The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, which is celebrating its 25th season of women’s hockey competition in 2023-24, announced on Monday, Nov. 20 its Sterling Trophy Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Players of the Week honors for games played during the week of Nov. 13-19.
This week’s league award winners included Ohio State’s Jennifer Gardiner (Forward) and Raygan Kirk (Goaltender) along with Bemidji State’s Khloe Lund (Defender) and Hailey Armstrong (Rookie).
The WCHA schedule will resume on Nov. 24-26 with games featuring WCHA teams against non-conference opponents. This schedule includes dates against several nationally ranked teams.
Sterling Trophy WCHA Forward of the Week:
Jennifer Gardiner/Ohio State/Forward/Graduate Student/Surrey, B.C.
A graduate student from Surrey, B.C., Jennifer Gardiner provided the offensive spark for the Buckeyes during their recent two-game sweep over #1 ranked Wisconsin on Nov. 17-18. Gardiner finished the weekend with three goals and one assist for four points against the Badgers. She had eight shots on goal in the series along with three blocked shots and was +1 on the plus/minus. She helped Ohio State hand Wisconsin its first two losses of the season along gained a 3-0 shutout win on Nov. 17 and a 2-1 overtime win on Nov. 18. Gardiner had the first goal and an assist on the OT game winner on Nov. 18 along with two power play goals in the 3-0 win on Nov. 17.
Others Nominated: Avery Myers, St. Cloud State; Abbey Murphy, Minnesota; Taylor Nelson, Bemidji State and Jamie Nelson, Minnesota State
Sterling Trophy WCHA Defender of the Week:
Khloe Lund/Bemidji State/Defense/Senior/Thief River Falls, Minn.
Lund led the Beavers in scoring posting three points off a goal and two assists in their series split with Minnesota State on Nov. 17-18. Lund began the series earning two assists including the primary assist on Friday’s overtime game-winning goal. She then scored a power-play goal to tie the game on Saturday, Nov. 18. Lund blocked a team-high seven shots and finished second on the team with seven shots on goal.
Others Nominated: Charlotte Akervik, St. Cloud State; Hadley Hartmetz, Ohio State; and Taylor Stewart, Minnesota.
Sterling Trophy WCHA Goaltender of the Week:
Raygan Kirk/Ohio State/Goaltender/Senior/Ste. Anne, Manitoba
Raygan Kirk earned her third WCHA Goaltender of the Week award thanks to a 3-0 shutout win at home against #1 ranked Wisconsin on Friday, Nov 17. Kirk had 19 saves in the game and this was her third shutout of the season for the Buckeyes. This was the first shutout of the season posted against the Badgers in 2023-24. The victory moved Kirk’s season record to 6-0-0 with a 1.39 goals against average and a .936 save rate.
Others Nominated: Calla Frank, St. Thomas; Skylar Vetter, Minnesota; Eva Filippova, Bemidji State; Jojo Chobak, St. Cloud State; Lauren Barbro, Minnesota State
Sterling Trophy WCHA Rookie of the Week:
Hailey Armstrong/Bemidji State/Forward/First Year/Dawson Creek, B.C.
A resident of Dawson Creek, B.C., Hailey Armstrong led the Beavers in goal scoring by posting two goals in their series with Minnesota State. Armstrong posted a team-high eight shots on goal over the weekend. She had one blocked shot along with one power play goal on the weekend. On the season, Armstrong has scored seven goals for the Beavers.
Others Nominated: JuliAnna Gazdik, St. Cloud State; Jocelyn Amos Ohio State; Emma Kreisz, Minnesota.
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
Oct. 30:
Forward - Jennifer Gardiner, Ohio State/Defender - Nelli Laitinen, Minnesota
Goalie - Jojo Chobak, St. Cloud State/Rookie - Jocelyn Amos, Ohio State
Nov. 6:
Forward - Reece Hunt, Minnesota Duluth/Defender - Emma Peschel, Ohio State
Goalie - Eve Gascon, Minnesota Duluth/Rookie - Joy Dunne, Ohio State
Nov. 13:
Forward - Rylee Bartz, St. Thomas/Defender - Nicole Vallario, St. Thomas
Goalie - Calla Frank, St. Thomas/Rookie - Ella Boerger, St. Thomas
Nov. 20:
Forward - Jennifer Gardiner, Ohio State/Defender - Khloe Lund, Bemidji State
Goalie - Raygan Kirk, Ohio State/Rookie - Hailey Armstrong, Bemidji State