BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Continuing to roll out the individual awards, the Western Collegite Hockey Association is excited to present Minnesota Duluth’s Emma Soderberg as Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, joined by WCHA Co-Coaches of the Year in St. Cloud State’s Brian Idalski and Ohio State’s Nadine Muzerall, presented by Sterling Trophy.
 
For their efforts on the ice Minnesota’s Taylor Heise was named 2022-23 WCHA Scoring Champion with her 51 points in 28 WCHA games played, while a 1.59 goals against average in 23 WCHA appearances earned Soderberg the title of 2022-23 WCHA Goaltending Champion. Both honors are the second for their careers.
 
WCHA Co-Coaches of the Year
Brian Idalski (St. Cloud State) and Nadine Muzerall (Ohio State)
This season, Nadine Muzerall led Ohio State to a 23-4-1 league record for its first WCHA regular season title in program history. In her seventh season, Muzerall led the Buckeyes to national dominance as Ohio State never fell below a second place ranking in national polls over the course of the season. Her Buckeyes set several program records, including team and individual scoring records, and five landed on All-WCHA teams. Primed for the postseason, the Ohio State squad holds a 28-4-2 overall record while going 5-0-1 against all of its nonconference opponents.
 
Also earning WCHA Coach of the Year honors is St. Cloud State head coach Brian Idalski. After returning to the WCHA, he has drastically turned around the Husky program in just one season after St. Cloud State earned its highest national ranking since 2008 as No. 12 this season, when they earned just nine overall wins and four league wins last season. Idalski led the St. Cloud State program to a win over a No. 1 nationally ranked opponent when the Huskies downed Minnesota 4-1 on Nov. 7, and ultimately claimed three WCHA points against teams ranked seventh and above. On the season, St. Cloud State also earned an undefeated 6-0-0 record in nonconference play.
 
The 2023 WCHA Coach of the Year honor is the first of Idalski’s career, and fourth of Muzerall’s after she earned the title in 2018, 2020, and 2022.
 
WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year
Emma Soderberg – Minnesota Duluth
Grad. // Goaltender // Jarved, Sweden
As a stellar netminder, Minnesota Duluth’s Emma Soderberg adds academic achievement and community service to her well-rounded resume. A weekly volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club, Soderberg has built a 3.81 GPA as an economics major, while already having graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in organizational management in 2022. On the ice, Soderberg has consistently been a standout in the WCHA and at the national level as National Goaltender of the Month. As the only European on the UMD team, Emma has also represented her country of Sweden on several occasions, most recently in the 2022 Winter Olympics and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championships, where she was named Player of the Game twice.
 
Described as the backbone of the Minnesota Duluth squad and showcasing top sportsmanship, Emma was voted as 2022-23 WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year by the league’s eight Faculty Athletics Representatives and was nominated by the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Dr. Stephen Castleberry.
 
WCHA Scoring Champion
Taylor Heise – Minnesota
Fifth-Year // Forward // Lake City, Minn.
With 51 total points in 28 WCHA games played, Minnesota’s Taylor Heise repeats as the league’s Scoring Champion for 2022-23. Earning her second consecutive WCHA Scoring Champion title, Heise net 19 goals and 32 assists for her league-leading 51 points to average 1.82 points per game. Heise led the league over the course of the regular season with her four shorthanded goals, 32 assists, and 367 faceoff wins. Adding five power play goals and three game-winners, Heise’s league play included a hat trick against St. Cloud State (Dec. 10) while she skated to a plus-26 rating on the ice. Ultimately, Heise tallied a point in 24 of 28 league games, produced 14 multi-point performances, including a season-high of five points at Minnesota State (Dec. 3) and at St. Cloud State (Dec. 10).
 
WCHA Goaltending Champion
Emma Soderberg – Minnesota Duluth
Grad. // Goaltender // Jarved, Sweden
Behind a 1.59 goals against average, Emma Soderberg earns title of 2022-23 WCHA Goaltending Champion. Determined by the best goals against average in league play, Soderberg only allowed 36 goals against through her 23 games played and 1361:05 of action. Soderberg paired her goals against average with a league-leading .932 save percentage as she made 493 saves as she played in 23 of 28 WCHA games for the Bulldogs. Soderberg became a Minnesota Duluth record holder as she set the program record with her 21 career shutouts, including a league-leading 8 in league play this season. while building a 13-8-2 record. Soderberg made 30 or more saves in four league games, including a season-high of 44 in the 3-1 win at Wisconsin (Jan. 7). The award is the second of her career, after she was named 2020-21 WCHA Goaltending Champion behind a 1.34 goals against average.
 
