Wisconsin's trio of Casey O'Brien, Vivian Jungels, and Ava McNaughton were joined by Minnesota Duluth's Caitlin Kraemer in earning the Western Collegiate Hockey Association weekly awards presented by OS Hockey.
After helping the top-ranked Badgers to a series sweep of No. 3 Minnesota, O'Brien was named the WCHA Forward of the Week, while teammates Jungels and McNaughton were named the Defender of the Week and Goaltender of the Week, respectively. Kraemer helped the Bulldogs to a series sweep over Bemidji State to earn her fourth Rookie of the Week nod.
WCHA Forward of the Week
Casey O'Brien, Sr., Wisconsin (Milton, Mass.)
After leading No. 1 Wisconsin to a border battle series sweep over No. 3 Minnesota with a seven-point performance, Casey O'Brien was named the WCHA Forward of the Week. In the Badgers' 8-2 win on Saturday, O'Brien recorded two goals and an assist for a three-point performance. On Saturday, the senior forward recorded a short-handed goal and three assists while helping the Badgers to a 6-1 victory. O'Brien became the second Badger in program history to post 250 career points in Sunday's contest.
Other Nominee: Joy Dunne, Ohio State.
WCHA Defender of the Week
Vivian Jungels, Jr., Wisconsin (Edina, Minn.)
For the first time this season, Vivian Jungels was named the WCHA Defender of the Week for her performance in No. 1 Wisconsin's series sweep over No. 3 Minnesota. Jungels scored a goal in each game while also tallying one assist in the series. The junior defender recorded 11 blocked shots on the weekend, which was the most by any WCHA skater. In Wisconsin's 6-1 win on Sunday,
Jungels recorded nine blocked shots en route to helping the Badgers complete the season sweep over Minnesota.
Other Nominee: Sara Swiderski, Ohio State.
WCHA Goaltender of the Week
Ava McNaughton, So. Wisconsin (Seven Fields, Pa.)
For the second-straight week, Wisconsin's Ava McNaughton claimed the WCHA Goaltender of the Week honor. The sophomore netminder stopped 42 of the 45 shots she faced over the weekend to help guide the Badgers to a series sweep of Minnesota. McNaughton recorded a save percentage of .933 in the series, which ranked second among all WCHA goalies with multiple starts over the weekend.
Other Nominees: Tindra Holm, Minnesota Duluth; Jessie McPherson, Minnesota State; Hailey MacLeod, Ohio State; Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State; Dani Strom, St. Thomas.
WCHA Rookie of the Week
Caitlin Kraemer, F, Minnesota Duluth (Waterloo, Ontario)
Minnesota Duluth's Caitlin Kraemer earned her fourth WCHA Rookie of the Week honor. On Friday, in Minnesota Duluth's 2-0 victory over Bemidji State, Kraemer recorded a short-handed goal and a power-play goal to lead the Bulldogs in the win. On Saturday, Kraemer followed up with another goal to help Minnesota Duluth to the series sweep over the Beavers. The rookie forward is now tied for the team lead in goals with 14 and has recorded 21 points on the season.
Other Nominees: Emilia Kyrkkö, St. Cloud State; Dani Strom, 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:
Feb. 10 | Forward: Casey O'Brien, Wisconsin; Defender: Vivian Jungels, Wisconsin; Goaltender: Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin; Rookie: Caitlin Kraemer, Minnesota Duluth
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