The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) has announced its weekly awards for games played during the week of Oct. 16-21 and this week’s award winners include St. Cloud State’s Klára Hymlárová (Forward), Wisconsin’s Anna Wilgren (Defender), Bemidji State’s Abbie Thompson (Goaltender) and Minnesota Duluth’s Ève Gascon (Rookie).

A full slate of WCHA match-up will take place during the weekend of Oct. 27-28 as St. Cloud State will travel to Minnesota State, Minnesota Duluth will play at Bemidji State, Minnesota will play at Ohio State and Wisconsin will play a weekend series at St. Thomas.  Fans can watch all WCHA home games live online through the B1G+ streaming service in 2023-24.

Sterling Trophy WCHA Forward of the Week:
Klára Hymlárová/St. Cloud State/Forward/Fifth Year/Opava, Czech Republic

Klára Hymlárová enjoyed a phenomenal week sparking the offense as No. 13 St. Cloud State went 2-1-0 overall while earning the Ice Breaker Championship with a perfect weekend in Connecticut. The fifth-year center led the league in goals (four), faceoff wins (29) and power play goals (two) while sharing the lead in points (five) and producing the second-most shots on goal (11). Hymlárová was named Most Outstanding Player at the 2023 Ice Breaker after leading the Huskies to the title with a natural hat trick in the Championship Game.  Over the week, SCSU earned a 2-0 win over #10 ranked Northeastern and also claimed the Ice Breaker championship with a 5-0 victory over Lindenwood in Fairfield, Conn.  Hymlárová has scored six goals and nine points in 2023-24 to lead the Huskies.

Others Nominated: Jamie Nelson, Minnesota State; Hannah Bilka, Ohio State; Maddi Wheeler, Wisconsin; Mary Kate O’Brien, Minnesota Duluth; Ava Lindsay, Minnesota.

Sterling Trophy WCHA Defender of the Week:
Anna Wilgren/Wisconsin/Defense/Senior/Hudson, Wisc.

In a weekend sweep at home against WCHA rival Bemidji State, Anna Wilgren charted three assists and three points to lead WCHA defenders this week.  She anchored the Wisconsin defense that allowed only one goal on the week and a total of 30 shots on net in the two game set at LaBahn Arena.  Her plus/minus ranking was +5 in the two games and Wilgren’s stats included one blocked shot and eight shots on goal.  The Badgers opened the weekend with a 4-0 shutout win over BSU, which included a pair of assists by Wilgren.  To cap the sweep, UW earned an 8-1 victory on Oct. 21 as Wilgren had an assist on the first goal of the game by Britta Curl.

Others Nominated: Taylor Larson, St. Cloud State; Taylor Stewart, Minnesota; Cayla Barnes, Ohio State; Charlotte Akervik, Minnesota State

Sterling Trophy WCHA Goaltender of the Week:
Abbie Thompson/Bemidji State/Goaltender/Junior/Forest Lake, Minn.

Abbie Thompson help keep the Beavers within a tight battle on the road at No. 1 Wisconsin by stopping the fourth most shots in program history as she made 60 saves on Oct. 20 against the Badgers. In the game, she turned aside 60-of-64 shots for a .938 save percentage including the games first 35 shots before the Badgers erupted for four goals in the third period.

Others Nominated: Jojo Chobak, St. Cloud State; Lauren Barbro, Minnesota State; Amanda Thiele, Ohio State; Jane Gervais, Wisconsin; Skylar Vetter, Minnesota.

Sterling Trophy WCHA Rookie of the Week:
Ève Gascon/Minnesota Duluth/Goaltender/Freshman/Mascouche, Quebec

In a key WCHA match against Minnesota State on Oct. 21, Gascon started her fourth game of the season and made 20 of 21 saves on shots she faced, while earning her second win of the season thanks to a 4-1 victory in Mankato.  Gascon allowed a goal in the second period and otherwise shutdown MSU as she made nine saves apiece in the second and third periods of the contest.  Gascon is 2-2 this season with a .937 save rate and a 1.76 goals against average.

Other Nominated: Joy Dunne, Ohio State; JuliAnna Gazdik, Minnesota State; Cara Sajevic St. Thomas; Emma Kreisz Minnesota; Hailey Armstrong, Bemidji State

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.

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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, SCSU

Oct. 23:
Forward - Klára Hymlárová, SCSU/Defender - Anna Wilgren, Wisconsin
Goalie - Abbie Thompson, Bemidji State/Rookie - Ève Gascon Minnesota Duluth