Boston, Mass. - College Hockey America announced their Individual Award winners for the 2023-24 season early Thursday afternoon.
Ena Nystrøm won the Brianne McLaughlin Goaltender of the Year award. This is the second straight year that Nystrøm has earned this award. To this point in the season, she is 20-15-1 in net with a .926 save percentage, a 2.22 GAA, 1003 saves, and six shutouts. Within the CHA ranks, Nystrøm was first in the conference in games played and minutes, second in saves and save percentage., and third in GAA. Her six shutouts were tied for third in the country. During the regular season she skated in her 100th game, secured her 50th career win, and amassed 2,500 career saves.
Sydney Pedersen won the Molly Byrne Defenseman of the Year award. Pedersen is the CHA's active leader in defenseman scoring with 68 career points. This season, she registered 26 points on seven goals and 19 assists, while blocking a team high 58 shots. She led all CHA defensemen in scoring and ranked second in the country in shots on goal by a defenseman with 128.
The Molly Byrne award is named in honor of former Mercyhurst blueliner Molly Byrne, the only three-time CHA Best Defenseman Award winner. She holds the CHA career defenseman records for assists, points, and power-play goals along with six other CHA defenseman career and season records. This award honors the top defenseman in College Hockey America each season.
Vanessa Upson won the Individual Sportsmanship award. The Individual Sportsmanship award honors the CHA player who exhibits the highest level of sportsmanship and conduct on the ice each season. Upson went to the penalty box just four times all season, including just once during CHA games. Upson finished currently sits at 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points. She reached the 100-point mark of her career in Saturday's win over Robert Morris after a five-point performance. She's ranked fourth in the country in face-off wins.
Kylee Mahoney won the Best Defensive Forward award. The Best Defensive Forward award is awarded to the best two-way forward each season. Mahoney won 55.3 percent of her face-offs during the season, while recording 16 points on eight goals and eight assists. Mahoney becomes the fifth Lakers forward to win the award since the awards inception in 2010-11.
Penn State's Tessa Janecke won the Megan Agosta Player of the Year award, and the Vicki Bendus Forward of the Year award. Janecke led the CHA in shots on goal (207), assists (36), assists per game (1.00), points (53), and points per game (1.47). Janecke led the country in face-off wins with a whopping 590.
The Player of the Year award is named in honor of one of the greatest scorers in CHA and college hockey history. Meghan Agosta, who played at Mercyhurst from 2006-09 and 2010-11, holds 17 CHA and five NCAA career scoring records and is the only four-time Player of the Year in CHA history. The award honors the top overall player in College Hockey America each season.
The Forward of the Year award is a new award that is named in honor of College Hockey America's only Patty Kazmaier Memorial Trophy winner, Mercyhurst's Vicki Bendus. The Laker star was a two-time Patty Kaz Top-Three Finalist and earned All-America and CHA Player of the Year honors in her 2009-10 Patty Kaz-winning season. This award honors the top forward in College Hockey America each season.
