Söderberg Named Swedish Player of the Year

Netminder Emma Söderberg has been named Sweden's top women's hockey player.

Goaltender Emma Söderberg has been named the Swedish Player of the Year as voted by the Swedish Ice Hockey Association and the Ice Hockey Journalists' Kamratförening.

"The focus, quick wit and ability to reset are significant for Emma," the Swedish Ice Hockey Association wrote in justifying her recognition. "She also combines the much-needed goalkeeper individualism with always putting the team first."

Söberberg recently finished her senior season playing for the University of Minnesota-Duluth at the NCAA Division I level where she was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association goaltender of the year, and was a national finalist for NCAA goalie of the year. She was also named the WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year.

In five seasons of NCAA hockey, Söderberg was dominant, including this season as a graduate student, recording a 1.39 GAA and .938 save percentage while posting 12 shutouts for the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.

At the women's World Championships, Söderberg was voted a tournament All-Star for her performance in net with Sweden. In the tournament, Soderberg posted a 2.28 GAA and .924 save percentage. Perhaps her finest performance came in the quarterfinals when Sweden took Canada to overtime. In the game, Söderberg stood on her head making 51 saves. She also posted a 23 save shutout over Japan in the tournament.

Söderberg's next steps are unknown, as she will either play professional hockey in North America, or return to Sweden to play in the SDHL.

Past winners of the Swedish Player of the Year include Maja Nylén Persson who won the award last season, another University of Minnesota-Duluth alumni Erika Holst, and goaltender Kim Martin, who was the award's first winner in 2003-2004.