2016-17 WCHA WEEKLY RELEASE Week One (September 19-25, 2016) / wcha.com

@wcha_whockey @wcha_whockey /WCHAWomensHockey Matt Hodson ● o: 952-818-8872 ● c: 612-801-2808 ● [email protected]

WESTERN COLLEGIATE Opening Face-Off HOCKEY ASSOCIATION • Tradition Starts Here: The Women's League of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), home to a record 16 • Founded 1999 • national championships (including 15 NCAA Frozen Four crowns), six Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winners, 86 All- Minnesota State Univ., Mankato at Edina Americans and countless Olympic, national team and professional players, drops the puck on its 18th season this weekend. 7700 France Avenue South, Suite 360C • Polling Place: Five (5) of the WCHA's eight teams earned recognition in the preseason USCHO poll, including three teams Edina, MN 55435 ranked in the top-10. Wisconsin is the nation's preseason No. 1, as the reigning WCHA regular season and playoff champions 952-818-8869 return six of their top seven scorers and record-setting goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens. • Two-time defending NCAA champion Minnesota is No. 2, while perennial top-10 fixture North Dakota opens at No. 6. MEMBER TEAMS • Bemidji State, coming off a program-record 22 win campaign, and Minnesota Duluth, which upset the Beavers in the Bemidji State University 2016 WCHA Quarterfinals, are both receiving votes. • Million Takes the Reigns: Katie Million, an experienced and visionary leader with a proven track record of accelerating University of Minnesota Duluth exposure, partnerships and revenue, was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Vice President and Minnesota State University Women’s League Commissioner on July 21, 2016. Million joins the WCHA after a highly-successful 17-year stint with the New University of North Dakota York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) in Lake Placid, including the last three years as the organization’s Ohio State University director of events. St. Cloud State University • Rare League Opener: St. Cloud State hosts Wisconsin this weekend in the season- and league-opening series. The last time University of Wisconsin there was a WCHA series on the opening weekend of the season was 2012-13, when the Badgers visited Minnesota State.

16 National Championships By The Numbers 86 All-Americans • 0.76, .960 and 21: NCAA single-season records for goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts set in 2015-16 by 100+ Olympians and remarkable Wisconsin goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens, who was named the USCHO National Player of the Year following her National Team Members brilliant junior campaign. • 4: Returning WCHA All-Americans, of the six the league had in 2015-16: First Team members Desbiens, and Second Team selections (Sr., F, Minnesota), Annie Pankowski (Jr., F, Wisconsin) and (Sr., D, Minnesota). A 2016-17 Important Dates fifth player, Bemidji State senior goaltender Brittni Mowat, was a First Team All-American in 2014-15. • 5: Straight seasons that WCHA teams have ranked 1-4 nationally in attendance. Last season, Minnesota drew 42,501 (2,125 Date Event per game) to , Wisconsin welcomed 42,398 (2,019) to LaBahn Arena (including a program-record 12 sellouts), Sept. 23-25 Regular Season begins Minnesota Duluth greeted 21,293 fans (1,331) at AMSOIL Arena and North Dakota hosted 16,143 (1,009) at the Ralph Oct. 7-9 First weekend of four (4) Engelstad Arena. WCHA league series • 8: Of the 10 WCHA players who ranked in the top-25 nationally for scoring in 2015-16 return in 2016-17: Cameranesi (fifth Dec. 19-Jan. 5 Holiday Break at 1.70 points per game), Pankowski (seventh at 1.45), Minnesota sophomore (and 2016 National Rookie of the Year) Sarah Jan. 6-8 Play resumes; U.S. Hockey Potomak (eighth at 1.42), Minnesota Duluth senior Ashleigh Brykaliuk (10th at 1.27), UMN junior (15th at 1.23), UMD senior Lara Stalder (16th at 1.21), Wisconsin junior Emily Clark (18th at 1.18) and North Dakota senior Amy Menke Hall of Fame Game (22nd at 1.14). Feb. 17-19 Final weekend of the • 11: 2016 National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) Draft picks on WCHA rosters in 2016-17 - more than half of the 20 overall regular season selections: Stecklein (BUF), Cameranesi (CON), Desbiens (BOS), Wisconsin's Sarah Nurse (BOS), UW's Jenny Ryan (NYR), UW's Feb. 24-26 2017 WCHA Quarterfinals Mellissa Channell (CON), Brykaliuk (BOS), UW's Sydney McKibbon (NYR), North Dakota's Halli Krzyzaniak (BOS), Menke and Host sites; top four seeds Stalder. March 4-5 2017 WCHA Final Face-Off • 395: Career wins for Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson, who enters the 2016-17 season (his 14th behind the bench) third Ridder Arena all-time among Division I women's coaches. Only two others have reached the 400-win plateau at the D-I level (Harvard's Minneapolis, MN Katey Stone with 446 and Mercyhurst's Michael Sisti with 429). March 10-12 2017 NCAA Quarterfinals he eek head Host sites; top four seeds T W A • No. 1 Wisconsin at St. Cloud State: The Badgers and Huskies open the 2016-17 campaign with a WCHA league series this March 17-19 2017 NCAA Frozen Four weekend. St. Cloud State's 13 victories in 2015-16 under Eric Rud (now entering his third year) were the Huskies' most since Family Arena the 2009-10 campaign. Wisconsin, the nation's preseason No. 1, opens its quest to repeat as WCHA regular season champs. St. Charles, MO • Whitecaps Exhibitions: Minnesota (Friday night) and Minnesota Duluth (Saturday) will host exhibitions with the , a professional team that features 20 former WCHA players. THIS WEEK IN THE WCHA Final 2015-16 WCHA Standings Friday, Sept. 23 Conference Overall No. 1 Wisconsin at St. Cloud State, 6:07 p.m. CT* Rk (Natl Rank) Team Pts GP W L T SW % GF GA GP W L T % GF GA Minnesota Whitecaps at No. 2 Minnesota^, 1 (3/3) Wisconsin 74 28 24 3 1 1 .875 100 22 40 35 4 1 .888 154 29 6:07 p.m. CT 2 (1/1) Minnesota 73 28 24 3 1 0 .875 139 39 40 35 4 1 .888 187 51 3 (10/9) Bemidji State 54 28 17 9 2 1 .643 56 51 36 22 11 3 .653 77 68 Saturday, Sept. 24 4 (9/10) North Dakota 47 28 13 10 5 3 .554 54 49 35 18 12 5 .586 79 62 No. 1 Wisconsin at St. Cloud State, 3:07 p.m. CT* Minnesota Whitecaps at Minnesota Duluth^, 5 St. Cloud State 34 28 9 15 4 3 .393 44 88 35 13 18 4 .429 63 115 4:07 p.m. CT 6 Minnesota Duluth 31 28 10 17 1 0 .375 67 84 37 15 21 1 .419 90 109 7 Ohio State 20 28 6 21 1 1 .232 58 110 36 10 25 1 .292 80 134 * - WCHA game 8 Minnesota State 3 28 0 25 3 0 .054 41 116 36 3 29 4 .139 55 137 ^ - exhibition game (shootout win = 1 additional point; rankings listed by USCHO.com first, followed byUSA Today/USA Hockey Magazine)

HOME TO A RECORD 16 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 •2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013 • 2015 • 2016 TRADITION STARTS HERE 2016-17 WCHA Coaches' Poll #WCHA

Wisconsin Tabbed as Preseason Favorite by Tradition Starts Here WCHA Coaches With 16 national championship in its 17 years of existence - including 15 of a possible Defending league regular season and back-to-back playoff champion Wisconsin 16 NCAA crowns - along with six Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Winners, 86 All- is the preseason pick of conference coaches to finish atop the women’s Western Americans, hundreds of Olympic and international team members, and countless women inspired, the WCHA has become the nation's premier college hockey Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) standings in 2016-17. The Badgers edged conference. out defending national champion Minnesota in the poll of the eight WCHA head coaches.

