Six finalists were named by the IIHF for their Female Player of the Year Award recognizing the best player internationally and in domestic leagues.
Six finalists were named by the IIHF for their Female Player of the Year Award recognizing the best player internationally and in domestic leagues.
The IIIHF today unveiled the six finalists for their Female Player of the Year Award recognizing the top women's hockey player in the IIHF and pro/collegiate hockey.
The finalists include USA's Alex Carpenter and Kendall Coyne Schofield, Canada's Natalie Spooner and Marie-Philip Poulin, Switzerland's Alina Muller, Finland's Jenni Hiirikoski, and Germany's Sandra Abstreiter.
Natalie Spooner was the leading scorer in the PWHL with 27 points and also the league's top goal scorer in the inaugural season playing for PWHL Toronto. She also helped Canada win gold at the 2024 IIHF World Championships in Utica, New York. Her Canadian teammate Marie-Philip Poulin was tied for second in PWHL scoring with 23 points, and alongside Spooner was one of only two players in the league to score more than a point per game playing for PWHL Montreal. She captained Canada to gold at the World Championships.
From the silver medal winning Team USA, Alex Carpenter was voted a World Championship All-Star tying for the tournament league in scoring with 10 points. She was also tied for second in total points in the PWHL this season with 23 playing for PWHL New York. Her American teammate Kendall Coyne Schofield recently capped off her PWHL season with Minnesota winning the inaugural Walter Cup. She finished tied for 13th in league scoring with 16 points.
Looking at players from European nations, Finnish captain Jenni Hiirikoski was the only nominee from outside the PWHL this season as she captained Lulea to an SDHL title, and also captained Finland to a bronze medal tying for the team lead in points. She set an all-time record appearing in her 16th World Championship this season.
Alina Muller of Switzerland was also nominated. The forward was PWHL Boston's leading scorer this season tying Coyne Schofield with 16 points. She scored the overtime winner for Switzerland to keep them in Group A at the Worlds.
Finally, German netminder Sandra Abstreiter was nominated. Abstreiter was voted Best Goaltender at the World Championships playing in Group B with Germany by the directorate. In the PWHL this season with Ottawa, Abstreiter started played one complete game, and appeared in two others.