GLOUCESTER, Mass. – The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) has released its second annual All-American Scholar listings. The Trine University women's hockey team produced three honorees during their inaugural season.
Forward Sierra Westner (Saginaw, Mich.) led the way offensively among the trio of honored freshman. She finished the season with six points including three goals and three assists.
Defenseman Jade Pandres (Eagle River, Alaska) became an offensively minded defender for the Thunder finishing the season with five assists tied for most among defenders on the team. Fellow defender Kirsten Vandenheuvel (Denfield, Ontario) was a crucial part of the defensive effort for Trine. She played every game and was an anchor among defensive players.
The AHCA recognizes varsity ice hockey players who attained a 3.6 grade-point average each semester and participated in 40 percent of their school's games in the 2017-18 season as "Krampade All American Scholars." The names of 821 Division II-Ill men and women have been announced this week, a month after 489 of their Division I counterparts were revealed. In the first year of this awards program during the 2016-17 season, a total of 1,261 student-athletes reached the 3.60 standard. The 2017-18 total is 1,310. A small number of waivers to the 40 percent participation requirement were granted due to injury or for back-up goaltenders.
"We are extremely proud of this group of student-athletes who have competed at the highest levels of the game on the ice and matched that performance in the classroom," said AHCA executive director Joe Bertagna. "The sport demands a great deal from these athletes so it is a great statement they make, individually and collectively, with their ability to attain this level of academic achievement."