Wisconsin ended Minnesota’s three-year reign atop the WCHA standings last season with the fifth regular season crown in program history, and league National Championships, coaches believe Mark Johnson’s team will repeat in 2016-17. The Badgers, who advanced to the Frozen Four last year and won 35 games – the fourth-most in 2000-2016 school annals – collected six first-place votes and 48 points overall. The Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Women's Minnesota is coming off a campaign which saw the Golden Gophers win their League began play in the 1999-2000 season, before the fourth national championship in five seasons, the seventh in school history and sport was officially sanctioned by the NCAA. At the end of the 16th in 17 seasons for the WCHA. The Gophers placed second in the coaches’ that season, competing under the United States Olympic poll with 44 points and two first-place votes. Committee-financed American Women's College Hockey A pair of 2016 Final Face-Off participants, North Dakota (36 points) and Alliance (AWCHA), Minnesota won its first of a record seven Minnesota Duluth (30) finished third and fourth, respectively. national championships. Beginning with the inaugural National Collegiate Women's championship at the close of Bemidji State, which set a program record with 22 wins last year, was selected to finish in fifth place with 27 points. St. Cloud State (16 points), coming off its best the 2000-01 campaign, teams representing the WCHA have campaign since 2009-10, was tabbed for sixth. Ohio State and Minnesota State won 15 of a possible 16 NCAA titles. rounded out the poll.

Wisconsin senior goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens, who broke NCAA single- year Team, League (Championship) season records in 2015-16 for shutouts (21), save percentage (.960) and goals- against average (0.76), was the coaches’ preseason choice for WCHA Player of 2000 Minnesota, WCHA (AWCHA) the Year. Her Badgers teammate, junior forward Annie Pankowski, along with senior forwards Dani Cameranesi (Minnesota) and Minnesota Duluth (Ashleigh 2001 Minnesota Duluth, WCHA (NCAA) Brykaliuk), also received votes. 2002 Minnesota Duluth, WCHA (NCAA) Three players received two votes apiece and tied as the choice for preseason WCHA Rookie of the Year: Minnesota forward Lindsay Agnew, along with 2003 Minnesota Duluth, WCHA (NCAA) Wisconsin forwards Presley Norby and Abby Roque. Ohio State defenseman Jincy Dunne and North Dakota forward Ryleigh Houston each received a vote. 2004 Minnesota, WCHA (NCAA) 2005 Minnesota, WCHA (NCAA) 2016-17 WCHA Coaches' Poll Rank Team (1st Place Votes) Points 2006 Wisconsin, WCHA (NCAA) 1 Wisconsin (6) 48 2 Minnesota (2) 44 2007 Wisconsin, WCHA (NCAA) 3 North Dakota 36 4 Minnesota Duluth 30 2008 Minnesota Duluth, WCHA (NCAA) 5 Bemidji State 27 6 St. Cloud State 16 2009 Wisconsin, WCHA (NCAA) 7 Ohio State 13 8 Minnesota State 10 2010 Minnesota Duluth, WCHA (NCAA) (note: coaches could not vote for their own teams in the poll and points were awarded on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system) 2011 Wisconsin, WCHA (NCAA)

WCHA Preseason Player of the Year (votes) 2012 Minnesota, WCHA (NCAA) Ann Renée Desbiens, Sr., G, Wisconsin (5) Others receiving votes: Dani Cameranesi, Sr., F, Minnesota (1); Annie Pankowski, 2013 Minnesota, WCHA (NCAA) Jr., F, Wisconsin (1); Ashleigh Brykaliuk, Sr., F, Minnesota Duluth (1) 2014 Clarkson, ECAC (NCAA) WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year (votes) Lindsay Agnew, Fr., F, Minnesota (2); Presley Norby, Fr., F, Wisconsin (2), Abby 2015 Minnesota, WCHA (NCAA) Roque, Fr., F, Wisconsin (2) Others receiving votes: Ryleigh Houston, Fr., F, North Dakota (1); Jincy Dunne, Fr., 2016 Minnesota, WCHA (NCAA) D (1)

Week 1 (Sept. 19-25, 2016) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2015-16 WCHA Season in Review - News and Notes #WCHA

