The Western Collegiate Hockey Association gives awards at the conclusion of each season. The current awards include Player of the Year, Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year, as well as the league leaders in points scoring and goaltending. In addition, several WCHA players have won the Patty Kazmaier Award for the nation's best women's college hockey player.
Past winners have included numerous Olympic medalists and players in professional hockey leagues in North America and Europe. Minnesota is the most successful team, with 60 award winners and statistical leaders. All current members of the conference are represented.
Hannah Brandt of Minnesota won five awards over her career; she was named Rookie of the Year, led the league in scoring twice, and was named Player of the Year twice. Seven other players have won three or more awards over their careers. No player has won more than two awards in a single season; eleven players have achieved this feat. Mark Johnson of Wisconsin has been named Coach of the Year nine times.
Patty Kazmaier Award Jessie Vetter, 2009 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Meghan Duggan, 2011 Patty Kazmaier Award winner The Patty Kazmaier Award has been awarded annually since 1998 to the top player in NCAA Division I women's hockey. In that time, 8 players have won the award while playing for WCHA schools.[1]
Year Player Position School 2005 Krissy Wendell Forward Minnesota 2006 Sara Bauer Forward Wisconsin 2009 Jessie Vetter Goaltender Wisconsin 2011 Meghan Duggan Forward Wisconsin 2012 Brianna Decker Forward Wisconsin 2013 Amanda Kessel Forward Minnesota 2017 Ann-Renée Desbiens Goaltender Wisconsin 2022 Taylor Heise Forward Minnesota 2023 Sophie Jaques Defense Ohio State
Amanda Kessel, 2013 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Winners by school School Winners Years Wisconsin 5 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2017 Minnesota 3 2005, 2013, 2022 Ohio State 1 2023
Player of the Year Jenny Schmidgall-Potter, 1999–2000 and 2002–03 Player of the Year Tessa Bonhomme, 2007–08 Player of the Year Hannah Brandt, 2013–14 and 2014–15 Player of the Year Ann-Renée Desbiens, 2015–16 Player of the Year Winners by school School Winners Years Wisconsin 10 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2023–24 Minnesota 9 2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2021–22 Minnesota–Duluth 3 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2016–17 Ohio State 2 2007–08, 2022–23 Bemidji State 1 2009–10† St. Cloud State 1 2009–10†
Student-Athlete of the Year Caroline Ouellette, 2004–05 Student-Athlete of the Year Jocelyne Lamoureux, 2011–12 and 2012–13 Student-Athlete of the Year Season Player Pos. School 1999–2000† Katie Beaudy Goaltender Minnesota State Shannon Kennedy Forward Minnesota 2000–01 Bre Dedrickson Goaltender Bemidji State 2001–02 Guylaine Haché Forward Bemidji State 2002–03 Anik Coté Goaltender Bemidji State 2003–04 Emma Laaksonen Defense Ohio State 2004–05 Caroline Ouellette Forward Minnesota–Duluth 2005–06 Riitta Schaublin Goaltender Minnesota–Duluth 2006–07 Riitta Schaublin (2) Goaltender Minnesota–Duluth 2007–08 Casie Hanson Forward North Dakota 2008–09 Gigi Marvin Forward Minnesota 2009–10 Caitlin Hogan Forward St. Cloud State 2010–11 Jocelyne Larocque Defense Minnesota–Duluth 2011–12 Jocelyne Lamoureux Forward North Dakota 2012–13 Jocelyne Lamoureux (2) Forward North Dakota 2013–14 Kelly Terry Forward Minnesota 2014–15 Shelby Amsley-Benzie Goaltender North Dakota 2015–16 Shelby Amsley-Benzie (2) Goaltender North Dakota 2016–17 Lara Stalder Forward Minnesota–Duluth 2017–18 Catherine Daoust Defense Minnesota–Duluth 2018–19 Corbin Boyd Forward Minnesota State 2019–20 Alex Woken Forward Minnesota 2020–21 Mak Langei Forward Bemidji State 2021–22 Sophie Jaques Defense Ohio State 2022–23 Emma Söderberg Goaltender Minnesota–Duluth 2023–24 Clara Van Wieren Forward Minnesota–Duluth
