Four University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey players were named to three different 2019-20 All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association Teams, presented by Sterling Trophy, on Thursday.

Ashton Bell was named a All-WCHA First Team Defenseman, Gabbie Hughes an All-WCHA Second Team Forward, and with her, Maddie Rooney was named an All-WCHA Second Team Goaltender.  Sydney Brodt was selected to the All-WCHA Third Team.

Bell, a four-time WCHA Player of the Week so far this season, currently leads all WCHA defenseman in points with 31 in 32 games, goals (11),  power play goals (7) and game-winning goals (5)--which is a WCHA high among all players, not just blueliners.  The Deloraine, Manitoba junior defenseman convert also has the most points by a UMD defenseman since the 2007-08 season, is in a three-way tie in fifth for the most points by a blueliner in a single season, and is in a three-way tie for third for the most goals (11) by a defenseman in a single season in program history.

Rooney, also a four-time WCHA Goaltender of the Week this season, was previously a All-WCHA Third Team selection as a sophomore and All-WCHA Rookie Team member as a freshman.  The Andover, Minn. senior goaltender set UMD's all-time career saves record on Jan. 17 in the Bulldogs 4-0 win over BSU, and currently owns 3,328 stops -- the most of any active goaltender in the entire NCAA.  With 843 saves so far this season in 31 games, Rooney is already tied for the sixth most stops in a season (she is currently tied with Kim Martin prior to the start of Friday's contest.). Rooney already owns three of the program's top-three single-season saves record -- she ranks third with 989 saves over 31 GP  in 2018-19, and second in 2016-17 with 1013 stops in 37 games, only the second UMD goaltender ever to make more than 1000 saves in a season.  
 

A three-time WCHA Forward of the Week this season, Hughes picks up from where she left off a season ago, where the then freshman collected All-WCHA THird Team and All-WCHA Rookie honors.  The sophomore forward from Lino Lakes, Minn. has led the Bulldogs in scoring all season, and currently owns 18 goals and 30 assists for 48 points.  Hughes ranks fifth in the WCHA in points, with 48 in just 31 games and leads the conference with five game-winning goals.  Her 48 points on 18 goals and 30 assists ranks her eighth in the NCAA. In the 32 games Hughes has skated in for the Bulldogs this so far this season, the sophomore center has notched points in all but four.   Hughes is just one of two players in the past eight years to register 48 or more points, as well as 30 or more assists.  

Brodt, a senior forward who hails from North Oaks, Minn., is having the best offensive season of her Bulldog career, having put up a UMD second-best 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points in 32 games played.  Brodt has also recorded two or more points in 13 games so far this season.  The three-year captain has compiled seven goals and four assists for 11 points over her last seven skates -- four goals and four assists of that coming against teams ranked in the top-5.  Brodt is also now inching up closer to the 100 career point, currently sitting with 94 points on 38 goals and 56 assists over 137 games.

In addition to announcing the All-WCHA Teams, the league also named its WCHA All-Academic Team, of which 18 UMD players qualified.  The 18 UMD Bulldog members of the 2019-20 WCHA All-Academic Team are, in alphabetical order -- 

Monique Aanenson (Jr., F, Moorhead, Minn.); Taylor Anderson (So., F, Eagan, Minn.); Ashton Bell (Jr. (F, Deloraine, Man.); Sydney Brodt (Sr., F, North Oaks, Minn.); Kylie Hanley (So., F, Minnetonka, Minn.); McKenzie Hewett (So., F, Edmonton, Alta.); Ryleigh Houston (Sr., F, Winnipeg, Man.); Gabbie Hughes (So., F, Lino Lakes, Minn.); Anna Klein (Jr., F, Edina, Minn.); Anneke Linser (So., F, Lino Lakes, Minn.); Hanna Markel (Jr., G, Dillon, Colo.); Lizi Norton (So., D, Orono, Minn.); McKenzie Revering (Jr., D, Alexandria, Minn.); Naomi Rogge (Jr., F, Eden Prairie, Minn.); Maddie Rooney (RS-Sr., G, Andover, Minn.); Brooklynn Schugel (Sr., F, New Ulm, Minn.); Kailee Skinner (So., D, Penticton, B.C.); Emma Soderberg (So., G, Jarved, Sweden).

To qualify for the WCHA All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have completed one year of eligibility at their present institution, prior to the current academic year and have a GPA of at least 3.0 for the previous two semesters or three quarters.