Opening Face-Off Celebrating Incredible Accomplishments • No. 17 In the Books: The Women's League of the Western Collegiate Hockey • Desbiens' Record-Setting Year: Wisconsin goaltender and WCHA Player of the Association (WCHA) proudly completed its 17th year of competition in 2015-16, Year Ann-Renée Desbiens fashioned a season for the ages – arguably the best another terrific season of on- and off-ice accomplishments by its student-athletes, campaign by a netminder in NCAA history. The junior set the all-time NCAA coaches and programs. Division I single-season records for save percentage (.960), goals-against average • The WCHA won its 16th national championship (15th NCAA Frozen Four (0.76) and shutouts (21). title, in addition to one AWCHA crown); comprised half of the Frozen • Her scoreless run of 543:33 between Oct. 3 and Nov. 14 also set a new Four field; tied for the NCAA lead with four teams in the final opinion NCAA D-I standard (men’s or women’s), and was nearly 100 minutes polls; boasted the best nonconference winning percentage in the country; longer than the previous record of 448:32 (posted by Badger legend Jessie featured both the USCHO National Player and Rookie of the Year, along Vetter during the 2006-07 season). with the Women's Hockey Commissioners Association Rookie of the Year; • Desbiens became just the second goaltender to earn WCHA Player of celebrated a Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award top-3 finalist and five top-10 the Year accolades, joining Bemidji State All-American Zuzana Tomcikova finalists; saw six players earn CCM All-America accolades; saw student- (2010). athletes earn nominations for NCAA Woman of the Year and the Hockey • After making 52 saves and posting consecutive shutouts during Humanitarian Award; and applauded numerous current and former Wisconsin's two wins at the Final Face-Off, she became the first player players that competed on the international stage, along with 26 that since 2007 (UW's ) and first goaltender ever to win both the starred professionally in either the CWHL or during the inaugural season WCHA Player of the Year and Final Face-Off Most Outstanding Player of the NWHL. awards in the same season. Desbiens' 35-save, 1-0 blanking of Minnesota • National Champions: Minnesota won the 2016 NCAA Women's Frozen Four, in the Final Face-Off championship game was part of her five-straight knocking off previously unbeaten Boston College to earn its second consecutive shutouts during the 2016 postseason. crown, fourth in five years and the seventh national championship in program • 10 Hours, 24 Minutes and 18 Seconds of Scoreless Hockey: Beginning at the history. 18:45 mark of the first period during an Oct. 3 victory over Providence and ending • In addition to Minnesota, the WCHA was also represented in the National with 16:57 left in regulation of a Nov. 14 triumph at Minnesota Duluth, Wisconsin Collegiate Women's Championship and Frozen Four by Wisconsin. held its opponents scoreless – a sensational streak that spanned more than a full • Polling Place: No. 1 Minnesota, No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 9/10 North Dakota and No. month, parts of 11 games, included an incredible nine-straight shutouts and an 10/9 Bemidji State gave the WCHA an NCAA-best four teams (tied with ECAC NCAA DI-record (men's or women's) 624 minutes, 18 seconds of shutout hockey. Hockey) in the final USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls. • After the 8-1 victory over Providence during which the streak started, • Five (5) of the WCHA's eight teams spent at least one week ranked in the the Badgers' nine-straight shutouts spanned both games of WCHA series opinion polls, as Minnesota Duluth - which played the nation's toughest against Ohio State, at St. Cloud State, vs. Bemidji State and at Minnesota schedule by RPI - also spent time among the top-10. State, and then the first contest of a set at Minnesota Duluth. Counting • Winning Hockey: Not surprisingly, four of the nation's top-12 winning percentages the portions of the games vs. Providence (after the Friars' ) and at in 2015-16 belonged to WCHA teams. Frozen Four semifinal opponents Minnesota UMD (before the Bulldogs' score), Wisconsin tallied 54 goals while keeping and Wisconsin tied for second-best with identical 35-4-1 records (.888). The best their opponents off the scoreboard. regular season in program history propelled Bemidji State to ninth at .653 (22-11- • The Badgers were not done after the streak, however. UW also recorded 3), while North Dakota was 12th at .586 (18-12-5). five-straight shutouts during the postseason, spanning the entirety of the • Badgers Win Regular Season and Final Face-Off Titles: Long among the nation's Badgers' WCHA playoff championship run and their NCAA quarterfinal elite programs, Wisconsin returned to the top of the WCHA's regular season and round victory over Mercyhurst. For the season, Wisconsin tallied a WCHA- postseason mountains in 2015-16. record 23 shutouts and finished the season with an NCAA-record of a • The Badgers earned their fifth WCHA regular season crown in program mere 0.72 goals-allowed per contest. history, and first since 2011-12, with a 24-win, 74-point campaign. • Brandt's Illustrious Career: One of the all-time great players in WCHA history, • Wisconsin then successfully defended its Final Face-Off championship, in Minnesota forward wrapped up her career with prominent places the process matching the league record with the sixth postseason title in throughout the league and NCAA record books. program annals. • She finished with 285 points, matching North Dakota great and U.S. • National Accolades: Record-setting Wisconsin goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens Olympian Jocelyne Lamoureux for most in WCHA history (since 1999- was chosen as the USCHO National Player of the Year after a remarkable junior 2000), while her 170 assists are the most in league annals and her 115 campaign. Minnesota forward Sarah Potomak was tabbed as the National Rookie goals are tied for fourth. of the Year by both the Women's Hockey Commissioners Association and USCHO. • In NCAA history (since 2000-01), Brandt finished tied for second for • Six WCHA players earned CCM All-America honors - First Team selections points, was second for assists and tied for seventh for goals. Desbiens (UW) and Minnesota senior forward Hannah Brandt, along with • Kessel's Inspirational Return: For nearly three years, it appeared that the Second Teamers Courtney Burke (UW senior defenseman), Lee Stecklein collegiate career of - a two-time All-American, 2013 Patty (UMN junior defenseman), Dani Cameranesi (UMN junior forward) and Kazmaier Award and U.S. Olympian - was over due to a concussion suffered in the Annie Pankowski (UW sophomore forward). run-up to the 2014 Winter Olympics. However, she fought back and, on Feb. 5, • UW's Desbiens was a top-3 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial 2016, returned to the ice to begin a truly remarkable and thrilling 13-game run to Award. Badgers' teammate Pankowski, along with UMN's Brandt and properly close out her career in the Maroon and Gold. Cameranesi, and North Dakota senior goaltender Shelby Amsley-Benzie, • A three-time NCAA champion, Kessel finished her career with 108 goals, gave the WCHA an NCAA-best five players among the top-10 finalists. 140 assists and 248 points in 126 games. She ranks sixth in WCHA history • The WCHA also had an NCAA-best nine players on All-USCHO teams: UW's (since 1999-2000) for points and assists, and tied for seventh for goals. Desbiens (First Team); UMN's Brandt, Cameranesi, Stecklein and Amanda • In NCAA history (since 2000-01), Kessel is eighth for points and assists, and Leveille (senior goaltender), and UW's Pankowski (Second Team); UW's tied for 11th for goals. Burke and Bemidji State senior defenseman Ivana Bilic (Third Team); and, UMN's Potomak (All-Rookie Team. The Next Level • College Hockey's Best Fans: For the fifth straight season, WCHA teams ranked 1-4 • International Stage: The nation's premier women's college hockey conference nationally by total and average attendance. continued to make its mark on international ice during the 2015-16 season. • Minnesota drew 42,501 (2,125 per game) to Ridder Arena, Wisconsin • Four Nations Cup: Thirty-two (32) current or former WCHA student- welcomed 42,398 (2,019) to LaBahn Arena (including a program-record athletes, representing seven member institutions and all four competing 12 sellouts), Minnesota Duluth greeted 21,293 fans (1,331) at AMSOIL countries, participated in the 2015 Four Nations Cup hosted by Sweden. Arena and North Dakota hosted 16,143 (1,009) at the Ralph Engelstad • WCHA players accounted for four of the five goals scored in the Arena. championship game, including all three by the United States as the • Six (6) of eight WCHA teams saw their average attendance rise from Americans rallied for a 3-2, overtime victory. Former Badger great 2014-15, while the league's overall average attendance rose 1.3%, to Hilary Knight secured gold for the United States with a dramatic goal 1,029 per game. just 36 seconds into OT.

Week 1 (Sept. 19-25, 2016) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2015-16 WCHA Season in Review - News and Notes #WCHA