Winners by school School Winners Years Minnesota–Duluth 8 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2022–23, 2023–24 North Dakota 5 2007–08, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16 Minnesota 4 1999–2000† , 2008–09, 2013–14, 2019–20 Bemidji State 4 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2020–21 Minnesota State 2 1999–2000† , 2018–19 Ohio State 2 2003–04, 2021–22 St. Cloud State 1 2009–10
Defensive Player of the Year Meaghan Mikkelson, 2006–07 Defensive Player of the Year Jocelyne Larocque, 2010–11 Defensive Player of the Year Megan Bozek, 2012–13 Defensive Player of the Year Winners by school School Winners Years Minnesota 10 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18 Wisconsin 6 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2011–12, 2023–24 Ohio State 5 2007–08, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23 Minnesota–Duluth 3 2010–11, 2016–17, 2020–21 Bemidji State 1 2015–16
Rookie of the Year Maria Rooth, 1999–2000 Rookie of the Year Gigi Marvin, 2005–06 Rookie of the Year Monique Lamoureux, 2008–09 Rookie of the Year Season Player Pos. School 1999–2000 Maria Rooth Forward Minnesota–Duluth 2000–01 Meghan Hunter Forward Wisconsin 2001–02 Jeni Creary Forward Ohio State 2002–03 Natalie Darwitz Forward Minnesota 2003–04 Sara Bauer Forward Wisconsin 2004–05 Bobbi Ross Forward Minnesota 2005–06 Gigi Marvin Forward Minnesota 2006–07 Meghan Duggan Forward Wisconsin 2007–08 Haley Irwin Forward Minnesota–Duluth 2008–09 Monique Lamoureux Forward Minnesota 2009–10 Hokey Langan Forward Ohio State 2010–11 Amanda Kessel Forward Minnesota 2011–12 Michelle Karvinen Forward North Dakota 2012–13 Hannah Brandt Forward Minnesota 2013–14 Dani Cameranesi Forward Minnesota 2014–15 Annie Pankowski Forward Wisconsin 2015–16 Sarah Potomak Forward Minnesota 2016–17 Abby Roque Forward Wisconsin 2017–18 Emma Maltais Forward Ohio State 2018–19 Sophie Shirley Forward Wisconsin 2019–20 Madeline Wethington Forward Minnesota 2020–21 Jamie Nelson Forward Minnesota State 2021–22 Peyton Hemp Forward Minnesota 2022–23 Caroline Harvey Defense Wisconsin 2023–24 Joy Dunne Forward Ohio State
Winners by school School Winners Years Minnesota 10 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2019–20, 2021–22 Wisconsin 7 2000–01, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2022–23 Ohio State 4 2001–02, 2009–10, 2017–18, 2023–24 Minnesota–Duluth 2 1999–2000, 2007–08 Minnesota State 1 2020–21 North Dakota 1 2011–12
Coach of the Year Shannon Miller, 1999–2000 and 2002–03 Coach of the Year for Minnesota–Duluth Mark Johnson, 9–time WCHA Coach of the Year for Wisconsin Season Coach School 1999–2000 Shannon Miller Minnesota–Duluth 2000–01† Laura Halldorson Minnesota Kerry Wethington St. Cloud State 2001–02 Laura Halldorson (2) Minnesota 2002–03† Mark Johnson Wisconsin Shannon Miller (2) Minnesota–Duluth 2003–04 Jeff Vizenor Minnesota State 2004–05 Laura Halldorson (3) Minnesota 2005–06 Mark Johnson (2) Wisconsin 2006–07 Mark Johnson (3) Wisconsin 2007–08 Brad Frost Minnesota 2008–09† Brad Frost (2) Minnesota Mark Johnson (4) Wisconsin 2009–10 Steve Sertich Bemidji State 2010–11 Mark Johnson (5) Wisconsin 2011–12 Mark Johnson (6) Wisconsin 2012–13 Brad Frost (3) Minnesota 2013–14 Brad Frost (4) Minnesota 2014–15 Jim Scanlan Bemidji State 2015–16 Mark Johnson (7) Wisconsin 2016–17 Maura Crowell Minnesota–Duluth 2017–18 Nadine Muzerall Ohio State 2018–19 Mark Johnson (8) Wisconsin 2019–20 Nadine Muzerall (2) Ohio State 2020–21 Mark Johnson (9) Wisconsin 2021–22 Nadine Muzerall (3) Ohio State 2022–23† Brian Idalski St. Cloud State Nadine Muzerall (4) Ohio State 2023–24 Nadine Muzerall (5) Ohio State
