University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey graduated senior Emma Soderberg has been named one of seven candidates of the International Ice Hockey Federation's Female Player of the Year for 2022-23.

Soderberg is joined by the following six IIHF finalists (in alphabetical order): Sarah Fillier (CAN), Caroline Harvey (USA), Jenni Hiirikoski (FIN), Hilary Knight (USA), Nela Lopusanova (SVK) and Marie-Philip Poulin (CAN). Media and invited members of the IIHF will vote to determine a winner that will be announced on Thursday, June 1 at 9.00 ET, and the award is based on the criteria that players must have competed in at least one IIHF tournament (Olympics, Men's or Women's World Championship, World Junior Championship, Men's or Women's U18 World Championship), as well as in a domestic league of the highest calibre for that country, the combined performances of which have been deemed superior to all other players.

The Jarved, Sweden native not only was one of the best NCAA goaltenders in the NCAA this past season, but emerged as arguably the best netminder in the world. In the quarterfinals of the 2023 IIIHF Women's World Championship, Soderberg was spectacular, stopping 51 of 54 shots to help Sweden push Canada to overtime for the first time ever in a head-to-head showdown. In all, Soderberg had a save percentage of .935 and posted 157 stops, and was named to the All-Star Team for her efforts. As UMD's backstopper this season,  the goaltender had a season for the Bulldog record books, setting both a UMD career record for shutouts (23) and a single-season record (12). A 2022-23 All-USCHO First Team All-American, and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Goaltender of the Year, WCHA Finalist for Player of the Year and a top-3 finalist for National Goalie of the Year, Soderberg was a also named the WCHA's Student-Athlete of the Year and was a All-WCHA First Team selection. A HCA Goaltender of the Month, as well as twice a WCHA Goaltender of the Month, Soderberg was named the league's goaltender of the month four times this season. The Jarved, Sweden product ended her career with the fifth-most NCAA career wins in history (five), and her 12 shutouts in the season was the 11th most by a goaltender in the NCAA in a year.  Soderberg posted 20 wins, marking just the ninth time a UMD netminder had recorded 20 or wins, and moved her into a four-way tie for the sixth most wins in a season. Last season Soderberg set the NCAA Tournament record for saves (146), and ended her career perfect  in NCAA Tournament opening games with a 3-0, 0.00 GAA after allowing not a single goal in those games. In fact, in five career NCAA Regional/Quarterfinal games, Soderberg allowed just four goals. Soderberg ended the season with a 1.39 goals against average -- the third lowest in program history.