BLOOMINGTON, MINN – Five Gustavus Adolphus women’s hockey players were honored by the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in its postseason awards that were released Thursday. Seniors Courtney Boucher (Hastings, Minn.) and Carolyn Draayer (Deephaven, Minn.), juniors Allison Eder-Zdechlik (Stillwater, Minn.) and Lindsey Hibbard (Princeton, Minn.) and first-year Erica Power (Lakeville, Minn.) each earned a place on the 2014-15 MIAC All-Conference Team. In addition, Draayer was the recipient of the prestigious Sheila Brown Award, while Power and fellow-first year Rachel Skoglund (Forest Lake, Minn.) took home MIAC All-Rookie honors. Senior Marissa Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) received MIAC Honorable Mention honors.
Taking home the honor of Player-of-the-Year was Concordia’s Madison Gendreau after a fantastic senior season that saw her lead the league with 24 points stemming from 15 assists, which also led the MIAC, and nine goals. Coach-of-the-Year honors went to Saint Mary’s head coach Terry Mannor. After finishing 9-15-1 (7-11-0 MIAC) last season, Mannor led the Cardinals to an impressive turnaround in 2014-15, as the team finished 11-11-3 overall and 9-7-2 in MIAC play.
After making the switch from forward to defender before her junior season, Boucher has proven to be one of the most versatile blueliners in the league and is making her second consecutive appearance on the All-Conference Team. The senior co-captain anchors one of the top-ranked defensive units in NCAA Division III. With a team goals against average of 1.40, Gustavus ranks third in the country behind No. 4 Adrian (1.24 GAA) and No. 5 Norwich (1.28), and has killed penalties at an 88-percent rate. Boucher has tallied five goals to go along with eight assists, which is good for second in the MIAC in defender scoring.
Known for her work ethic and leadership, Draayer earns a spot on the All-Conference Team for the second straight season after being recognized as an MIAC Honorable Mention performer the previous two seasons. Courtney Booucher’s co-captain leads the team and ranks third in the MIAC in goals with 12 and is tied for second on the team points with 20. The Deephaven product is also tied for the MIAC lead in power play goals with five and game-winning goals with four.
After emerging as Gustavus’s go-to goal-scorer last season, Allison Eder-Zdechlik continued to prove herself as one of the top scorers in the MIAC. Despite missing four games due to injury, the junior forward still ranks second on the team and is tied for ninth in the league in goals scored with nine. She is also second on the team in assists with 11, second on the team in points with 20, and leads the team in plus/minus with a +19.
Between the pipes for the Gusties this season is one of the top netminders in the nation in Hibbard. Hibbard has compiled a record of 17-3-2 in 1,348:23 minutes, ranking third in the country in wins (17) and seventh in winning percentage (.818). Her goals against average of 1.20 ranks second behind Plattsburgh’s Camille Leonard (1.17 GAA), while her save percentage of .941 ranks six. The Princeton native also leads the nation in shutouts with seven and is third nationally in minutes played.
In her first season of collegiate hockey, Erica Power displayed slick stick handling, finesse, and creativity with the puck. The first-year forward has recorded a team-best 26 points off eight goals and 18 assists. She leads the MIAC’s rookies in scoring, ranks second in assists, and fourth in points. Power is also the first rookie to lead the team in scoring since Ingrid Neve ’07 did so during the 2003-04 season.
Draayer was also honored with the Shelia Brown Award, a prestigious honor, which was fittingly named for former St. Catherine Athletic Director Shelia Brown. By definition, the Shelia Brown Award is given to one senior who has made long-term contribution to her team’s success and who has consistently competed with good sportsmanship.
Joining Power on the All-Rookie Team was Rachel Skoglund. Playing in 24-of-25 games, Skoglund ranks second on the team in defender scoring with eight points off of two goals and six assists. She holds a rating of +7 and scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Augsburg on Jan. 17 in Minneapolis.
As part of a conference-wide sportsmanship initiative, the MIAC also announced the eighth annual All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for women’s hockey. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the ice. Gustavus’s representative on the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team was senior Keri Pickel (Sr., Rochester, Minn.).
In their quest for an 11th MIAC Playoff title in the last 12 seasons, the Gusties will take on Bethel University on Saturday afternoon at Don Roberts Ice Rink. Face-off for that game is set for 2 p.m.