Winners by school School Winners Years Wisconsin 9 2002–03† , 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09† , 2010–11, 2011–12, 2015–16, 2018–19, 2020–21 Minnesota 7 2000–01† , 2001–02, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09† , 2012–13, 2013–14 Ohio State 5 2017–18, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23† , 2023–24 Minnesota–Duluth 3 1999–2000, 2002–03† , 2016–17 Bemidji State 2 2009–10, 2014–15 St. Cloud State 2 2000–01† , 2022–23† Minnesota State 1 2003–04
Statistical leaders Scoring champion Haley Irwin, top scorer in 2007–08 Jocelyne Lamoureux, top scorer in 2011–12 Winners by school School Winners Years Minnesota 12 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19† , 2021–22, 2022–23 Wisconsin 5 2006–07, 2010–11, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2023–24 Minnesota–Duluth 2 2003–04, 2007–08 Ohio State 2 2009–10, 2018–19† North Dakota 1 2011–12
Goaltending champion Noora Räty, top goaltender in 2009–10 and 2012–13 Kim Martin, top goaltender in 2010–11 Season Player School Games GAA 2003–04 Meghan Horras Wisconsin 12 1.32 2004–05 Jody Horak Minnesota 19 0.89 2005–06 Kim Hanlon Minnesota 14 1.19 2006–07 Christine Dufour Wisconsin 12 1.07 2007–08 Jessie Vetter Wisconsin 26 1.38 2008–09 Alyssa Grogan Minnesota 14 1.37 2009–10 Noora Räty Minnesota 15 1.06 2010–11 Kim Martin Minnesota–Duluth 17 1.51 2011–12 Alex Rigsby Wisconsin 28 1.47 2012–13 Noora Räty (2) Minnesota 28 1.05 2013–14 Ann-Renée Desbiens Wisconsin 28 0.97 2014–15 Shelby Amsley-Benzie North Dakota 28 1.17 2015–16 Ann-Renée Desbiens (2) Wisconsin 27 0.81 2016–17 Ann-Renée Desbiens (3) Wisconsin 30 0.66 2017–18 Kristen Campbell Wisconsin 24 1.16 2018–19 Kristen Campbell (2) Wisconsin 24 1.08 2019–20 Sydney Scobee Minnesota 24 1.63 2020–21 Emma Söderberg Minnesota–Duluth 19 1.34 2021–22 Emma Polusny St. Cloud State 19 2.85 2022–23 Emma Söderberg (2) Minnesota–Duluth 23 1.59 2023–24 Sanni Ahola St. Cloud State 13 1.86
Winners by school School Winners Years Wisconsin 9 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19 Minnesota 6 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2012–13, 2019–20 Minnesota–Duluth 3 2010–11, 2020–21, 2022–23 St. Cloud State 2 2021–22, 2023–24 North Dakota 1 2014–15
Team of the Decade In 2009, to commemorate the tenth year of women's play, the WCHA chose the top ten players of the decade.[2]
25th Anniversary Top 25 Team Throughout the 2023–24 season, to commemorate 25 seasons of women's play, the WCHA named the top 25 players throughout its 25 years.
Sources "WCHA 2014–15 Women's Record Book" (PDF) . Western Collegiate Hockey Association. p. 113. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017 . "WCHA Announces 2015-16 Postseason Awards". Western Collegiate Hockey Association. March 3, 2016. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017 . "WCHA Announces 2016-17 Postseason Awards". Western Collegiate Hockey Association. March 2, 2017. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017 . "WCHA Season Reviews - 1999-2021" (PDF) . WCHA.com . Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Retrieved February 21, 2022 . References ^ "Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Recipients". Patty Kazmaier Award / Sport Ngin. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013 . ^ "WCHA Top 10 Players First 10 Years" (PDF) . Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017 . Western Collegiate Hockey Association women's ice hockey
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