The Western Collegiate Hockey Association has announced its Sterling Trophy WCHA Players of the Week award recipients for games played on Oct. 9-15, 2023.
This week's group of honorees includes WCHA Forward of the Week: University of Minnesota junior forward Abbey Murphy, WCHA Defender of the Week: Ohio State University graduate student Hadley Hartmetz, WCHA Goaltender of the Week: Ohio State University senior Raygan Kirk and WCHA Rookie of the Week: St. Cloud State University freshman forward Alice Sauriol.
Games in the WCHA will continue this week with St. Cloud State playing at Minnesota on Tuesday, Oct. 17. Over the weekend, Ohio State will play a weekend series at St. Thomas, Minnesota State will host Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji State will play at Wisconsin. SCSU will compete in this year's IceBreaker Tournament in Fairfield, Conn. with the Huskies opening play on Oct. 20 against Northeastern. On Oct. 21, the Huskies will play either Sacred Heart or Lindenwood in the second game of the tourney. Fans can watch all WCHA home games live online through
B1G+ streaming service in 2023-24.
The St. Cloud State vs. Minnesota game on Tuesday, Oct. 17 will be televised live on the
B1G Network.
Sterling Trophy WCHA Forward of the Week:
Abbey Murphy/Forward/Junior/Evergreen Park, Ill.
Abbey Murphy recorded her first collegiate hat trick on Friday, Oct. 13 against St. Thomas at Xcel Energy Center. The Gophers beat the Tommies 8-0, during which Murphy recorded five points, a single-game career high for Murphy. Of note, Murphy is the first Gopher to record a natural hat trick since Amy Potomak vs. Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 31, 2020. Murphy added one more goal in Minnesota's 4-0 win against St. Thomas on Saturday, Oct. 14 bringing her point total for the series to six, which ties for the most she's ever had in one series. In the two game set against UST, Murphy had 15 shots on goal with one blocked shot and a +7 on the plus/minus.
Others receiving votes: Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin; Taylor Nelson, Bemidji State; CC Bowlby, St. Cloud State; Hannah Bilka, Ohio State
Sterling Trophy WCHA Defender of the Week:
Hadley Hartmetz/Defender/Graduate Student/Phoenixville, Pa.
Hartmetz recorded her first career hat trick in Friday's 5-2 win over Minnesota Duluth. She led the team with three goals in the series. Hartmetz blocked a team-high three shots to help the Buckeyes finish with a sweep of the Bulldogs - the first in Duluth for the Buckeyes since 2013. She helped the Ohio State penalty kill finish 9-for-9 on the weekend and held Minnesota Duluth scoreless in the Buckeyes' 2-0 win on Saturday. Over the weekend, Hartmetz had 11 shots on goal and was +1.
Others receiving votes: Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin; Madeline Wethington, Minnesota; Ana Davis, Bemidji State
Sterling Trophy WCHA Goaltender of the Week:
Raygan Kirk/Goaltender/Senior/Ste. Anne, Manitoba
Kirk earned the Buckeyes' first shutout of the season in the 2-0 win over #6 ranked Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Oct. 14. She made 16 saves to help the Buckeyes earn the series sweep of the Bulldogs for the first time in Duluth since 2013 and the first shutout against Duluth since 2021. Kirk improves to 2-0-0 on the year with both wins coming against ranked opponents. Her goals against average on the season is .98 and her save rate is .959.
Others receiving votes: Jane Gervais, Wisconsin; Skylar Vetter, Minnesota; Abbie Thompson, Bemidji State; Sanni Ahola, SCSU
Sterling Trophy WCHA Rookie of the Week:
Alice Sauriol/Forward/Freshman/Sherbrooke, Quebec
Sauriol enjoyed a career weekend while leading No. 14/15 St. Cloud State to a sweep of Bemidji State, scoring her first collegiate goal alongside two assists for a three-point weekend. The freshman provided her first career multi-point game on Friday, Oct. 13 with a pair of assists then scored her first college goal with an incredible play to win a one-on-one rush against her defender on Saturday, Oct. 14. She had five shots on target and was +3 on the plus/minus over the weekend against Bemidji State.
Other receiving votes: Joy Dunne, Ohio State, Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin; Emma Kreisz, Minnesota; Hailey Armstrong, Bemidji State
Comments from Minnesota coach Brad Frost on the recent play of Abbey Murphy:
ABOUT THE WCHA:
Founded in 1999, the women’s league of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association has positioned itself as the top conference in all of women’s collegiate hockey and will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2023-24. The WCHA has won an unprecedented 20 national championships while finishing as the national runner-up nine times since 1999. The league has produced nine Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winners as well an additional 24 student-athletes who were among the Top-3 finalists for the award. In addition, WCHA student-athletes have been recognized as All-Americans 121 times in league history.
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.
2023-24 Sterling Trophy WCHA Players of the Week
Sept. 25:
Forward - Emma Gentry, SCSU/Defender - Ella Anick, SCSU
Goalie - Sanni Ahola, SCSU/Rookie - Sofianna Sundelin, SCSU
Oct. 2:
Forward - Lacey Eden, Wisconsin/Defender - Caroline Harvery, Wisconsin
Goalie - Raygan Kirk, Ohio State/Rookie - Cassie Hall, Wisconsin
Oct. 9:
Forward - Jamie Nelson, Minnesota State/Defender - Jayden Seifert, Minnesota State
Goalie - Sanni Ahola, St. Cloud State/Rookie - Ella Boerger, St. Thomas
Oct. 16:
Forward - Abbey Murphy, Minnesota/Defender - Hadley Hartmetz, Ohio State
Goalie - Raygan Kirk, Ohio State/Rookie - Alice Sauriol, St. Cloud State