The Western Collegiate Hockey Association, which is celebrating its 25th season of women’s hockey competition in 2023-24, announced on Monday, Jan. 8 its Sterling Trophy Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Players of the Week honors for games played during the week of Jan. 1 through Jan. 7.
This week’s league award winners included Wisconsin’s Britta Curl (Forward and Cassie Hall (Rookie) along with Minnesota’s Skylar Vetter (Goaltender) and Minnesota State’s Charlotte Akervik (Defender).
All WCHA teams will return to league play with games on Jan. 12-14. This weekend’s schedule on Jan. 12-13 includes Bemidji State at Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State at St. Cloud State and Ohio State at Minnesota. On Jan. 13-14, Wisconsin will host St. Thomas. Fans can view all of these WCHA games on the B1G+ at www.bigtenplus.com
Sterling Trophy WCHA Forward of the Week:
Britta Curl/Wisconsin/Forward/Senior/Bismarck, N.D.
The University of Wisconsin captain, Britta Curl was tied for the WCHA lead in points with five points over the weekend, helping UW to a sweep of Merrimack at home. Curl had a goal and an assist in UW’s 6-1 win on Friday before adding a goal and two assists in the Badgers’ 6-1 win on Saturday. Her +5 plus/minus rating was tied for the second-best mark in the WCHA over the weekend. In the series against Merrimack, Curl had nine shots on target and also had one blocked shot. On the season, Curl ranks second in the nation with 38 points and 24 assists and eighth among NCAA DI skaters with 15 goals scored.
Others Nominated: Abbey Murphy, Minnesota; and Whitney Tuttle, Minnesota State
Sterling Trophy WCHA Defender of the Week:
Charlotte Akervik/Minnesota State/Defense/Grad. Student/Eau Claire, Wisc.
In a weekend sweep at home against Lindenwood, Minnesota State’s Charlotte Akervik was a leader at the blueline for the Mavericks. She compiled two goals, two assists and four points in the series. Akervik also had six shots on goal, three blocked shots on defense and was +4 on the plus/minus. She helped MSU outscore Lindenwood by a 10-4 tally in the two games. Akervilk scored a power play goal in MSU’s 4-3 win on Jan. 6 and scored the final goal in MSU’s 6-1 romp over Lindenwood on Jan. 5. She also had an assist on the game winner in that game. Akervik now ranks first in the MSU records for points by a defender at 54.
Others Nominated: Hanna Baskin, Minnesota Duluth; Madeline Wethington, Minnesota and Katie Kotlowski, Wisconsin
Sterling Trophy WCHA Goaltender of the Week:
Skylar Vetter/Minnesota/Goaltender/Junior/Lakeville, Minn.
A resident of Lakeville, Minn., Skylar Vetter backstopped Minnesota in a 3-1 victory over #11 ranked Connecticut on Saturday, Jan. 6. She stopped 23 of 24 shots faced in the victory over the Huskies. On the season, Vetter owns an 8-3-1 record that includes a .934 save percentage and a 1.91 goals against average. In 721:04 minutes of play in 2023-24, Vetter had charted 325 saves and has allowed only 23 goals.
Others Nominated: Lauren Barbro, Minnesota State
Sterling Trophy WCHA Rookie of the Week:
Cassie Hall/Wisconsin/Forward/First Year/South Lyon, Mich.
Cassie Hall posted two goals and two assists in Wisconsin’s sweep of Merrimack. She had a goal and an assist in the Badgers’ 6-1 win on Friday and also had a goal and an assist in UW’s 6-1 win on Saturday. Her four points ranked second on the team while her +5 plus/minus mark was the best mark by a rookie skater in the WCHA. Her four points also led all WCHA rookies during the week.
Others Nominated: JuliAnna Gazdik, Minnesota State and Lauren O’Hara, 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.
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, MSU
Goalie - Sanni Ahola, St. Cloud State/Rookie - Ella Boerger, St. Thomas
Oct. 16:
Forward - Abbey Murphy, Minnesota/Defender - Hadley Hartmetz, OSU
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 UMD
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, OSU
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, BSU
Goalie - Raygan Kirk, Ohio State/Rookie - Hailey Armstrong, Bemidji State
Nov. 27:
Forward - Abbey Murphy, Minnesota/Defender - Hadley Hartmetz, OSU
Goalie - Hailey MacLeod, Minnesota Duluth/Rookie - Jocelyn Amos, OSU
Dec. 4:
Forward - Abbey Murphy, Minnesota/Defender - Ida Karlsson, UMD
Goalie - Sanni Ahola, St. Cloud State/Rookie - Ava Lindsay, Minnesota
Dec. 11:
Forward - Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin/Defender - Cayla Barnes, Ohio State
Goalie - Eva Filippova, Bemidji State/Rookie - Ella Boerger, St. Thomas
Jan. 8:
Forward - Britta Curl, UW/Defender - Charlotte Akervik, MSU
Goalie - Skylar Vettter, Minnesota/Rookie - Cassie Hall, Wisconsin