The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team officially wrapped up another banner season last Friday night, and unveiled three program awards at the Bulldogs annual banquet.

Graduate senior Emma Soderberg was named the team's Most Valuable Player after 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.

Fifth-year senior winger Annke Linser was bestowed the Maroon and Gold Award, which is voted on by the team. The award honors the player who the team thinks best combines the team values of work ethic, attitude and commitment to the team and to the game of hockey. Recently named the 2023 All-American Athlete Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award recipient, Linser is a four-time WCHA Scholar Athlete and two-time American Hockey Coaches Association 2020-21 Division I Krampade All-American Scholar, The Lino Lakes, Minn. native turned in the most offensive season of her collegiate career this past year, recording 30 points on 17 goals and 13 assists, and led UMD with five game-winning goals and was +18 overall

Junior defenseman Nina Jobst-Smith was selected UMD's Breakthrough Player of the Year by the coaching staff, presented annually to the student-athlete who made the most progress in her development as an athlete in a given year. Jobst-Smith had the most offensive season of her collegiate career ringing up five goals and 21 assists for 26 points, including two power play tallies and one game-winning goal. The North Vancouver, B.C. product was a WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on Jan. 2 and Jan. 9, and was the WCHA's Defender of the Month for January.




Previous Recipients:
Breakthrough Player of the Year:                             Most Valuable Player:                                                            Maroon and Gold Award:
Katie McGovern -  2015-16                                            Ashleigh Brykaliuk - 2015-16                                             Michela Cava - 2015-16
Maddie Rooney -  2016-17                                             Lara Stalder - 2016-17                                                            Ashleigh Brykaliuk - 2016-17
Emma Yanko  - 2017-18                                                  Jalyn Elmes - 2017-18                                                             Catherine Daoust - 2017-18
Anna Klein - 2018-19                                                       Gabbie Hughes - 2018-19                                                      Sydney Brodt - 2018-19
Ashton Bell and Kylie Hanley - 2019-20                  Gabbie Hughes - 2019-20                                                      Sydney Brodt - 2019-20
Taylor Stewart - 2021-22                                                Elizabeth Giguere and Gabbie Hughes - 2021-22      Anna Klein - 2021-22
Nina Jobst-Smith 2022-23                                            Emma Soderberg 2022-23                                                   Anneke Linser 2022-23