), St. Norbert College
Forward: Darci Matson (So./ Wasilla, Ak.), Aurora University
Forward: Emily Reimche (Sr./Billings, Mont.), Concordia University Wisconsin
Forward: Kelsey Ross (So./Littleton, Colo.), St. Norbert College
Forward: Makayla Spejcher (Fr./Green Bay, Wis.), Concordia University Wisconsin
Forward: Jessica VonRuden (Gr./Owatonna, Minn.), Adrian College
Defense: Ava Eid (Jr./ Belle River, Ontario), Aurora University
Defense: Ava Jaschke (Sr./Katy, Texas), St. Norbert College
Defense: Maya Roy (Jr./Clarkston, Mich.), Adrian College
Defense: Kathryn Truban (Jr./Hamilton, N.J.), Adrian College
Goalie: Sophie Goldberg (Sr./Newtown, Pa.), Adrian College
Goalie: Kayla Kolpitcke (Jr./Powell, Wyo.), Marian University
Goalie: Hannah Turnage (Sr./White Lake, Mich.), Lake Forest College

*Extra forward and goalie due to tie in voting

All-Freshman Team
F: Bailey Brunnhoelzl (Palmer, Alaska), St. Norbert College
F: Tia Lascelle (Cornwall, Ontario), Adrian College
F: Makayla Spejcher (Green Bay, Wis.), Concordia University Wisconsin
D: Willow Poppleton (Pickering, Ontario), Lake Forest College
D: Grace Wittkopf (Eagle, River, Wis.), St. Norbert College
G: Casey Frank (Cranberry Township, Pa.), Trine University

NCHA Player of the Year: Darci Matson, Aurora University

NCHA Freshman of the Year: Makayla Spejcher, Concordia University Wisconsin

NCHA Coach of the Year: A.J. Aitken, St. Norbert College

[Scott_TG]

I will post the full NEWHL honors when the coach award drops, but Potsdam's Kaylee Merrill becomes the first NEWHL POTY to come from a team that's not Plattsburgh.

Other than the cancelled 2020-21 season, Plattsburgh's streak of conference player of the year awards dates back to 2016 when Kayla Meneghin won the ECAC Women's West POTY Award. Ashley Ryan of Elmira was the last non-Cardinal to win such an award back in 2015.

Merrill becomes the second player from Wasilla, Alaska to win a conference POTY award in DIII women's ice hockey this season, joining Aurora's Darci Matson who won the NCHA POTY this week.

[Russell Jaslow]

I will post the full NEWHL honors when the coach award drops, but Potsdam's Kaylee Merrill becomes the first NEWHL POTY to come from a team that's not Plattsburgh.

As a Potsdam alum, I approve this message.

[VTpucksouteast]

MIAC Awards are out this afternoon.

GAC sets an all-time record with 8(!!) all-conference selections. No surprise given the stranglehold they've established on the conference the last 3-4 years. GAC sweeps the POYs, with Holland and Press becoming three-time A-C selections.

So happy for coach Tracy Johnson of the Oles. What a fantastic turnaround.

Side note: these MN town names are hilarious. Also, holy hell, there are a lot of good players from MN. I know it's the MIAC, but the amount of elite talent from this state is amazing especially given the sheet number of players I've met out here in the NESCAC and NEWHL from MN too that are high-caliber players. Not to mention all the filthy D1 players in the WCHA. What a hotbed.

MIAC Awards

Award	Name	School	Class	Pos.	Hometown
Off. POTY	Hailey Holland	Gustavus	Sr.	F	Aberdeen, SD
Def. POTY	Kayla Vrieze	Gustavus	Sr.	D	Eagan, MN
ROY	Nora Stepan	Augsburg	Fr.	D	Apple Valley, MN
Sheila Brown (Long-term contribution)	Kaitlyn Blair	St. Catherine	Sr.	D	New Prague, MN
COY	Tracy Johnson	St. Olaf

All-Conference:

Position	Name	School	Class	Hometown	Prev. Selections
F	Solvei Berg-Messerole	St. Olaf	Fr.	Minneapolis, MN
F	Allie Bussey	St. Scholastica	Jr.	Hibbing, MN
F	Emily Cronkhite	Augsburg	So.	Eagan, MN
F	Katie Flynn	Augsburg	Sr.	Woodbury, MN	2020 (HM)
F	Hailey Holland	Gustavus	Sr.	Aberdeen, SD	2020, 2022
F	Kaitlyn Holland	Gustavus	So.	Aberdeen, SD
F	Emily Olson	Gustavus	Sr.	Delano, MN	2022
F	Aurora Opsahl	Saint Benedict	So.	Duluth, MN
F	Brooke Power	Gustavus	Jr.	Lakeville, MN	2022
F	Tina Press	Gustavus	Sr.	Cottage Grove, MN	2020, 2022
F	Marie Reimer	St. Catherine	Sr.	Rogers, MN
F	Kennedy Stein	Augsburg	Jr.	Lake Forest, IL
D	Payton Allen	Augsburg	Sr.	St. Michael, MN	2022
D	Grace Lankas	St. Olaf	So.	Lakeville, MN
D	Brooke Remington	Gustavus	Jr.	Scandia, MN
D	Nora Stepan	Augsburg	Fr.	Apple Valley, MN
D	Jenna Timm	Saint Benedict	So.	Maple Grove, MN	2022
D	Kayla Vrieze	Gustavus	Sr.	Eagan, MN	2022
G	Hannah Fritz	St. Olaf	Fr.	Woodbury, MN
G	Katie McCoy	Gustavus	Sr.	Grafton, WI	2022 (HM)

Honorable Mention

Position	Name	School	Class	Hometown	Previous Selection
F	Laura Denchfield	St. Catherine	Sr.	Brooklyn Park, MN	2020 (HM), 2022 (HM)
F	Haley Eder-Zdechlik	Hamline	Jr.	Stillwater, MN
F	Jerica Friese	Concordia	Jr.	Argusville, ND	2022 (AC)
F	Lily Mortenson	Gustavus	Fr.	Champlin, MN
F	Abby Pohlkamp	St. Scholastica	Sr.	Baxter, MN	2022 (AC)
F	Molly Terebayza	St. Olaf	Fr.	Coon Rapids, MN
D	Kaitlyn Blair	St. Catherine	Sr.	New Prague, MN	2022 (AC)
G	Elizabeth Valley	Hamline	Sr.	Forest Lake, MN
G	Chloe Stockinger	Augsburg	Jr.	Sauk Rapids, MN

All-Playoff Team

Position	Name	School	Class	Hometown
F	Emily Cronkhite	Augsburg	So.	Eagan, MN
F	Jenna Gerold	Augsburg	Sr.	Farmington, MN
F	Hailey Holland	Gustavus	Sr.	Aberdeen, SD
F	Emme Nelson	Hamline	Jr.	Mahtomedi, MN
F	Tina Press	Gustavus	Sr.	Cottage Grove, MN
D	Jenna Timm	Saint Benedict	So.	Maple Grove, MN
D	Kayla Vrieze	Gustavus	Sr.	Eagan, MN
F	Iona Welsch	St. Olaf	So.	Lakeville, MN

[Scott_TG]

NEWHL

Player of the Year: Kaylee Merrill, SR Forward, Potsdam
Goalie of the Year: Sirena Alvarez, SR, Canton
Rookie of the Year: Ainsley Delacourt, Defender, Cortland
Coaching Staff of the Year: Plattsburgh (Kevin Houle, HC; Julia Duquette '17, AC; Hanna Rose, Student AC; Kassi Abbott '19, Goalie Coach)

NEWHL All-Conference First Team

• F Sara Krauseneck (Plattsburgh) – 2020 1^st Team / 2022 1^st Team
• F Kaylee Merrill (Potsdam) – 2022 2^nd Team
• F Mia Hlasnick (Cortland) – 2022 2^nd Team
• D Sierra Benjamin (Plattsburgh) – 2022 1^st Team
• D Amanda Zenstein (Oswego)
• G Sirena Alvarez (Canton) 2022 2^nd Team

NEWHL All-Conference Second Team

• F Ariella Haas (Oswego)
• F Simone Bednarik (Oswego)
• F Julia Masotta (Plattsburgh)
• D Ainsley Delacourt (Cortland)
• D Mattie Norton (Plattsburgh)
• G Molly Goergen (Cortland) – 2022 1^st Team