The Next Level (Cont.) The Next Level (Cont.) • IIHF Worlds: Thirty-six (36) current or former WCHA student-athletes, • Award Winners: The following WCHA alumni earned recognition for their representing seven member institutions and competing for six different achievements in 2015-16: countries, participated in the 2016 IIHF World Championships. • USA Hockey named North Dakota great Monique Lamoureux-Morando • Led by the 11 who helped the United States win its third consecutive as the Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year, while honoring Wisconsin gold, 21 WCHA players medaled at the 2016 Worlds, held March 28 star Hilary Knight with the Bob Johnson Award in recognition of her through April 4 in Kamloops, British Columbia. Eight members of the excellence in international play. silver-medalist Canadian squad hailed from the WCHA, while a pair • Following the NWHL's inaugural season, Wisconsin's of Russian forwards earned bronze. was named Most Valuable Player and Knight was recognized as scoring • Knight was named to the All-Star Team, was tabbed the champion. Additionally, Minnesota's earned Defensive Player competition's best forward and – for the second consecutive year of the Year accolades. – was selected as the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Joining Knight on the All-Star Team was defenseman and former North In the Classroom and In the Community Dakota standout Monique Lamoureux-Morando. • CoSIDA Academic All-Americans: North Dakota senior Shelby Amsley-Benzie, • The final 2016 Women's Worlds statistical leaderboard featured Minnesota senior Hannah Brandt and Gophers' junior Lee Stecklein all earned several WCHA products. Knight led the tournament with seven goals CoSIDA Academic All-America honors for their combined performances athletically and tied for first with nine points; the Lamoureux twins (Monique and in the classroom. and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson), along with Minnesota Duluth • A three-time Academic All-American, Amsley-Benzie recorded a perfect junior-to-be Lara Stalder, all had a Worlds-best five assists; Knight 4.0 grade-point average. and Lamoureux-Davidson tied for top honors with a +8 rating; and, • Scholar-Athletes: Fifty-two (52) student-athletes, representing all eight WCHA former Wisconsin great Alex Rigsby led all goaltenders with a .986 Women's League member institutions, earned WCHA Scholar-Athlete Awards for save percentage, a 0.31 goals-against average and two shutouts maintaining a GPA of 3.50 or above. (including a 32-save, 1-0 blanking in the Americans' 1-0, overtime • This number represented a 10.6-percent increase, from 47 in 2014-15. win over Canada in the gold-medal game). • All-Academic Team: One hundred and twenty-one (121) student-athletes, • CWHL and NWHL Impact: WCHA alumni dotted rosters across the two women's representing all eight WCHA Women's League member institutions, earned a spot professional leagues, with the league (and four of its institutions) represented on the WCHA All-Academic Team for maintaining a GPA of 3.00 or above. on eight of the nine combined rosters for the Canadian Women's Hockey League • This number represented a 31.5-percent increase, from 92 in 2014-15. (CWHL) and the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL). • Hockey Humanitarian Award: Ohio State senior defenseman Cara Zubko was • Fifteen (15) former WCHA players competed on four of the five CWHL one of 18 nominees for the 2016 BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey clubs: Calgary (5 players), Toronto (4), Brampton (3) and Montréal (3). Humanitarian Award, presented annually to college hockey’s finest citizen – a • Eleven (11) league alumni played across the four founding franchises of student-athlete who makes significant contributions not only to his or her team the NWHL in its inaugural season: Boston (4), Connecticut (3), Buffalo (2) but also to the community-at-large through leadership in volunteerism. and New York (2). • NCAA Woman of the Year: North Dakota's Shelby Amsley-Benzie, a two-time • Both league champions were well-stocked with WCHA products. Sarah WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year and the 2016 WCHA Postgraduate Scholarship Davis (Minnesota), Haley Irwin (Minnesota Duluth), winner, is among the 517 nominees for the 2016 NCAA Woman of the Year award (Minnesota Duluth), (Wisconsin) and (but is just one of nine that played hockey, across all three NCAA Divisions). The (UW) all played for the Clarkson Cup champion Calgary Inferno. Brianna NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who Decker (UW), Zoe Hickel (UMD), Hilary Knight (UW) and Gigi Marvin have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves throughout their (UMN) all were key contributors to a Boston Pride club that won the first- collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership. ever . • Postgraduate Scholarship: North Dakota senior goaltender Shelby Amsley-Benzie • NWHL Draft and Signings: Both of the first two NWHL drafts, in which teams are was awarded the 2016 WCHA Postgraduate Scholarship. allowed to select rising seniors, have featured a bevy of WCHA selections. • By any and all measures, Amsley-Benzie represents the very best of college • Five (5) WCHA players were chosen in 2015, including a pair of first-round athletics. One of the nation’s top goaltenders, a 4.0 student while pursuing selections and four from Minnesota (matching Boston College for the a combined degree program, and tireless in her devotion to giving back in most of any program). the community, she is an ideal representative of the University of North • Minnesota goaltender (Buffalo) became the first Dakota, the WCHA and the NCAA. NWHL draft pick to sign a team, while defensemen Courtney Burke • A two-time, top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, a (Wisconsin) and Milica McMillen (UMN) inked deals with New York. 2015 All-American and WCHA Goaltending Champion, and a First Team • Additionally, Amanda Kessel signed a free agent contract with New All-WCHA performer (junior season), Amsley-Benzie posted a 67-33-10 York after returning to the ice with Minnesota in February. career record in 111 collegiate games, along with a .929 save percentage, • More than half – 11 of 20 – selections in the 2016 NWHL Draft are 2016- a 1.69 goals-against average and 22 shutouts. She is UND’s all-time leader 17 rising seniors representing four WCHA schools. in every major goaltending category, while in WCHA history she ranks sixth • Each of the draft’s five rounds featured at least one WCHA player for shutouts, eighth for games played, tied for eighth for wins, 12th for chosen, while the first and third rounds saw three of the four picks GAA, tied for 14th for save percentage and 16th for saves (2,474). coming from league schools. • While compiling a prestigious and ongoing athletic career, which has also • Wisconsin, the 2015-16 WCHA regular season and playoff included invitations to four prestigious USA Hockey camps or training champion, led all NCAA schools with five players selected. sessions, Amsley-Benzie has excelled academically. The native of Warroad, Defending national champion Minnesota, along with Minnesota Minn. has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in a combined Duluth and North Dakota, each had two picks apiece. degree program within UND’s College of Engineering and Mines, which • The full list: Lee Stecklein, D, UMN (, 1st Round – 2nd will allow her to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and pick overall); Dani Cameranesi, F, UMN (Connecticut Whale, 1st a Master of Science with a major in chemical engineering over the course Round – 3rd pick overall); Ann-Renée Desbiens, G, UW (Boston of five years. Pride, 1st Round – 4th pick overall); Sarah Nurse, F, University of • After pursuing a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering, Wisconsin (Boston Pride, 2nd Round – 8th pick overall); Jenny Amsley-Benzie hopes to apply knowledge of how drugs interact with the Ryan, D, UW (New York Riveters, 3rd Round – 9th pick overall); body and apply it to help those who are suffering from various afflictions Mellissa Channell, D, UW (Connecticut Whale, 3rd Round – 11th – from working to develop new cancer-fighting drugs to enhancing current pick overall); Ashleigh Brykaliuk, F, UMD (Boston Pride, 3rd Round medications to assist those plagued with disease to live longer and fuller – 12th pick overall); Sydney McKibbon, F, UW (New York Riveters, lives. 4th Round – 13th pick overall); Halli Krzyzaniak, D, UND (Boston Pride, 4th Round – 16th pick overall); Amy Menke, F, UND (New York Riveters, 5th Round – 17th pick overall); Lara Stalder, F, UMD (Boston Pride, 5th Round – 20th pick overall).

Week 1 (Sept. 19-25, 2016) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2015-16 WCHA Season in Review - News and Notes #WCHA

