As far as academic awards go, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Scholar Athlete Award is one of the most challenging in the NCAA to land. It's a challenge that University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey seniors Audrey Cournoyer and Vanessa Thibault have stepped right up to for a third-consecutive year, as the two were named WCHA Scholar-Athletes for 2012-13 Wednesday afternoon.
Cournoyer and Thibault were two of 21 WCHA players to be repeat award winners, and become the third and fourth players in Bulldog program history to earn the distinction three years in a row, along with former defensemen Sarah Murray (2008-2011) and Myriam Trepanier (2007-2009).
The WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award was developed through Association member team Faculty Representatives and approved by the conference membership beginning with the 2005-06 season. To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete, conference-member student-athletes must have completed at least one year of residency at their present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his/her overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at his or her present institution. In total, UMD has had 26 award winners since the award was created eight years ago.
The Bulldogs head to Madison, Wisc. this weekend to face the No. 7/9 University of Wisconsin in the brand new LaBahn Arena. Saturday's game is slated for 7:07 pm, while Sunday's start is set for 4:07 pm. Both games are already sold out.
2012-13 WCHA Scholar-Athletes • by Member Team
****four-time recipient; ***three-time recipient; **two time recipient
University of Alaska Anchorage
Matt Bailey* (Jr., F, Oakbank, MB); Chris Crowell*** (Sr., F, Williams Lake, BC); Daniel Naslund (Sr., F, Nykoping, Sweden); Kory Roy (So., F, Anchorage, AK); Quinn Sproule (Jr., D, Hussar, AB); Scott Warner * (Sr., D, Anchorage, AK).
Bemidji State University
Jake Areshenko*** (Sr., D, Port Coquitlam, BC); Molly Arola*** (Sr., F, Walker, MN); Phil Brewer (Fr., F, Cambridge, ON); Allie Duellman* (Jr., D, Maplewood, MN); Matt Hartmann (Sr., F, Hugo, MN); Sadie Lundquist*** (Sr., F, Cloquet, MN); Aaron McLeod** (Sr., F, Ottawa, ON); Brance Orban*** (Sr., F, Lethbridge, AB); Matt Prapavessis (So., D, Oakville, ON); Tyler Tosunian (So., F, Whittier, CA); Andrew Walsh (So., G, Dawson Creek, BC); Erika Wheelhouse* (Sr., D, Crookston, MN); Abby Williams*** (Sr., F, Alexandria, MN); Danielle Williams* (Jr., D/F, Waconia, MN); Sam Windle (So., D, Maple Grove, MN); Whitney Wivoda (So., F, Fairbanks, AK).
Colorado College
Alexander Krushelnyski (Jr., F, Bloomfield Hills, MI); Eamonn McDermott (Jr., D, Shaker Heights, OH).
University of Denver
Larkin Jacobson (So., F, Sioux City, IA); Scott Mayfield (So., D, St. Louis, MO); Shawn Ostrow*** (Sr., F, Calgary, AB); Paul Phillips*** (Sr., D, Darien, IL).
Michigan Technological University
Kevin Genoe*** (Sr., G, Qualicum Beach, BC); Tanner Kero (So., F, Hancock, MI); Daniel Sova (Jr., D, Cottage Grove, MN); Brad Stebner* (Jr., D, Fort McMurray, AB).
University of Minnesota
Bethany Brausen* (Jr., F, Little Canada, MN); Zach Budish* (Jr., F, Edina, MN); Nate Condon* (Jr., F, Wausau, WI); Noora Räty (Sr., G, Espoo, Finland); Kyle Rau (So., F, Eden Prairie, MN); Michael Shibrowski (Jr., G, Andover, MN); Kelly Terry (Jr., F, Whitby, ON).
University of Minnesota Duluth
Audrey Cournoyer*** (Sr., F, Montreal, QC); Aaron Crandall*** (Jr., G, Lakeville, MN); Justin Crandall (So., F, Lakeville, MN); Adam Krause (So., F, Hermantown, MN); Luke McManus* (So., D, Apple Valley, MN); Tim Smith (Jr., D, Superior, WI); Vanessa Thibault*** (Sr., F, Lachine, QC).
