BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its women’s hockey postseason awards Monday afternoon and five Gusties were named All-Conference. Diana Draayer (Sr., Deephaven, Minn.), Kaitlyn Klein (Sr., Plymouth, Minn.), Erica Power (Sr., Lakeville, Minn.), Kristen Cash (So., Roseville, Minn.), and Amanda DiNella (Jr., Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) received All-MIAC recognition for their performances throughout the 2017-18 regular season.
Draayer earns her first All-Conference nod after recording career highs in season goals (17), assists (16), and points (33). Her 17 goals are third most in the conference. Draayer has a +27 rating with two game-winning goals and two short-handed goals.
Klein claims her second consecutive All-Conference nod after leading the team with 23 goals (2nd/MIAC) and 41 points (4th/MIAC). Klein has a career-best .219 shot percentage with a +26 rating and four game-winning goals. She is also dangerous on the power play with six goals on the skater advantage.
Power becomes the first Gustavus women’s hockey player to earn All-MIAC all four seasons since Lindsey Hjelm (2009-13) and sixth in program history. Power set career highs in season goals (12), assists (19), and points (31). She also has a +26 rating with four game-winning goals and three short-handed scores. Power has played in 104 career games and has 101 points, which ranks 11th in program history.
Cash earns her first All-MIAC award after leading a stout defensive unit for the Gusties all season long. Cash has also proven to be a strong scoring contributor with five goals and 13 assists for 18 points.
2016-17 First Team All-American Amanda DiNella makes her second straight appearance on the All-MIAC team. DiNella has backstopped the Gusties in 24 games this season with a league-leading 1.28 goals against average, .937 save percentage, and 17-2-4 record. She’s recorded six shutouts this year and has 15 in her career. DiNella’s 429 saves this year are fourth most in the MIAC and her 1148 career saves are third most in program history.
The five Gustie All-Conference members have guided the team to a MIAC regular season title, and now will battle Hamline 2 p.m. Saturday for the conference playoff championship and automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament.
These deserved honors reflect these athletes, plus strong team play throughout the season, plus coaching, because it takes all three to achieve this high rung in strong competitive hockey play. Moreover, top standing the in MIAC Conference year after year reflects on the drawing power of Gustavus and, again, sustained quality coaching throughout more than a decade.