More from the 2015-16 Season Once Around the Rink • Nonconference Success: The WCHA boasted, far and away, the best • BSU: The 2015-16 season was historic for Bemidji State, as the Beavers set a nonconference winning percentage in the country at .800 (35-8-2) – including a program record with 22 wins, reached the 20-win mark during the regular season perfect 3-0 mark in the NCAA Tournament. for the first time in program history, hosted a playoff series for the first time ever, • All eight WCHA teams were at .500-or-above against nonconference and achieved the highest ranking in program annals at No. 4/5 on Nov. 9. opponents. Wisconsin (7-0-0), Minnesota (6-0-0) and St. Cloud State • UMN: The Gophers' five seniors, Hannah Brandt, Brook Garzone, Amanda (4-0-0) were all perfect; Bemidji State posted a .917 mark (5-0-1); North Kessel, Amanda Leveille and Milica McMillen, make up the most successful class Dakota finished at 3-1-0 (.750); Ohio State went 4-2-0 (.667); Minnesota in program history with three national championships and an overall record of State logged a 3-2-1 (.583) ledger; and, Minnesota Duluth was an even 148-9-6 (.926) from 2012-13 to 2015-16 (note: Kessel's first two seasons came in .500 (3-3-0). 2010-11 and 2011-12). • The WCHA was 17-4-0 (.810) against nonconference teams at home, 15-3- • UMD: The Bulldogs played 23 of their 37 games against teams ranked in the top 2 (.800) on the road and 3-1-0 (.750) at neutral site venues. nine nationally, good for the toughest schedule in the nation by RPI; against that • Playmakers: Ten (10) of the nation's top-25 leaders in points per game this past competition, junior F Ashleigh Brykaliuk (18g-29a=47pts) recorded the most season played in the WCHA. points by a UMD player since Haley Irwin had 54 back in 2011-12. • Minnesota's Hannah Brandt (fourth at 1.78 points per game) led the way, • MSU: Of the Mavericks' 143 points scored, 106 were recorded by underclassmen followed by teammate Dani Cameranesi (fifth at 1.70), Wisconsin's Annie (74.1 percent); freshmen and sophomores also accounted for 43 of Minnesota Pankowski (seventh at 1.45), UMN's Sarah Potomak (eighth at 1.42), State's 55 goals (78.2 percent). Junior G Brianna Quade led the WCHA and ranked Minnesota Duluth's Ashleigh Brykaliuk (10th at 1.27), UMN's Kelly Pannek third nationally with 1,031 saves. (15th at 1.23), UMD's Lara Stalder (16th at 1.21), UW's Emily Clark (18th • UND: The Fighting Hawks finished the season ranked in the top 10 nationally at 1.18), North Dakota's Amy Menke (22nd at 1.14) and UND's Meghan for the sixth-consecutive season, while advancing to their sixth-straight WCHA Dufault (25th at 1.09). Final Face-Off. Senior G Shelby Amsley-Benzie departs UND after setting every • The Puck Stops Here: On the other end of the ice, five of the nation's top-20 goaltending record in program history, including career shutouts (22), wins (67), leaders in save percentage and five of the top-25 for goals-against average were save percentage (.929) and goals-against average (1.69). WCHA goaltenders. • OSU: WCHA All-Rookie Team selection Lauren Boyle finished as the league's top- • Wisconsin All-American Ann-Renée Desbiens set NCAA records for both scoring freshman blue-liner with 17 points (3g-14a), while her assist total tied for save percentage (.960) and GAA (0.76). She was followed on the save fourth nationally among her peers. Forward Maddy Field (fourth with 18 points) percentage charts by Minnesota's Amanda Leveille (fifth at .942), Bemidji joined Boyle (tied for fifth) among the WCHA's highest-scoring rookies. State's Brittni Mowat (ninth at .938), North Dakota's Shelby Amsley- • SCSU: The Huskies posted their most league wins (nine) and overall victories (13) Benzie (14th at .930) and Minnesota Duluth's Kayla Black (20th at .919). since the 2009-10 campaign, while also earning their highest WCHA finish (fifth) • Leveille was fourth nationally with a 1.29 GAA, Amsley-Benzie finished in six years. Senior G Katie Fitzgerald ranked second in the league and fourth seventh at 1.60, Mowat was eighth at 1.68 and Black was 24th at 2.47. nationally with 976 saves. • Scoring Ticks Up: Despite some of the nation's best goaltending, and as a • UW: The Badgers, who won the program's fifth WCHA regular season testament to the offensive skill on display throughout the league, scoring was up championship and sixth league playoff title, jumped out to a school-best 18-0-0 8.2-percent in WCHA league games in 2015-16. start, advanced to its ninth NCAA Frozen Four in 11 years and posted the fourth- • There was an average of 4.99 combined goals scored per game in the 112 most wins in program history (35-4-1) - all while tallying 23 shutouts and finishing WCHA conference games in 2015-16 (559 total), up from 4.61 in 2014- the season with an NCAA-record 0.72 goals-allowed-per contest. 15 (516 total) and the league's highest since the 2012-13 season (5.15 average / 577 total). From the League Office • Welcome to the WCHA: The 2015-16 season marked the debut of three head • Million Named New VP/Commissioner: On July 21, 2016, the WCHA named coaches in the WCHA: Minnesota Duluth's Maura Crowell, Minnesota State's John longtime New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) Harrington and Ohio State's Jenny Potter. executive Katie Million as its next vice president and Women’s League • Crowell successfully navigated the nation's toughest schedule (by RPI) and commissioner. eventually guided the Bulldogs back to the WCHA Final Face-Off after a • Million joins the WCHA after a highly-successful 17-year stay in Lake quarterfinal-round upset victory over Bemidji State. Placid, N.Y., including the last three years as ORDA’s director of events. • Featuring one of the league's youngest rosters (including 10 freshmen and • Under her leadership, ORDA further established itself as the region’s 20 underclassmen), Harrington's Mavericks proved to be a team on the foremost hub for major national and international competitions in rise during a highly-competitive second half. the 21st century, hosting multiple world cups, world championships • A two-time WCHA Player of the Year and twice an All-American during her and made-for-television events in a variety of sports. collegiate career at Minnesota Duluth, four-time Olympic medalist Potter • Million oversaw multiple collegiate hockey games and tournaments, returned to the league for her first D-I coaching assignment. Under her including six ECAC Men’s Hockey Championships, five NCAA Division tutelage, freshman defenseman Lauren Boyle earned WCHA All-Rookie III Men’s Championships and the 2007 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four. team honors, while the Buckeyes ranked fourth in the league for scoring • Lake Placid also served as a consistent home for USA Hockey, with offense during WCHA play. Million guiding efforts around numerous Men’s and Women’s • Coaching Milestones: Two of the WCHA's legendary head coaches added National Festivals and Camps, along with the 2004, 2008 and 2013 milestone victories to their résumés during the 2015-16 campaign. Four Nations Cup tournaments. • With Wisconsin's 3-1 victory Jan. 24 over North Dakota, Badgers' head • Most recently, Million undertook a contract role as general manager of coach Mark Johnson moved into sole possession of third place on the the 1980 Miracle Hockey Team, assuming responsibility for managing all-time NCAA Division I women's hockey wins list - and most in WCHA the professional reputation and branding of the sport’s most iconic and history - with 384. Johnson concluded his 13th season at the helm of the cherished team. Wisconsin program with a 395-75-35 (.816) career mark. • She rose to that level after coordinating all aspects of the last two • Minnesota's 7-0 triumph Jan. 22 at St. Cloud State was the 279th for “Miracle on Ice Fantasy Camps” and the widely-lauded “Miracle on Gophers' head coach , making him the winningest bench boss in Ice 35th Anniversary Celebration” events in 2015. program history. After completing his ninth season in Minneapolis with his • Million, who agreed to a three-year contract, becomes the third full-time fourth NCAA national championship, Frost enters the 2016-17 campaign commissioner in the 17-year history of the WCHA Women’s League, with a 293-45-22 (.844) career record. following Sara Martin (1999-2014) and Aaron Kemp (2014-16). WCHA President and Men's League commissioner Bill Robertson served in an interim capacity following Kemp’s retirement in February 2016.

Week 1 (Sept. 19-25, 2016) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2015-16 WCHA Season in Review - 2016 WCHA Playoffs #WCHA

Quarterfinal Round; February 26-28 2016 WCHA Final Face-Off Best-of-Three, at Host Sites March 5-6 Ridder Arena; Minneapolis, Minn.

