After a full weekend slate of conference action, Ohio State and Wisconsin claimed the Western Collegiate Hockey Association weekly awards, announced on Monday. The Badgers' Laila Edwards claimed the Forward of the Week honor while teammates Laney Potter and Maggie Scannell were named Defender of the Week and Rookie of the Week, respectively. The Buckeys' Amanda Thiele claimed the Goaltender of the Week honor. Each award winner claimed their first honors of the season.
WCHA Forward of the Week
Laila Edwards, Jr., Wisconsin (Cleveland Heights, Ohio)
After recording two goals and two assists in Wisconsin's series sweep over No. 3 Minnesota Duluth, Edwards claimed her first Forward of the Week honor of the season. Edwards scored one goal and tallied an assist in Saturday's 5-1 victory while following up with a shorthanded goal and an assist in Wisconsin's 7-3 win on Sunday. The four points on the weekend for Edwards were tied for the most by a WCHA skater.
Other Nominees: Abbey Murphy, Minnesota; Whitney Tuttle, Minnesota State; Jocelyn Amos, Ohio State, Alice Sauriol, St. Cloud State; Cara Sajevic, St. Thomas.
WCHA Defender of the Week
Laney Potter, So., Wisconsin (Cranberry Township, Pa.)
Potter helped No. 1 Wisconsin to a series sweep over No. 3 Minnesota Duluth as she tallied two goals and two assists from the blueline. In the series opener on Saturday, Potter scored twice and added an assist in the Badgers' 5-1 victory while following up with one assist in the 7-3 win on Sunday. The four points for Potter on the weekend were tied for the most among all WCHA skaters.
Other Nominees: Nelli Laitinen, Minnesota; Emma Peschel, Ohio State; Nicole Vallario, St. Thomas.
WCHA Goaltender of the Week
Amanda Thiele, Gr., Ohio State (Milford, Mich.)
Thiele recorded 24 and 28 saves in games one and two, respectively, against No. 2 Minnesota. Both performances were season highs for the Milford, Mich. native. In Saturday's shootout against the Gophers, Thiele stopped five of six shots to earn the Buckeyes the extra conference point. She helped hold the Gophers, who were averaging over three goals a game entering the weekend, to just four goals the entire weekend.
Other Nominees: Kaitlin Groess, Bemidji State; Hannah Clark, Minnesota; Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State; Chloe Boreen St. Thomas; Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin.
WCHA Rookie of the Week
Maggie Scannell, F, Wisconsin (Wynantskill, New York)
In the Badgers series sweep over No. 3 Minnesota Duluth, Scannell recorded two goals and an assist. On Saturday, in the 5-1 win, the rookie chipped in an assist. The Wynantskill, New York native followed up on Sunday with a two-goal performance, including a power-play tally. Scannell's three points were tied for the most by a WCHA rookie during the weekend.
Other Nominees: Kaitlin Groess, Bemidji State; Hannah Clark, Minnesota; Jordyn Petrie, Ohio State; Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State; Chloe Boreen, St. Thomas.
For more information on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, follow the league at WCHA.com and on its social platforms: X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
2024-25 WCHA Players of the Week:
Oct. 14: Forward: Laila Edwards, Jr., Wisconsin; Defender: Laney Potter, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Amanda Thiele, Ohio State; Rookie: Maggie Scannell, Wisconsin
Oct. 7: Forward: Casey O'Brien, Wisconsin; Defender: Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State; Rookie: Chloe Boreen, St. Thomas
Sept. 30: Forward: Casey O'Brien, Wisconsin; Defender: Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Hailey MacLeod, Ohio State; Rookie: Jordyn Petrie, Ohio State
Sept. 23: Forward: Emma Gentry, SCSU; Defender: Ella Anick, SCSU; Goaltender: Ève Gascon, Minnesota Duluth; Rookie: Caitlin Kraemer, Minnesota Duluth