GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Three Gusties earned West All-America honors on the CCM/AHCA Women’s Division III All-America Hockey Team, announced Thursday.
Gustavus senior defender Kayla Vrieze (Sr.., Eagan) earned her spot as one of two defenders on the West First Team, for the second year in a row. Katie McCoy (Sr., Grafton, Wis.) and Hailey Holland (Sr., Aberdeen, S.D.) earned the first All-America nod of their careers, as both were named to the West Second Team.
Vrieze, a 3x team captain, has started in all 28 of the Gusties’ games on the blue line this season, leading all defenders in scoring with 19 points on three goals and 16 assists. Vrieze owns a +22 rating with 14 power play points, the most by any player on the team. A first-line defender, Vrieze has helped the Gusties lead all of NCAA women’s hockey with a team goals against average of 0.82. The Gusties have earned 13 shutouts this season, allowing just 14.6 on average per game.
McCoy has been the Gusties’ and the NCAA’s leading goaltender, averaging just 0.84 goals against while starting in 27 of the Gusties’ games and playing in 28. In 1563:36 between the pipes, McCoy has earned nine individual shutouts with a save percentage of .944.
The MIAC Offensive Player of the Year, Holland leads the team with 35 points this season. Holland boasts 19 goals and 16 assists this season, scoring three on the power play, two short handed, and tallying one hat trick. Holland, a first line forward, has played in all 28 games this season with a +21 rating.
Vrieze, McCoy, and Holland bring the total program All-America honors to 29, with Vrieze the sixth player to earn the distinction twice. Vrieze and Holland were also named finalists for the Laura Hurd Award, given annually to the best NCAA Division III women’s ice hockey player in the country.
Head Coach Mike Carroll was also announced as one of 10 finalists for the National Coach of the Year Award after leading the Gusties to the Frozen Four for the second straight year.
The Gusties are now preparing for their NCAA semifinal matchup against Plattsburgh State at 3 p.m. EST Friday in Amherst, Mass.
The CCM/AHCA All-America Hockey Teams are chosen by members of the American Hockey Coaches Association.