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Emilia Andersson* (Sr., D, Stockholm, Sweden); Lauren Barnes (Jr., F, Burnsville, MN); Tyler Elbrecht*** (Sr., D, Edwardsville, IL); Chase Grant (So., F, Oklahoma City, OK); Evan Karambelas* (Jr., G, Fort St. John, BC); Melissa Klippenstein* (Jr., F, Neubergthal, MB); Mat Knoll (So., D, Edmonton, AB); Erin Krichiver (So., G, Chicago, IL); Erika Magnusson*** (Sr., D, Fergus Falls, MN); Shelby Moteyunas (So., D, Cicero, NY); Kathleen Rogan* (Jr., F, Vancouver, BC); Kelsie Scott (Jr., F, Souris, MB); Lauren Smith*** (Sr., F, Burnsville, MN); Charlie Thauwald (So., F, Rochester, MN).
University of Nebraska Omaha
Bryce Aneloski* (Sr., D, Pekin, IL); John Faulkner (Sr., G, Sarnia, ON); Ryan Massa (So., G, Littleton, CO); Jaycob Megna (So., D, Northbrook, IL); Brock Montpetit (Jr., F, Somerset, WI); Brian O'Rourke (So., D, St. Louis, MO); Zahn Raubenheimer* (Jr., F, Smoky Lake, AB); Andrew Schmit (So., F, Grafton, WI); Johnnie Searfoss* (Jr., F, Colleyville, TX); Alex Simonson* (Jr., F, Grand Forks, ND); Andrej Sustr (Jr., D, Plzen, Czech Republic); Ryan Walters (Jr., F, Rosemount, MN).
University of North Dakota
Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Fr., G, Warroad, MN); Andrea Dalen (So., F, Honefoss, Norway); Shannon Kaiser (Fr., F, Crookston, MN); Jocelyne Lamoureux*** (Sr., F, Grand Forks, ND); Monique Lamoureux*** (Sr., F/D, Grand Forks, ND); Mary Loken*** (Sr., F, Roseau, MN); Mark MacMillan (So., F, Penticton, BC); Nick Mattson (So., D, Chanhassen, MN); Allison Parizek*** (Sr., F, Minot, ND); Michelle Bonapace-Potvin* (So., G, Royn-Noranda, QC); Dillon Simpson* (Jr., D, Edmonton, AB); Jordan Slavin*** (Sr., D, Erie, CO); Tori Williams (So., D, The Pas, MB).
Ohio State University
Becky Allis (Jr., D, West Olive, MI); Stacy Danczak (So., G, Macedonia, OH); Taylor Kuehl (So., F, Minnetrista, MN); Madison Marcotte* (Jr., D, White Bear Lake, MN); Kari Schmitt (So., D, Canton, MI); Sara Schmitt (So., D, Canton, MI); Paige Semenza (Sr., F, Pittston, PA); Kayla Sullivan (So., F, Flower Mound, TX); Kim Theut (Sr., F, Harrison Township, MI); Minttu Tuominen* (Sr., F, Espoo, Finland).
St. Cloud State University
Brooks Bertsch (So., F, Dubuque, IA); Sydney Burghardt* (Jr., F, Medicine Hat, AB); Callie Dahl*** (Sr., F, Stillwater, MN); Anna Donlan**** (Sr., G, Hillsboro, WI); Nic Dowd* (Jr., F, Huntsville, AL); Ryan Faragher (So., G, Fort Frances, ON); Julie Friend (So., G, Minnetonka, MN); Julia Gilbert* (Jr., F, Hermantown, MN); Kevin Gravel* (Jr., D, Kingsford, MI); Joey Holka (So., F, Phoenix, AZ); Nick Jensen* (Jr., D, Rogers, MN); Drew LeBlanc**** (Sr., F, Hermantown, MN); Amanda Monkman* (Jr., D, Roseau, MN); David Morley (Fr., F, Richmond Hills, ON); Nick Oliver (So., F, Roseau, MN); Amy Olson* (So., F, Roseau, MN); Joe Phillippi (So., G, Shoreview, MN).
University of Wisconsin
Natalie Berg* (Jr., D, Minnetonka, MN); Katy Josephs (So., F, Calgary, AB).