#7 Ohio State

UMN wins series, 2-0 #2 Minnesota

#2 Minnesota #2 Minnesota Minnesota wins, 2-0

#5 St. Cloud State

UND wins series, 2-0 #4 North Dakota

#4 North Dakota 2016 WCHA Playoff Champion - Wisconsin Wisconsin wins, 1-0

#6 Minnesota Duluth

UMD wins series, 2-0 #6 Minnesota Duluth #3 Bemidji State

#1 Wisconsin Wisconsin wins, 5-0

#8 Minnesota State

UW wins series, 2-0 #1 Wisconsin

#1 Wisconsin

Week 1 (Sept. 19-25, 2016) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2015-16 WCHA Season in Review - 2016 NCAA Tournament #WCHA

First Round; March 12 2016 Women's Frozen Four at Host Sites March 18 and 20 Whittemore Center Arena; Durham, N.H.

#1 Boston College

Boston College wins, 5-1 #1 Boston College

Northeastern #1 Boston College Boston College wins, 3-2 (OT)

#4 Quinnipiac

Clarkson wins, 1-0 Clarkson

Clarkson 2016 National Champion - Minnesota Minnesota wins, 3-1

#2 Wisconsin

Wisconsin wins, 6-0 #2 Wisconsin Mercyhurst

#3 Minnesota Minnesota wins, 3-2 (OT)

#3 Minnesota

Minnesota wins, 6-2 #3 Minnesota

Princeton

Week 1 (Sept. 19-25, 2016) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2015-16 WCHA Season in Review - Awards #WCHA

2015-16 WCHA Players of the Week

Week of Offensive Defensive Rookie Sept. 21-27 Ashleigh Brykaliuk, Jr., F, Minnesota Duluth Alexis Joyce, So., D, Bemidji State Corbin Boyd, Fr., F, Minnesota State Sept. 28-Oct. 4 Annie Pankowski, So., F, Wisconsin Sam LaShomb, Sr., D, North Dakota Maddy Field, Fr., F, Ohio State Lexi Slattery, Sr., D, St. Cloud State Oct. 5-11 Emily Clark, So., F, Wisconsin Brittni Mowat, Jr., G, Bemidji State Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota Oct. 12-18 Hannah Brandt, Sr., F, Minnesota Brittni Mowat, Jr., G, Bemidji State Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota Oct. 19-25 Molly Illikainen, Sr., F, St. Cloud State Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin Lauren Boyle, Fr., D, Ohio State Amy Menke, Jr., F, North Dakota Oct. 26-Nov. 1 Meghan Dufault, Sr., F, North Dakota Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin Sam Cogan, Fr., F, Wisconsin Nov. 9-15 Hannah Brandt, Sr., F, Minnesota Jenny Ryan, Jr., D, Wisconsin Julia Tylke, Fr., F, St. Cloud State Nov. 16-22 Molly Illikainen, Sr., F, St. Cloud State Katie Fitzgerald, Sr., G, St. Cloud State Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota Nov. 23-29 Dani Cameranesi, Jr., F, Minnesota Katie Fitzgerald, Sr., G, St. Cloud State Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota Nov. 30-Dec. 6 Annie Pankowski, So., F, Wisconsin Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin Sam Cogan, Fr., F, Wisconsin Dec. 7-13 Lara Stalder, Jr., F, Minnesota Duluth Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Sr., G, North Dakota Vilma Tanskanen, Fr., F, North Dakota Jan. 4-10 Sarah Nurse, Jr., F, Wisconsin Lexi Slattery, Sr., D, St. Cloud State Taylor Williamson, Fr., F, Minnesota Jan. 11-17 Emily Clark, So., F, Wisconsin Brianna Quade, Jr., G, Minnesota State Julia Tylke, Fr., F, St. Cloud State Jan. 18-24 Julia McKinnon, Sr., F, Ohio State Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota Jan. 25-31 Meghan Dufault, Sr., F, North Dakota Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin Morgan Morse, Fr., F, Minnesota Duluth Feb. 1-7 Michela Cava, Sr., F, Minnesota Duluth Amanda Leveille, Sr., G, Minnesota Sam Cogan, Fr., F, Wisconsin Feb. 8-14 Dani Cameranesi, Jr., F, Minnesota Courtney Burke, Sr., D, Wisconsin Sophia Shaver, Fr., F, Wisconsin Feb. 15-21 Kelly Pannek, So., F, Minnesota Amanda Leveille, Sr., G, Minnesota Julia Tylke, Fr., F, St. Cloud State Feb. 22-28 Lara Stalder, Jr., F, Minnesota Duluth Kayla Black, Sr., G, Minnesota Duluth Anna Kilponen, Fr., D, North Dakota Feb. 29-March 6 Sydney McKibbon, Jr.,F, Wisconsin Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin Sophia Shaver, Fr., F, Wisconsin

2015-16 WCHA Players of the Month

Month Offensive Defensive Rookie October 2015 Kelly Pannek, So., F, Minnesota Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota November 2015 Dani Cameranesi, Jr., F, Minnesota Katie Fitzgerald, Sr., G, St. Cloud State Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota December 2015 Lara Stalder, Jr., F, Minnesota Duluth Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Sr., G, North Dakota Sam Cogan, Fr., F, Wisconsin January 2016 Dani Cameranesi, Jr., F, Minnesota Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin Emily Antony, Fr., F, Minnesota State February 2016 Dani Cameranesi, Jr., F, Minnesota Amanda Leveille, Sr., G, Minnesota Sam Cogan, Fr., F, Wisconsin

2015 – 2016 National Accolades (WCHA Honorees) HONOREES Honor Player (Yr., Pos., Team) USCHO National Player of the Year Ann-Renée Desbiens (Jr., G, Wisconsin) AWCHA National Rookie of the Year Sarah Potomak (Fr., F, Minnesota) USCHO National Rookie of the Year Sarah Potomak (Fr., F, Minnesota) CCM Hockey Division I All-America First Team Ann-Renée Desbiens (Jr., G, Wisconsin) Hannah Brandt (Sr., F, Minnesota) CCM Hockey Division I All-America Second Team Courtney Burke (Sr., D, Wisconsin) Lee Stecklein (Jr., D, Minnesota) Dani Cameranesi (Jr., F, Minnesota) Annie Pankowski (So., F, Wisconsin) All-USCHO First Team Ann-Renée Desbiens (Jr., G, Wisconsin) All-USCHO Second Team Amanda Leveille (Sr., G, Minnesota) Lee Stecklein (Jr., D, Minnesota) Hannah Brandt (Sr., F, Minnesota) Dani Cameranesi (Jr., F, Minnesota) Annie Pankowski (So., F, Wisconsin) All-USCHO Third Team Courtney Burke (Sr., D, Wisconsin) Ivana Bilic (Sr., D, Bemidji State) All-USCHO Rookie Team Sarah Potomak (Fr., F, Minnesota) Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player Sarah Potomak (Fr., F, Minnesota) Frozen Four All-Tournament Team Amanda Leveille (Sr., G, Minnesota) Lee Stecklein (Jr., D, Minnesota) Amanda Kessel (Sr., F, Minnesota) Sarah Potomak (Fr., F, Minnesota) CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Sr., G, North Dakota) CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team Hannah Brandt (Sr., F, Minnesota) Lee Stecklein (Jr., D, Minnesota)

NOMINEES / CANDIDATES / FINALISTS Honor Player (Yr., Pos., Team) Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-3 Finalist Ann-Renée Desbiens (Jr., G, Wisconsin) Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-10 Finalist Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Sr., G, North Dakota) Hannah Brandt (Sr., F, Minnesota) Dani Cameranesi (Jr., F, Minnesota) Ann-Renée Desbiens (Jr., G, Wisconsin) Annie Pankowski (So., F, Wisconsin) NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Sr., G, North Dakota) Hockey Humanitarian Award Nominee (Top 18) Cara Zubko (Sr., D, Ohio State)