[Scott_TG]

Commonwealth Coast Conference

Player of the Year: Shana Cote, GR, Forward, Suffolk
Goalie of the Year: Riley Jessie-Gerelli, Junior, Western New England
Rookie of the Year: Maddie Pope, Forward, Western New England
Coach of the Year: Taylor Wasylk, Suffolk

FIRST TEAM ALL-CCC
F - Shana Cote, Gr., Suffolk
F - Samantha Fantasia (Billerica, Mass.), So., Endicott
F - Maddie Pope, Fr., Western New England
D - Madison Duff (Novi, Mich.), Sr., Suffolk
D - Leslie Steiner (Janesville, Wis.), So., Suffolk
G - Rieley Jessie-Gerelli, Jr., Western New England

SECOND TEAM ALL-CCC
F - Riley Esposito (Enfield, Conn.), Fr., Salve Regina
F - Miranda Gaudet (Kelowna, British Columbia), Gr., Suffolk
F - Kat Keith (Westwood, Mass.), Sr., Endicott
F - Sofia Scilipoti (Toronto, Ontario), Sr., Suffolk
D - Madison Hentosh (Peabody, Mass.), Sr., Endicott
D - Avery Lutrzykowski (Winthrop, Maine), Sr., University of New England
G - Michaela O'Brien, Sr., Endicott

We're still awaiting the WIAC's honors.

AHCA award finalists are usually published one week from today, the Tuesday before the semifinals.

[VTpucksouteast]

WIAC Awards are out

WIAC Awards

Award	Name	School	Class	Pos.	Hometown
Co-POTY	Maddie McCollins	River Falls	Sr.	F	Maple Grove, MN
Co-POTY	Sophie Rausch	Eau Claire	Sr.	F	Fergus Falls, MN
Newcomer OTY	Makenna Aure	River Falls	Fr.	D	Alexandria, MN
Judy Kruchman (Scholar-Athlete)	Sami Miller	River Falls	Sr.	D	Blaine, MN
COY	Jason Carter	Northland

All-Conference:

Position	Name	School	Class	Hometown
F	Megan Goodreau	River Falls	Fr.	Lino Lakes, MN
F	Alex Hantge	River Falls	Jr.	Hutchinson, MN
F	Jenna Hoops	Superior	So.	Woodbury, MN
F	Courtney Leising	Stevens Point	So.	Maple Grove, MN
F	Maddie McCollins	River Falls	Sr.	Maple Grove, MN
F	Sophie Rausch	Eau Claire	Sr.	Fergus Falls, MN
F	Sami Scherling	Eau Claire	Sr.	Rogers, MN
F	Hallie Sheridan	Eau Claire	Sr.	Fergus Falls, MN
F	Abigail Stow	River Falls	Gr.	Eau Claire, WI
D	Makenna Aure	River Falls	Fr.	Alexandria, MN
D	Laina Berthiaume	Stevens Point	Jr.	South Haven, MN
D	Holly Eckers	River Falls	Jr.	Shakopee, MN
D	Emily Hart	Eau Claire	Sr.	Red Wing, MN
G	Stephanie Martin	Eau Claire	Sr.	Yorktown, VA
G	Olivia Schultz	Stevens Point	Gr.	Maplewood, MN

Honorable Mention

Position	Name	School	Class	Hometown
F	Mahteya Dumelie	Northland	Sr.	Glentworth, Saskatoon, CAN
F	Bailey Olson	River Falls	So.	Willmar, MN
D	Maddy Bloedel	Northland	Jr.	Cottage Grove, MN
D	Darbie Mattson	Superior	So.	Atikokan, Ontario, CAN
D	Jessica Rubenalt	River Falls	Sr.	Cross Plains, WI
G	Teagen Johnson	Northland	Sr.	Shoreview, MN

All-Sportsmanship Team

Position	Name	School	Class	Hometown
D	Cora Coz	Superior	So.	Elk River, MN
F	Mahteya Dumelie	Northland	Sr.	Glentworth, Saskatoon, CAN
D	Challis Prohaska	River Falls	Jr.	Wausau, WI
F	Olivia Smallbrock	Eau Claire	Sr.	Kasson, MN
F	Ashtyn Wiltscheck	Stevens Point	Sr.	Wausau, WI

[VTpucksouteast]

So Laura Hurd finalists presumably are....

