Four Western Collegiate Hockey Association teams were represented in the latest weekly awards presented by OS Hockey as Bemidji State's Makenna Deering, St. Cloud State's Sofianna Sundelin, St. Thomas' Dani Strom and Wisconsin's Ava McNaughton received honors.
St. Cloud State's Sundelin and Bemidji State's Deering each claimed their first weekly honors of the season after being tabbed the Forward of the Week and Defender of the Week, respectively. McNaughton earned her third Goaltender of the Week accolade this season, while Strom went back to back in claiming the Rookie of the Week nod.
WCHA Forward of the Week
Sofianna Sundelin, So., St. Cloud State (Ulvila, Finland)
For the first time this season, St. Cloud State's Sofianna Sundelin was tabbed the WCHA Forward of the Week after a four-point performance in the Huskies' series split against St. Thomas. In the Huskies 5-2 victory over St. Thomas on Friday, Sundelin tallied three points off of two goals and one assist. This marked the first three-point game and multi-point game of her career as she became just the second Husky to score two goals in a game this season. In Saturday's overtime loss to the Tommies, the sophomore forward scored the lone goal while winning a team-best 15 faceoffs.
Other Nominees: Ella Huber, Minnesota; Whitney Tuttle, Minnesota State; Sloane Matthews, Ohio State; Ella Boerger, St. Thomas.
WCHA Defender of the Week
Makenna Deering, Sr, Bemidji State (South St. Paul, Minn.)
Bemidji State's Makenna Deering earned her first WCHA Defender of the Week honor this season as she helped the Beavers to a series split with Minnesota State. In Friday's 3-2 overtime victory, Deering scored two of the Beavers' three goals one of which was the game-winner with 21 seconds into the overtime period. The senior defender propelled the Beavers to their first victory since Jan. 4.
Other Nominees: Sydney Morrow, Minnesota; JuliAnna Gazdik, Minnesota State; Emma Peschel, Ohio State; Regan Bulger, St. Cloud State.
WCHA Goaltender of the Week
Ava McNaughton, So. Wisconsin (Seven Fields, Pa.)
After an undefeated weekend between the pipes against No. 6 Minnesota Duluth, Wisconsin's Ava McNaughton was tabbed the WCHA Goaltender of the Week marking her third weekly honor of the season. On Friday night in the overtime win against the Bulldogs, McNaughton stopped 27 shots and followed up with 26 saves in the Badgers' 2-1 comeback victory on Saturday. On the weekend, the sophomore netminder led the WCHA with two wins and a goals-against average of .96.
Other Nominees: Eva Filippova, Bemidji State; Jessie McPherson, Minnesota State; Amanda Thiele, Ohio State; Dani Strom, St. Thomas.
WCHA Rookie of the Week
Dani Strom, G, St. Thomas (Dayton, Minn.)
Dani Strom won back-to-back Rookie of the Week honors as she helped St. Thomas to an overtime upset against No. 11 St. Cloud State. On Saturday, Strom recorded 32 saves while only allowing one goal against the Huskies for a .970 save percentage. The 32-save performance marked Strom's 13th 30-plus save performance of the season. On the weekend, the rookie netminder recorded 60 saves and a save percentage of .909.
Other Nominees: Morgan Smith, Bemidji State; Bella Shipley, Minnesota State; Mira Jungåker, Ohio State.
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:
Feb. 3 | Forward: Sofianna Sundelin, St. Cloud State; Defender: Makenna Deering, Bemidji State; Goaltender: Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin; Rookie: Dani Strom, St. Thomas
Jan. 27 | Forward: Lauren Stenslie, St. Thomas; Defender: Mira Jungåker, Ohio State; Goaltender: Hailey MacLeod, Ohio State; Rookie: Dani Strom, St. Thomas
Jan. 20 | Forward: Laila Edwards, Wisconsin; Defender: Ava Murphy, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Amanda Thiele, Ohio State; Rookie: Chloe Primerano, Minnesota
Jan. 13 | Forward: Jocelyn Amos, Ohio State; Defender: Gracie Graham, Minnesota; Goaltender: Ève Gascon, Minnesota Duluth; Rookie: Maggie Scannell, Wisconsin
Jan. 6 | Forward: Whitney Tuttle, Minnesota State; Defender: Sydney Morrow, Minnesota; Goaltender: Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin; Rookie: Morgan Smith, Bemidji State
Dec. 16 | Forward: Madison Mashuga, Minnesota State; Defender: JuliAnna Gazdik, Minnesota State; Goaltender: Hailey Hansen, Minnesota State; Rookie: Morgan Smith, Bemidji State
Dec. 9 | Forward: Abbey Murphy, Minnesota; Defender: Chloe Primerano, Minnesota; Goaltender: Ève Gascon, Minnesota Duluth; Rookie: Maggie Scannell, Wisconsin
Dec. 2 | Forward: Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin; Defender: Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Hailey Hansen, Minnesota State; Rookie: Caitlin Kraemer, Minnesota Duluth
Nov. 25 | Forward: Olivia Wallin, Minnesota Duluth; Defender: Tova Henderson, Minnesota Duluth; Goaltender: Hailey Hansen, Minnesota State; Rookie: Chloe Boreen, St. Thomas
Nov. 18 | Forward: Abbey Murphy, Minnesota; Defender: Riley Brengman, Ohio State; Goaltender: Hannah Clark, Minnesota; Rookie: Kaitlin Groess, Bemidji State
Nov. 11 | Forward: Cara Sajevic, St. Thomas; Defender: Nicole Vallario, St. Thomas
Nov. 4 | Forward: Joy Dunne, Ohio State; Defender: Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Dani Strom, St. Thomas; Rookie: Caitlin Kraemer, Minnesota Duluth
Oct. 28: Forward: Joy Dunne, Ohio State; Defender: Emma Peschel, Ohio State; Goaltender: Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State; Rookie: Josie St. Martin, Ohio State
Oct. 21: Forward: Hailey Armstrong, Bemidji State; Defender: Caroline Harvey, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin; Rookie: Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State
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, St. Cloud State; Defender: Ella Anick, St. Cloud State; Goaltender: Ève Gascon, Minnesota Duluth; Rookie: Caitlin Kraemer, Minnesota Duluth