Four Western Collegiate Hockey Association players earned National Player of the Month honors, announced by the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) on Thursday, for their efforts in March. Ohio State's Emma Peschel (Co-Defender) was joined by Wisconsin's  Kelly Gorbatenko (Co-Forward), Ava McNaughton (tri-goaltender), and Adéla Šapovalivová (Rookie) in earning the honors for March. 

View the full HCA Release HERE.

HCA Forward of the Month - Kelly Gorbatenko
For the first time this season, Wisconsin's Kelly Gorbatenko was named the National Forward of the Month. The Badger forward registered 10 points through five games in March as she scored six goals and tallied four assists. During the month, Gorbatenko tallied at least a point in each of the Badgers' five games and had three multi-point outings. In Wisconsin's 6-0 win against Quinnipiac in the NCAA Regional Final, Gorbatenko recorded a hat trick to help advance Wisconsin to the NCAA Frozen Four. In the Badgers' 4-3 overtime win against Penn State in the semifinals of the NCAA Frozen Four, Gorbatenko tallied an assist before following up with a one-goal, one assist perfromance in Wisconsin's 3-2 win against Ohio State to earn the NCAA title. 

HCA Co-Defender of the Month - Emma Peschel, Ohio State
Ohio State's Emma Peschel earned her second consecutive HCA National Defender of the Month honor after a strong showing in March. The Buckeye blueliner recorded eight points during the month, with one goal and seven assists, while also recording two blocks. Peschel helped the Ohio State hold its opponents to just one goal a game during the month. In Ohio State's 4-0 shutout victory against Minnesota at the WCHA Final Faceoff, Peschel recorded three assists before tallying two in the title game of the event to help the Buckeyes win the trophy. Peschel was named to the WCHA Final Faceoff All-Tournament Team. At the NCAA Frozen Four, Peschel registered a goal in the semifinals and an assist in the title game. Peschel was named to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament team for her efforts. 

HCA Tri-Goaltender of the Month - Ava McNaughton, Wisconsin
Wisconsin's Ava McNaughton claimed her second HCA National Defender of the Month award of the season. McNaughton posted a 4-1-0 record during March and helped backstop the Badgers to their ninth national title in program history. McNaughton recorded one shutout in March as the Badgers defeated Quinnipiac 6-0 in the NCAA Regional Final, where she stopped all 17 shots faced. At the NCAA Frozen Four, McNaughton recorded back-to-back 20-save performances. The Badger netminder recorded 34 saves in the NCAA title game to help Wisconsin earn the 3-2 win against Ohio State. McNaughton became just the fourth Badger netminder named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament in program history. 

HCA Rookie of the Month  - Adéla Šapovalivová, Wisconsin
For the first time this season, first-year Badger forward Adéla Šapovalivová was named the HCA National Rookie of the Month for her performance in March. Šapovalivová recorded eight points off of three goals and five assists through five games in March. At the NCAA Frozen Four, the rookie tallied a goal and two assists in the Badgers' 4-3 overtime semifinal victory over Penn State.  Šapovalivová then followed with two assists in the NCAA title game where she helped the Badgers defeat Ohio State 3-2 for the trophy. 

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