women's ice hockey
2024 All WIAC Women's Ice Hockey Team Printable PDF
Madison, Wisconsin
–Maddie McCollins of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls has been named Kwiktrip Player of the Year leading individuals selected to the 2024 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's ice hockey team by the league's coaches. . Additionally, UC Eau Claire's Alexa Bachmann was named Kwik Trip's Newcomer of the Year, and UC River Falls' Joe Cranston was named Kwik Trip's Coach of the Year. Ta.
McCollins earned this honor for the second year in a row, becoming the second player in conference history to win the award in two consecutive years. Former Falcon Carey Hoff is the 2021 and 2022 award recipient. McCollins led the WIAC with 62 points, 32 goals and eight power-play goals, tied for first with 30 assists and was second with five game-winning goals. She has two hat tricks, against UW vs. Eau Claire on Nov. 18, 2023, and against UW vs. Stevens Point on Jan. 12, 2023.
Backman started 16 games for the Blue Golds, posting a 12-4 record, a 1.62 goals-against average, 282 saves, and a .901 save percentage. A rookie player is defined as a student-athlete who played in women's ice hockey for the first time this season. Students are not eligible for transfer unless they participated in women's ice hockey at their previous school.
Players returning to the first team from preseason include: UC Eau Claire's Sophie Rausch (Co-Player of the Year); University of California River Falls' Makenna Ole (Newcomer of the Year), Megan Goodloe, and Alex Hange; Courtney Rising of the University of California, Stevens Point; and UW-Superior’s Jenna Hoops. Hange and O'Connor added first-team honors in 2021, with Hange also earning Newcomer of the Year honors. In 2022, Rising won the Newcomer of the Year award.
Cranston led the Falcons to a 28-0 record, winning the WIAC regular season title and the O'Brien Cup, earning him the fourth coaching honor of his career (2017, 2019, 2021). The 28 wins are a program record. Wisconsin River Falls also qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
The All-Sportsmanship Team is named after an individual who demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. One member from each school participated.
2024 All-WIAC Women's Ice Hockey Team
Name, school, grade, position, hometown (previous team)
Makenna Ole, River Falls, sophomore, defense, Alexandria, Minn. (Alexandria HS)
Rose Beeman, Superior, Sr., Goalkeeper, Minneapolis, MN (Benilde St. Margaret High School)
Cora Coss, Superior, junior, defense, Elk River, Minn. (Elk River HS)
Megan Goodrow, River Falls, sophomore, forward, Lino Lakes, Minn. (Centennial High School)
Alex Hange, River Falls, senior, forward, Hutchinson, Minn. (Hutchinson HS)
Jenna Hoopes, Superior, junior, forward, Woodbury, Minn. (St. Michael's College)
Sidney Johnson, Eau Claire, Sr., Defense, Apple Valley, Minn. (Apple Valley HS)
Courtney Reesing, Stevens Point, junior, forward, Maple Grove, Minn. (Maple Grove HS)
Maddie McCollins, River Falls, senior, forward, Maple Grove, Minn. (Wayzata HS)
Jordan O'Connor, River Falls, Sr., Goalie, Prairie du Sac, Wis. (Sauk Prairie HS)
Sophie Rausch, Eau Claire, senior, forward, Fergus Falls, Minn. (Hamline University)
Hattie Verstegen, Eau Claire, Sr., Defense, Oshkosh, Wis. (Fond du Lac HS)
Honorable mention
Alexa Bachman, Eau Claire, freshman, goalie, St. Michael, Minn. (Rogers High School)
Lucy Drugas, Superior, Jr., Defense, Superior, Wisconsin (St. Michael's-NEWHA)
Holly Eckers, River Falls, senior, defenseman, Shakopee, Minn. (Shakopee HS)
Audrey Ellerington, Northland, Freshman, Forward, London, Ontario (Bluewater Hawks-OWHL)
Eden Gruber, Eau Claire, senior, forward, Wausau, Wis. (Wausau West HS)
Jada LeBlanc, Superior, Sr., Defense, Thunder Bay, Ontario (Thunder Bay Queens)
Karlie Lehner, Northland, freshman, goalie, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (Swift Current-SFMAAAHL)
Sadie Long, Eau Claire, junior, forward, Farmington, Minn. (Farmington HS)
Aubrey Nelvin, River Falls, senior, forward, Burnsville, Minn. (Burnsville HS)
Bailey Olson, River Falls, junior, forward, Willmar, Minn. (Wilmar HS)
Ashton Parnell, senior, sophomore, forward, Cambridge, Minn. (North Tier)
Caitlin Ron, River Falls, sophomore, defense, Blaine, Minn. (Blaine HS)
all sportsmanship team
El Black, Northland, Sr., Forward, Devils Lake, ND (Devils Lake HS)
Eden Gruber, Eau Claire, senior, forward, Wausau, Wis. (Wausau West HS)
Veda Rosk, senior, sophomore, defense, Stillwater, Minn. (Stillwater HS)
Braelyn Sathers, River Falls, Sr., Defense, Proctor, MN (Proctor Hermantown HS)
Kayla Stumo, Stevens Point, Sr., Defenseman, Ham Lake, Minn. (Blaine HS)
Kick Trip Player of the Year: Maddy McCollins of River Falls
Kwik Trip Newcomer of the Year: Alexa Bachman of Eau Claire
Kick Trip Coach of the Year: Joe Cranston of River Falls
Judy Crookman Scholar and Athlete: Sophie Rausch of Eau Claire
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