The Western Collegiate Hockey Association has established itself as the nation’s premier conference in NCAA women’s hockey and the excellence of the league’s player development was on display at the 2024 Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) award ceremony that took place on June 11 in St. Paul.

Former Ohio State standout Natalie Spooner, who played for the Buckeyes from 2008-12 and was recently named to the WCHA’s 25^th Anniversary Top 25 Team, was named the PWHL’s Billie Jean King MVP Award recipient and the league’s Forward of the Year.  Spooner led the PWHL in both points (27) and goals (20) this season as a forward for Toronto.



Spooner was joined in the PWHL spotlight by Kristen Campbell, who was named the league’s Goaltender of the Year.  A former standout at Wisconsin (2017-20) and North Dakota (2015-17),  Campbell led the PWHL with 16 wins while posting a 1.99 GAA and a .927 save rate for Toronto.



The PWHL’s Rookie of the Year award went to Grace Zumwinkle, who starred at the University of Minnesota from 2017-23.  A part of the Walter Cup champion PWHL Minnesota squad, Zumwinkle scored 11 goals and 19 points which tied for the league lead among first-year professionals. Of note, Ohio State’s Emma Maltais (2017-23), who played for Toronto this season, was also a finalist for the award.



Both Spooner and Campbell were named to the PWHL’s First All-Star Team for the 2024 season.  Former WCHA players earning PWHL Second All-Star team honors included Zumwinkle and Sarah Nurse, who played for Toronto this season and skated at the college level for Wisconsin. 

The PWHL’s 2024 All-Rookie Team was dominated by former WCHA players as Maltais, Zumwinkle were named to the squad along with defenders Ashton Bell (Ottawa) and Sophie Jaques (Minnesota) and goaltender Emma Söderberg (Boston).  Bell played collegiate hockey at Minnesota Duluth from 2017-23 and Jaques was a Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recipient during her playing career at Ohio State from 2018-23.   Söderberg played during her collegiate career at Minnesota Duluth from 2018-23.