Week 1 (Sept. 19-25, 2016) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere 2015-16 WCHA Season in Review - Awards #WCHA Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin Ivana Bilic, Sr., D, Bemidji State Desbiens fashioned a season for the Bilic was the backbone and veteran ages – arguably the best campaign leader for a Bemidji State team that by a netminder in NCAA history. The reached the 20-win plateau during the junior from La Malbaie, Québec set regular season for the first time ever, the all-time NCAA Division I single- set a program record with 22 wins and season records for save percentage recorded its highest WCHA finish ever (.960), goals-against average (0.76) and with a third-place showing. The senior shutouts (21). She was also the WCHA’s from Coquitlam, British Columbia led triple-crown winner among goaltenders, leading the league with a 0.81 the WCHA with 89 blocked shots during league play and ranked second GAA, .958 save percentage and .870 winning percentage (23-3-1) in her in the nation with 98 overall. Offensively, she led league blue-liners 27 conference outings. A Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award top-3 finalist, with seven power-play assists in her 27 conference games, while tying Desbiens backstopped Wisconsin to the Frozen Four and finished with a for fourth with 16 helpers and ranking fifth with 19 points (three goals) 33-4-1 (.882) overall winning percentage. in WCHA outings. Bilic tied for fifth among league defensemen with 19 assists overall and tied for sixth with 22 points. Rookie of the Year Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year Potomak finished a sensational first season by leading all NCAA freshmen Shelby Amsley-Benzie; Sr., G, North Dakota Amsley-Benzie was recognized for with 39 assists, 54 points, 1.03 assists the second consecutive season as the per game, 1.42 points per game, nine Outstanding Student-Athlete of the power-play assists and a +55 rating. The Year, a testament to her dedication and Aldergrove, British Columbia native and commitment to her studies, her Fighting National Rookie of the Year (Women's Hawks teammates and the Grand Forks Hockey Commissioner's Association and USCHO) and led league community. The senior from Warroad, freshmen in nearly every category during her 28 WCHA games, with 10 Minn. graduated with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average in a combined points, 31 assists, 41 points, eight power-play assists, nine power-play degree program within UND’s College of Engineering and Mines, which points, 89 shots on goal and a +36 rating. will allow her to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering All-WCHA First Team and a Master of Science with a major in chemical engineering over the Hannah Brandt, Sr., F, Minnesota course of five years. A four-time recipient of the WCHA Scholar-Athlete Annie Pankowski, So. F, Wisconsin Award (one of only 12 individuals to achieve that feat in the award’s Dani Cameranesi, Jr., F, Minnesota 11-year history), Amsley-Benzie has also spent nine semesters on the Lee Stecklein, Jr., D, Minnesota UND Dean’s List and President’s Honor Roll, and has been part of the Courtney Burke, Sr., D, Wisconsin Athletic Department Honor Roll for Student-Athletes during each of Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin her five years. A top-10 finalist for the second season in a row, she ranked sixth nationally with eight shutouts, finished All-WCHA Second Team seventh with a 1.60 goals-against average and 14th with a .930 save Emily Clark, So., F, Wisconsin Ashleigh Brykaliuk, Jr., F, Minnesota Duluth Coach of the Year Amy Menke, Jr., F, North Dakota Mark Johnson, Wisconsin Jenny Ryan, Jr., D, Wisconsin Johnson returned Wisconsin to the Milica McMillen, Sr., D, Minnesota top of the WCHA's regular season and Brittni Mowat, Jr., G, Bemidji State postseason mountains, leading the Badgers to their fifth regular season title All-WCHA Third Team (and first since 2011-12), followed by Sarah Nurse, Jr., F, Wisconsin UW's second-consecutive Final Face-Off Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota crown (and league record-tying sixth in school history). The Badgers’ 24 Molly Illikainen, Sr., F, St. Cloud State conference wins tied for the most in school history, while the program’s Ivana Bilic, Sr., D, Bemidji State sixth 30-win season included an 18-0-0 start. Johnson, who guided UW Halli Krzyzaniak, Jr., D, North Dakota into the Frozen Four, was also named WCHA Coach of the Year in 2003 Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Sr., G, North Dakota (Co-Coach), 2006, 2007, 2009 (Co-Coach), 2011 and 2012.

All-WCHA Rookie Team Scoring Champion Sarah Potomak, F, Minnesota Dani Cameranesi, Jr., F, Minnesota Sam Cogan, F, Wisconsin (24 goals, 29 assists for 53 points in 28 WCHA games) Julia Tylke, F, St. Cloud State Lauren Boyle, D, Ohio State Goaltending Champion Anna Kilponen, D, North Dakota and Melissa Hunt, D, Bemidji State Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin Maddie Rooney, G, Minnesota Duluth (22 goals allowed in 1625:03 for a 0.81 GAA in 27 WCHA games)

Week 1 (Sept. 19-25, 2016) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere National Polls, Nonconference Comparison and Head-to-Head #WCHA

USCHO.com USA TODAY/USA Hockey Magazine Sept. 19, 2016 (PRESEASON) March 21, 2016 (FINAL) Rk Team (1st Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll Rank Team, Points (1st place) Last Wk Record Top 10 1 Wisconsin (10) 37-4-1 143 3 1. Minnesota, 190 (19) 3 35-4-1 24 2 Minnesota (3) 35-4-1 135 1 2. Boston College, 171 1 40-1-0 24 3 Boston College (2) 41-1-0 121 2 3. Wisconsin, 152 2 35-4-1 24 4 Quinnipiac 31-3-5 93 5 4. Clarkson, 133 4 30-5-5 24 5 Clarkson 30-5-5 82 4 5. Quinnipiac, 114 5 30-3-5 24 6 North Dakota 18-12-5 60 9 6. Northeastern, 94 6 28-9-1 23 7 Princeton 22-9-2 44 7 7. Princeton, 72 7 22-9-2 16 8 Colgate 22-9-7 43 8 8. Colgate, 47 8 22-9-7 10 9 Northeastern 28-9-1 40 6 9. Bemidji State, 37 9 22-11-3 24 10 Boston University 23-14-2 24 NR 10. North Dakota, 31 10 18-12-5 24 Also receiving votes: Bemidji State 15, Minnesota Duluth 9, Cornell 5, Also receiving votes: Mercyhurst, 4. Harvard 5, Mercyhurst 5, Syracuse 1.

