St. Thomas players sweep weekly WCHA awards

In the lone game featuring WCHA games this past week, St. Thomas posted a 4-1 non-conference win over Minnesota State in the 2023 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Face-off Classic game that was played on Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Maple Grove Ice Arena in Maple Grove, Minn.  St. Thomas players earning WCHA honors this week include Rylee Bartz (Forward), Nicole Vallario (Defender), Calla Frank (Goaltender) and Ella Boerger (Rookie).  The WCHA schedule will resume on Nov. 17-18 with a complete slate of league games.  Fans can watch the games on Nov. 17-18 via the B1G+ live stream service.

Sterling Trophy WCHA Forward of the Week:
Rylee Bartz/St. Thomas/Forward/First Year/Fargo, N.D.

A first year forward out of Fargo, N.D., Bartz scored two goals and tallied an assist in St. Thomas’ 4-1 victory over Minnesota State on Nov. 9 in Maple Grove.  Both goals were scored on the power play for St. Thomas and both goals were scored in the third period of the contest. Bartz led the team with six shots on goal in the game and she was +1 on the plus/minus.  This is Bartz’s fifth multi-point game of the season and she has recorded 13 points (5g/8a) in 13 games this season for the Tommies.

Others Nominated: None

Sterling Trophy WCHA Defender of the Week:

Nicole Vallario/St. Thomas/Defense/Junior/Lugano, Switzerland

A junior blueliner from Lugano, Switzerland, Vallario was a driving force for the Tommies during their 4-1 win over Minnesota State on Nov. 9 in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game.  She helped St. Thomas limit the Mavericks to one goal and 22 shots on net in the game.  Vallario finished the game with two assists on both of the Tommies’ power play goals.  She had two shots on goal in the game and was +1 on the plus/minus.  On the season, Vallario has charted three goals and four assists for UST.

Others Nominated: None

Sterling Trophy WCHA Goaltender of the Week:

Calla Frank/St. Thomas/Goaltender/Grad Student/Hugo, Minn.

A resident of Hugo, Minn. and graduate of White Bear Lake Area High School, Calla Frank backstopped St. Thomas to a 4-1 win over Minnesota State on Nov. 9.  Frank allowed just one goal in the first period and finished the game with 21 saves and a .955 save percentage in the contest.  In 2023-24, Frank is 3-3 with 137 saves in 313.42 minutes played this season for the Tommies.

Others Nominated: None

Sterling Trophy WCHA Rookie of the Week:

Ella Boerger/St. Thomas/Forward/First Year/Andover, Minn.

A resident of Andover, Ella Boerger recorded the game winning goal at 9:45 of the second period during St. Thomas’ 4-1 win over Minnesota State on Nov. 9.  Boerger completed the night with one goal and had assists on both of Bartz’ goals in the third period that provided key insurance goals for the Tommies.  She finished the game with three shots on target and was +1 on the plus/minus. Boerger was also selected as the WCHA Rookie of the Week on Oct. 9, 202

Other Nominated:  None

ABOUT THE WCHA:

Founded in 1999, the women’s league of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association has positioned itself as the top conference in all of women’s collegiate hockey and will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2023-24.  The WCHA has won an unprecedented 20 national championships while finishing as the national runner-up nine times since 1999.  The league has produced nine Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winners as well an additional 24 student-athletes who were among the Top-3 finalists for the award.  In addition, WCHA student-athletes have been recognized as All-Americans 121 times in league history.

ABOUT STERLING TROPHY:

Sterling Trophy has grown into a leader in the award and recognition industry in the Twin Cities since its founding in 1999. A family business that started in the basement of the home of founders David Steinbring and Patty Steinbring, Sterling Trophy has built a proud tradition of quality service and unique products. For more information, visit sterlingtrophy.net.

2023-24 Sterling Trophy WCHA Players of the Week:

Sept. 25: 

Forward – Emma Gentry, SCSU/Defender – Ella Anick, SCSU

Goalie – Sanni Ahola, SCSU/Rookie – Sofianna Sundelin, SCSU\

Oct. 2: 

Forward – Lacey Eden, Wisconsin/Defender – Caroline Harvery, Wisconsin

Goalie – Raygan Kirk, Ohio State/Rookie – Cassie Hall, Wisconsin

Oct. 9:

Forward – Jamie Nelson, Minnesota State/Defender – Jayden Seifert, Minnesota State

Goalie – Sanni Ahola, St. Cloud State/Rookie – Ella Boerger, St. Thomas

Oct. 16:

Forward – Abbey Murphy, Minnesota/Defender – Hadley Hartmetz, Ohio State

Goalie – Raygan Kirk, Ohio State/Rookie – Alice Sauriol, SCSU

Oct. 23:

Forward – Klára Hymlárová, SCSU/Defender – Anna Wilgren, Wisconsin

Goalie – Abbie Thompson, Bemidji State/Rookie – Ève Gascon Minnesota Duluth

Oct. 30:

Forward – Jennifer Gardiner, Ohio State/Defender – Nelli Laitinen, Minnesota

Goalie – Jojo Chobak, St. Cloud State/Rookie – Jocelyn Amos, Ohio State

Nov. 6:

Forward – Reece Hunt, Minnesota Duluth/Defender – Emma Peschel, Ohio State

Goalie – Eve Gascon, Minnesota Duluth/Rookie – Joy Dunne, Ohio State

Nov. 13:

Forward – Rylee Bartz, St. Thomas/Defender – Nicole Vallario, St. Thomas

Goalie – Calla Frank, St. Thomas/Rookie – Ella Boerger, St. Thomas