The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is proud to announce this year's finalists for the Forward, Goaltender, Defender, and Rookie of the Year honors. This year's winners will be announced on the eve of the 2025 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff on Thursday, March 6.
WCHA fans can purchase both single-session and all-session tickets and see complete information on the 2025 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff by visiting the tournament page HERE.
2024-25 WCHA Forward of the Year Finalists
A trio of Wisconsin Badgers are up for the 2024-25 WCHA Forward of the Year honor in Laila Edwards, Casey O'Brien , and Kirsten Simms, as each earned All-WCHA First Team honors. O'Brien was named the 2024-25 WCHA Scoring Champion after leading all players with 52 points (17g, 35a) in conference play. During the season, O'Brien was named the WCHA Forward of the Week on three occasions and earned two WCHA Forward of the Month honors. Edwards was second in the WCHA in points recorded in league games with 48 (23g, 25a). The junior forward earned two WCHA Forward of the Week and one monthly honor in the season. Simms, who was last season's WCHA Forward of the Year, recorded 45 points (12g, 33a) during conference games as she ranked third among all WCHA skaters. Simms claimed two WCHA Forward of the Week honors this season.
2024-25 WCHA Defender of the Year Finalists
The three finalists for the 2024-25 WCHA Defender of the Year honor are Minnesota's Sydney Morrow, Ohio State's Emma Peschel, and Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey. Wisconsin's Harvey, who won the honor a season ago, recorded 36 points (10g, 26a) during league games to lead all WCHA defenders and rank fourth overall in the WCHA with her point total. Peschel led the Ohio State defense and was third among all league defenders with her 22 points (4g, 18a) in league play. Both Harvey and Peschel earned All-WCHA First Team honors. Minnesota's Morrow, who was named to the All-WCHA Second team, was second among all league defenders points recorded during league competition with 23 (6g, 17a).
2024-25 WCHA Goaltender of the Year Finalists
This year's three finalists for the 2024-25 WCHA Goaltender of the Year honor are Minnesota Duluth's Ève Gascon, St. Cloud State's Sanni Ahola, and Wisconsin's Ava McNaughton. Gascon, who was this year's All-WCHA First Team goaltender, was named a semifinalist for the Women’s Hockey Goalie of the Year Award. Gascon posted a 1.90 goals against average through 21 league games played, which ranked second among WCHA netminders. McNaughton, who was also named a semifinalist for the Women’s Hockey Goalie of the Year Award, earned All-WCHA Second Team recognition and was this year's WCHA Goaltending Champion for her league-best 1.28 goals against average during conference competition. Ahola was an All-WCHA Third Team selection as she recorded a 2.58 goals against average in her 13 league games played for the Huskies. The St. Cloud State netminder was last season's WCHA Goaltender of the Year Award recipient.
2024-25 WCHA Rookie of the Year Finalists
Primerano
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Kraemer
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Petrie
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Kyrkkö
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Four 2024-25 WCHA All-Rookie team members are up for the WCHA Rookie of the Year award: Minnesota's Chloe Primerano, Minnesota Duluth's Caitlin Kraemer, Ohio State's Jordyn Petrie, and St. Cloud State's Emilia Kyrkkö. Minnesota's Primerano was fifth among all league defenders in total points this season with 18 (3g, 15a) and earned All-WCHA Third Team honors in her first season with the Gophers. Kraemer was tied for the fourth-highest point total for UMD in league games as she totaled 17 points (11g, 6a). The Bulldog forward earned the WCHA Rookie of the Week honor on four different occasions this season and was named the WCHA Rookie of the Month three times. Petrie tallied 16 points (10g, 6a) in league play for Ohio State and was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week once during the season. Emilia Kyrkkö recorded a 2.10 goals against average in WCHA games this season, which ranked third among all goaltenders in the league. The St. Cloud State netminder earned two WCHA Goaltender of the Week honors and a Rookie of the Week nod.
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