WCHA Against the Rest By Team vs CHA vs ECAC vs HEA vs Ind Total Bemidji State 3-0-1 0-0-0 2-0-0 0-0-0 5-0-1 Minnesota 2-0-0 3-0-0 1-0-0 0-0-0 6-0-0 Minnesota Duluth 2-0-0 1-1-0 0-2-0 0-0-0 3-3-0 Minnesota State 2-2-0 1-0-1 0-0-0 0-0-0 3-2-1 North Dakota 1-1-0 2-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 3-1-0 Ohio State 3-1-0 0-0-0 1-1-0 0-0-0 4-2-0 St. Cloud State 2-0-0 0-0-0 2-0-0 0-0-0 4-0-0 Wisconsin 3-0-0 2-0-0 2-0-0 0-0-0 7-0-0 TOTALS: 18-4-1 9-1-1 8-3-0 0-0-0 35-8-2 (.804) (.864) (.727) (.---) (.800)

By Site vs CHA vs ECAC vs HEA vs Ind Total Home 8-2-1 7-1-1 0-0-0 0-0-0 15-3-2 Away 10-2-0 2-0-0 5-2-0 0-0-0 17-4-0 Neutral 0-0-0 0-0-0 3-1-0 0-0-0 3-1-0 TOTALS: 18-4-1 9-1-1 8-3-0 0-0-0 35-8-2 (.804) (.864) (.727) (.---) (.800)

WCHA Head-to-Head (Regular Season) BSU UMN UMD MSU UND OSU SCSU UW W-L-T-SW Pts BSU --- 0-4-0 4-0-0 4-0-0 2-1-1 4-0-0 3-0-1 0-4-0 17-9-2-1 54 UMN 4-0-0 --- 4-0-0 4-0-0 2-1-1 4-0-0 4-0-0 2-2-0 24-3-1-0 73 UMD 0-4-0 0-4-0 ---- 4-0-0 1-3-0 3-1-0 2-1-1 0-4-0 10-17-1-0 31 MSU 0-4-0 0-4-0 0-4-0 --- 0-3-1 0-3-1 0-3-1 0-4-0 0-25-3-0 3 UND 1-2-1 1-2-1 3-1-0 3-0-1 --- 2-2-0 2-1-1 1-2-1 13-10-5-3 47 OSU 0-4-0 0-4-0 1-3-0 3-0-1 2-2-0 --- 0-4-0 0-4-0 6-21-1-1 20 SCSU 0-3-1 0-4-0 1-2-1 3-0-1 1-2-1 4-0-0 --- 0-4-0 9-15-4-3 34 UW 4-0-0 2-2-0 4-0-0 4-0-0 2-1-1 4-0-0 4-0-0 --- 24-3-1-1 74

Week 1 (Sept. 19-25, 2016) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere WCHA Team Notebooks #WCHA

Head Coach: Eric Rud (3rd season) Head Coach: Mark Johnson (14th season) Record at SCSU: 21-46-5 Record at UW: 395-75-35 2015-16 Overall Record: 13-18-4 (9-15-4-3) 2015-16 Overall Record: 35-4-1 (24-3-1-1) 2016-17 Overall Record: 0-0-0 (0-0-0-0) 2016-17 Overall Record: 0-0-0 (0-0-0-0)

Huskies Badgers St. Cloud State University University of Wisconsin

• After finishing fifth in the WCHA with a 9-15-4 record and 34 points last • The top-ranked Badgers open their 2016-17 season on the road, as season, the conference coaches picked St. Cloud State to finish sixth in the Wisconsin takes on St. Cloud State this weekend at the Herb Brooks National league this season. Hockey Center. • In his second season behind the bench, head coach Erid Rud led SCSU to • Friday’s season opener at 6:07 p.m. is tied for the earliest game in program 13 wins in 2015-16, which was the program’s highest total since winning 15 history, as the Badgers opened up the 2011-12 season on Sept. 23 with an games in 2009-10. 11-0 win over Lindenwood at the Kohl Center. In addition, UW opened the • Seven St. Cloud State players achieved career-high point totals in 2015-16, 2013-14 season also on Sept. 23 with an exhibition victory over Team Japan including six who set new career marks for goals scored. at LaBahn Arena. • Sophomore forward, and 2015-16 All-WCHA Rookie Team honoree, Julia • The Badgers are undefeated in their last six season openers and have a Tylke is St. Cloud State’s top returning scorer, having registered nine goals four-game winning streak in such contests. The Badgers are 13-3-1 in their and 24 points a season ago—the most for an SCSU rookie since the 2006-07 previous 17 season opening games, as UW began the 2015-16 season with a season, when Holly Roberts and Caitlin Hogan scored 35 (18+17) and 29 5-1 win over Providence in San Jose, California. The Cardinal and White are (12+17) points, respectively. undefeated in its last six season openers. Wisconsin is also 13-3-1 in its road- • Junior defenseman Brittney Andersonled all Huskies, and set a new career opening games and is undefeated in its past six road-openers. high, with 16 assists last season. Her 20 total points were the most for an • Wisconsin begins the 2016-17 season ranked No. 1 in the USCHO.com Poll, SCSU rear guard since Danielle Hirsch also scored 20 (2+18) in the 2008-09 marking the first time since the 2011-12 season the Badgers start the season season. ranked in the top spot. • The Huskies return six of their seven defensemen from last season’s group • Wisconsin, the reigning WCHA regular season and tournament champions, that ranked sixth in the WCHA in scoring defense (3.29 G/GM). SCSU ranked return a majority of its team from a year ago, including USCHO.com Player sixth in league play as well, allowing 3.14 goals against per contest. of the Year Ann-Renée Desbiens and second-team All-American Annie • St. Cloud State lost nearly 40 percent of its goal scoring to graduation, Pankowski. including Molly Illikainen, who led the team with 17 goals a season ago. • Desbiens rewrote the NCAA record books last year, as she recorded a goals- • Three goaltenders are vying to replace Katie Fitzgerald in the Huskies’ against average of 0.76, a save percentage of .960 and 21 shutouts. She was crease: Senior Madeleine Dahl, sophomore Taylor Crosby and freshman named the 2015-16 WCHA Player of the Year, becoming only the second Janine Alder. Fitzgerald started 34 of 35 games for SCSU last season. Of the goaltender in league history to earn the award and was recently named the goalies on this year’s roster, Dahl has the most career starts (12), the last of 2016-17 WCHA Preseason Player of the Year. which came in 2013-14 with Union College. • Pankowski paced the UW offense last year, tallying 22 goals and a team- • SCSU welcomes seven newcomers this season. Headlining the list are Alder best 36 assists for a team-leading 58 points. A top-10 finalist for the Patty and freshman forward Kayla Friesen. Alder, a native of Switzerland, won a Kazmaier Memorial Award, Pankowski captained the U.S. under-22 team this bronze medal with the Swiss national team at the 2014 Winter Olympics summer during its annual series against Canada. in Sochi, Russia. Friesen played for Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF U-18 • Senior Jenny Ryan will anchor the blueline for UW this season. Ryan tallied Women’s World Championships and scored one goal and two points in five 32 points in 40 games last season with eight goals and 24 assists, and led the games to held the Canadians to a silver medal finish. Both are expected to Badgers in blocked shots with 54. Ryan also earned a team-high +49 plus/ contribute right away for the Huskies in their rookie seasons. minus rating. • Sarah Nurse tallied a team-high 25 goals last year, including three short- handed efforts. All three of her short-handed goals came against St. Cloud State. • Emily Clark was second on the team last year in goals (24) and points (45). Eight of her 24 goals were game-winners, which paced the WCHA. • Clark, Desbiens and Nurse all participated last week at Hockey Canada’s Fall Festival along with UW alums Blayre Turnbull and Meaghan Mikkelson. • UW head coach Mark Johnson begins the season with 395 career wins, and needs only five wins to become the third coach in NCAA Division I women’s hockey history to collect 400 career triumphs and the first in WCHA history. • Since the 2005-06 season, the Badgers have made it to the NCAA Frozen Four nine times, the most appearances of any team during the 11-year span. Wisconsin has won four NCAA titles (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011) while reaching the championship game six times. All-time, Wisconsin’s nine Frozen Four appearances are the second-most in NCAA history. In addition, Wisconsin has won six WCHA Final Face-Off titles and five WCHA regular season crowns since the 2005-06 season.

Week 1 (Sept. 19-25, 2016) @wcha___whockey @wcha___whockey /WCHAWomensHockey wcha.com #TraditionStartsHere