BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – After a trio of Western Collegiate Hockey Association matchups, players from Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, and Wisconsin receive league honors by Sterling Trophy as Players of the Week.
 
High points by Taylor Heise (Minnesota), Ashton Bell (Minnesota Duluth), and Laila Edwards (Wisconsin) were joined by Skylar Vetter’s (Minnesota) shutout streak as the standout performances.
 
WCHA Forward of the Week
Taylor Heise, 5Yr., Minnesota (Lake City, Minn.)
It was another historic week for Taylor Heise as she registered a career-high of nine points in Minnesota’s series sweep of then-No. 14 St. Cloud State. In addition to posting a career-high of four assists in a single game on Friday, Heise added her third career hat trick to her weekend performance on Saturday.
 
Behind her three goals and six assists, Heise moves into 10th place in career points in Minnesota program history by currently standing at 194. Overall, the forward tallied seven shots on goal and skated to a plus-7 rating on the ice. With the effort, Heise earns her third WCHA Forward of the Week title of the season after her previous awards on Oct. 31 and Nov. 7.
 
Others Receiving Votes: Mannon McMahon (Minnesota Duluth), Laila Edwards (Wisconsin).
 
WCHA Defender of the Week
Ashton Bell, 5Yr., Minnesota Duluth (Deloraine, Manitoba)
To lead all scorers in the series, Ashton Bell tallied five points by two goals and three assists. Factoring in half of Minnesota Duluth’s eight goals on Friday and in the Bulldogs’ only goal on Saturday, Bell tallied 10 shots on goal while skating to a plus-5 rating on the ice. With an assist on Saturday, Bell moved into a tie as the ninth all-time scoring defender in program history at a marker of 23-42—65 in her 74 career games played.
 
In all, Bell now holds 20 points in 20 games so far this season to capture her second WCHA Defender of the Week title on the season.
 
Others Receiving Votes: Emily Oden (Minnesota), Natalie Buchbinder (Wisconsin).
 
WCHA Goaltender of the Week
Skylar Vetter, So., Minnesota (Lakeville, Minn.)
While lacing up for both games this weekend, Skylar Vetter posted two shutouts behind a total of 29 saves. Her perfect play in net earned the squad a 2-0-0 record while she extends to a shutout streak of 226:23 across the last three games.
 
Tied for first in the league this season, Vetter’s four shutouts led to her picking up her 11th and 12th wins this year. Making 29 saves on 29 shots faced, Vetter is now a five-time WCHA Goaltender of the Week honoree in the 2022-23 campaign.
 
Others Receiving Votes: Cami Kronish (Wisconsin), Saskia Maurer (St. Thomas).
 
WCHA Rookie of the Week
Laila Edwards, F, Wisconsin (Cleveland Heights, Ohio)
It was a four-point weekend for Wisconsin’s Laila Edwards as she posted a career-high of three assists in Friday’s 5-2 win before scoring the Badgers’ fourth goal in its 5-1 win on Saturday to extend the squad’s unbeaten run to seven games heading into the winter break. Edwards’ four points came off of six shots on goal, while she skated to a plus-3 rating on the ice.
 
Edwards’ four points tied for the team lead on the weekend with Kirsten Simms and Natalie Buchbinder, to earn her first WCHA honor of her career. Edwards becomes Wisconsin’s fifth different player to claim a WCHA Rookie of the Week title this season.
 
Others Receiving Votes: Allie Franco (Minnesota), Tova Henderson (Minnesota Duluth).
 
About Sterling Trophy
Sterling Trophy has grown into a leader in the award and recognition industry in the Twin Cities since its founding in 1999. A family business that started in the basement of the home of founders David Steinbring and Patty Steinbring, Sterling Trophy has built a proud tradition of quality service and unique products. For more information, visit sterlingtrophy.net.