WAKEFIELD, MA – Mercyhurst hockey freshman Vanessa Upson has been named as one of the five finalists for the 2022 HCA Rookie of the Year award as announced by the Hockey Commissioners Association. Upson joins Cornell's Lily Delianedis, Boston College's Abby Newhook, Minnesota's Peyton Hemp, and Saint Anselm's Tyra Turner as players to be named as finalists.

The Stoney Creek, Ontario native led all freshmen in the country this season by registering 39 points on 19 goals and 20 assists. Her points ranked 36th in all of NCAA Division I women's hockey and her 5 game-winning goals was tied for fifth. Two of those five goals came in overtime including a goal that displayed a dangling masterclass that made it onto Sportscenter's "Top Ten" the following morning.