The PWHL season is done. With the games done, it's a time to look back at the season that was and the best players from the 2024-25 PWHL season.
Last season Natalie Spooner was the PWHL's MVP, leading scorer, and Best Forward. Other major award winners included Grace Zumwinkle (Rookie of the Year), Kristen Campbell (Goaltender of the Year), Erin Ambrose (Defender of the Year), and Troy Ryan (Coach of the Year).
This year, it will be a brand new group earning those awards. Here's a look at three players who could earn each award.
Most Valueable Player / Forward of the Year
Hilary Knight - Boston Fleet - She played big minutes for the Boston Fleet, and after a slow first season, Knight showed her all-world play. She looked stronger and like she gained a step in the offseason. Few were harder to play against and more dangerous.
Marie-Philip Poulin - Montreal Victoire - Without Poulin, this is a very different season for the Montreal Victoire. Her scoring was consistent and of course, clutch. There's still no player in this league capable of impacting a game like Marie-Philip Poulin.
Daryl Watts - Toronto Sceptres - Through Toronto's ups and downs, including injuries, there was a constant in their lineup. That constant was Daryl Watts. She infused speed, skill, and consistent point production across their lineup. Toronto's success last year was thanks to Natalie Spooner, this year their success can largely be credited to the likes of Hannah Miller and Daryl Watts holding ground.
Rookie of the Year
Sarah Fillier - New York Sirens - This is a lock. Fillier is among league leaders and she's set herself apart from the pack. There's no argument she's the rookie of the year.
Jennifer Gardiner - Montreal Victoire - She's been a key component of the Victoire's top line, and is only one of two rookies in the top 20 in league scoring.
Cayla Barnes - Montreal Victoire - She's played big minutes for the Victoire this season taking the burden off of Erin Ambrose. Defenders are often overlooked for these awards, but Barnes' impact has been immense in Montreal.
Goaltender of the Year
Aerin Frankel - Boston Fleet - She's the best goaltender in the PWHL right now. The end of season injury could hurt her chances at this award even though it was only a handful of games. Prior to that, she was Boston's anchor.
Ann-Renee Desbiens - Montreal Victoire - Desbiens had a great season. She has been steady and regained her all world play this year. Desbiens was a big part in Montreal's push.
Corinne Schroeder - New York Sirens - It's hard to pick the goaltender from the last place team, but without Schroeder, the Sirens would be lost. One of only four goalies in the league to appear in 20 games, Schroeder was third in save percentage and led the league in shutouts with four.
Defender of the Year
Renata Fast - Toronto Sceptres - It's highly unlikely a defender can take this from Renata Fast this year. There was a lot of talk about her chemistry with Jocelyne Larocque, but Fast thrived before, and she thrived after Larocque's trade. Nobody skates and transports the puck like she does, she led all defenders in scoring, and defensively few are tough to play against.
Lee Stecklein - Minnesota Frost - While defender of the year awards often become scoring races, they shouldn't be. Stecklein uses her size and reach effectively, and matched up against the best in the league night in and night out. While Frost defenders Sophie Jaques and Claire Thompson were among league leaders, it was Stecklein who carried the defensive load.
Megan Keller - Boston Fleet - There are some numbers, like her plus/minus that don't speak to Keller's impact. She's plays a heavy game and can impact a shift on both sides of the puck. While Boston struggled to score at times this year, Keller anchored a blueline that helped support Aerin Frankel, and keep the Fleet in games.
Coach of the Year
Kori Cheverie - Montreal Victoire - It will be interesting to see how voters view Montreal's late season slump. Cheverie for her part led the Victoire to well disciplined, structured, and successful hockey. They managed the ebbs and flows of the season, and she stood steadfastly behind her players.
Troy Ryan - Toronto Sceptres - Toronto got out of the gate slow, but found their way as the season progressed. It would be easy to look at their roster and believe they underperformed this season, but Toronto also dealt with significant injuries in their lineup and managed to survive and still climb toward the top.
Courtney Kessel - Boston Fleet - Another coach who stands behind her players, the Fleet looked like injuries to Alina Muller, Hannah Bilka, and Aerin Frankel could derail their season. They survived, and played in a lot of tight hockey games. Boston has embraced role players in their lineup, and watching how those assets were deployed hints at some of Kessel's success.