2022-23 WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year Nominees
Abby DeLaRosa – Bemidji State
Sr. // Defense // Hugo, Minn.
As an active member in the Bemidji community, Abby DeLaRosa is a tremendous role model for younger players, youth hockey players, and as a nanny. She volunteers as an active participant and promoter of the Suicide Prevention Walk/Run event and is an impressive local ambassador for the Bemidji State program. Holding a perfect 4.0 GPA as an exercise science major, Abby adds a psychology minor as she focuses on a medical fitness emphasis. She has received President’s Honor Roll recognition for seven consecutive semesters and is set to graduate this Spring 2023 semester as a three-time WCHA All-Academic Team member and WCHA Scholar-Athlete.
 
Grace Zumwinkle – Minnesota
Fifth-Year // Forward // Excelsior, Minn.
A 2022 U.S. Olympian, Grace Zumwinkle has been a shining example of sportsmanship on and off the ice over her time as a Gopher. A two-time team co-captain, Zumwinkle has taken zero penalties this season and regularly volunteers at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, Loaves & Fishes, Special Olympics MN, and with Feed My Starving Children. After earning a degree from the Carlson School of Management in finance, Zumwinkle has continued her studies as a non-degree seeking student with a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA. A four-time WCHA All-Academic Team and three-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete, Zumwinkle is an active member in seven clubs across campus. She does this all while racking up an NCAA-best 47 points by 21 goals and 26 assists on the year.
 
Claire Butorac – Minnesota State
Sr. // Forward // Andover, Minn.
As a two-year team captain of the Minnesota State program, Claire Butorac has displayed outstanding sportsmanship on and off the ice throughout her career. As an exercise science major with a sports medicine minor, Claire has a goal of attending physical therapy school following her graduating. As a dean’s list honoree for seven semesters, she has built a 3.73 GPA and has been a three-time WCHA All-Academic Team and WCHA Scholar-Athlete honoree. While playing in every situation on the ice, Claire holds the second-most points on the Minnesota State squad, and serves as the team’s two-year representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Her extensive list of volunteer activities are both local and across the state, while she also works as a youth hockey coach at a local fitness center.
 
Sophie Jaques – Ohio State
Grad. // Defense // Toronto, Ontario
Since garnering the title of 2021-22 WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year, Sophie Jaques has gone on to become a 2022 National Champion, USCHO Player of the Year, and a Patty Kazmaier Award Top-3 Finalist. For her athletics, academics, and service, Sophie was named a 2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sport Scholar of the Year, selected from over 1,000 nominees. After graduating with a civil engineering degree last spring, Sophie continues her education as a Civil Engineering graduate student with a 3.79 GPA. Continuing her work with SHEROS, an organization to provide female student-athletes understanding the importance of unity, skills to accomplish beneficial network, philanthropic skills, and guidance towards professional development, Sophie continues to stand out on the ice as the only defender among the nation’s top-30 scorers.
 
Olivia Cvar – St. Cloud State
Sr. // Forward // Stonewall, Manitoba
As a three-time WCHA All-Academic Team member, St. Cloud State’s Olivia Cvar continues to be a role model both on and off the ice. Holding significant volunteer experience in the community, Olivia coaches youth hockey players in her hometown of Stonewall, Manitoba, while also being regularly involved in Husky Pups, the program helping grow the game for youth hockey players in the St. Cloud community. Set to graduate this spring as an elementary education major, Olivia holds a 3.57 GPA and plans to teach third grade upon completion of her studies.
 
Maija Almich – St. Thomas
Sr. // Forward // Lino Lakes, Minn.
After coming to St. Thomas to pursue an education in mechanical engineering and to play Division III hockey, Maija Almich has grown into a consistent and effective Division I player in the WCHA. As the team’s leading goal-scorer, Maija plays in all situations, all while advancing towards a degree this spring. Maija has been a six-time Dean’s List honoree behind a cumulative GPA of 3.91. A team captain, Maija has completed multiple engineering internships while remaining as a steadfast and disciplined role model for her teammates.
 
Britta Curl – Wisconsin
RSr. // Forward // Bismarck, N.D.
As a captain of the nationally-ranked Badgers, Britta is not only a leader for her team, but in the classroom and in the community. A crucial member of the Badgers Give Back program, Britta has spent countless hours serving the Madison community alongside fellow athletes, especially around the holiday season. Also having served as an athlete ambassador for the Women of Wisconsin Athlete Affinity Group, Britta has also volunteered at the American Family Children’s Hospital and the UW-Madison Motor Behavior Lab, all while earning a 3.913 GPA. On the ice, Britta scored her first career hat trick and has led the Badgers through adversity this season.
 
WCHA Individual Awards
The 2022-23 WCHA Coach of the Year is voted upon by the eight member team head coaches and two assistant coaches, where coaches cannot vote for their own staff. Member institution Faculty Athletic Representatives nominate and vote for the WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year.
 
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.