Shana Cote, Suffolk Gr. F
Ann-Frederique Guay, Norwich Sr. F
Hailey Holland, Gustavus Sr. F
Abby Kuhns, Hamilton Sr. D
Darci Matson, Aurora So. F
Maddie McCollins, UW-River Falls Sr. F
Kaylee Merrill, Potsdam Sr. F
Sophie Rausch, UW-Eau Claire Sr. F
Erica Sloan, Utica Sr. F
Kayla Vrieze, Gustavus Sr. D

[VTpucksouteast]

So Laura Hurd finalists presumably are....

Shana Cote, Suffolk Gr. F
Ann-Frederique Guay, Norwich Sr. F
Hailey Holland, Gustavus Sr. F
Abby Kuhns, Hamilton Sr. D
Darci Matson, Aurora So. F
Maddie McCollins, UW-River Falls Sr. F
Kaylee Merrill, Potsdam Sr. F
Sophie Rausch, UW-Eau Claire Sr. F
Erica Sloan, Utica Sr. F
Kayla Vrieze, Gustavus Sr. D

It's gotta be Matson, no? When do they vote on this? I could see maybe McCollins or Guay winning it with a massive playoff performance but Matson is 16 points clear of the next-closest Rausch. Granted all those Finlandia (RIP) and Lawrence games are bringing up Matson a bit, but a bad Trine team got 2 All-Americans last year off those two schools lol

[jerrynu26]

Summary of the 2023 conference-awards. Players of the Year are almost always the Laura Hurd finalists and conference COTYs are usually the finalists for the national COTY.

Isn’t is also coaches of semi-finals teams who were not COTY

[PrezdeJohnson09]

It's gotta be Matson, no? When do they vote on this? I could see maybe McCollins or Guay winning it with a massive playoff performance but Matson is 16 points clear of the next-closest Rausch. Granted all those Finlandia (RIP) and Lawrence games are bringing up Matson a bit, but a bad Trine team got 2 All-Americans last year off those two schools lol

generally the Hurd has rewarded a senior on career accomplishments more so than just one specific season. But there have been a couple of rare underclassmen win it. But not often.

[Russell Jaslow]

Isn’t it also coaches of semi-finals teams who were not COTY?

I believe so. It's how they do it in D1.

[Scott_TG]

I believe so. It's how they do it in D1.

Yes, the coaches who make the semis are added to the COTY finalists if they are not already a conference COTY. I think Amherst coach Jeff Matthews is the favorite.

For the Laura Hurd, I'm thinking Matson because I think like 18-19 with Bre Simon she's far above any of the senior finalists. If they do stick with a senior I think it is Rausch or perhaps Ann-Frederique Guay.

[VTpucksouteast]

I came up with some guesses on the 25 All-Americans. I know they're chosen before playoffs so I figure now would be a good time to guess. One region has 12 the other has 13, and this is just a guess that the East will get the 13th this year. Note: these are just my guesses.

East First Team

Position	Name	School
F	Ann-Frederique Guay	Norwich
F	Kaylee Merrill	Potsdam
F	Erica Sloan	Utica
D	Sierra Benjamin	Plattsburgh
D	Abby Kuhns	Hamilton
G	Natalie Stott	Amherst

East Second Team

Position	Name	School
F	Gabrielle Cox	Manhattanville
F	Sara Krauseneck	Plattsburgh
F	Meg Rittenhouse	Colby
D	Madison Duff	Suffolk
D	Avery Flynn	Amherst
D	Julia Holmes	Nazareth
G	Angela Hawthorne	Utica

West First Team

Position	Name	School
F	Darci Matson	Aurora
F	Maddie McCollins	UW-River Falls
F	Sophie Rausch	UW-Eau Claire
D	Kathryn Truban	Adrian
D	Kayla Vrieze	Gustavus
G	Sophie Goldberg	Adrian

West Second Team

Position	Name	School
F	Une Bjelland	Adrian
F	Hailey Holland	Gustavus
F	Jessica VonRuden	Adrian
D	Makenna Aure	UW-River Falls
D	Maya Roy	Adrian
G	Katie McCoy	Gustavus