The PWHL held their annual award ceremony at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Ottawa on Wednesday. The league celebrated their top performers including the league's leading scorers in Hilary Knight and Sarah Fillier who both recorded 29 points in 30 games. Marie-Philip Poulin was also recognized as the league's top goal scorer notching 19 goals this season.
The only award handed out prior to Wednesday's ceremony was the Ilona Kloss Playoff MVP which was awarded to Ottawa Charge netminder Gwyneth Philips.
First up for the PWHL was naming their All-Rookie team. Honored this year were forwards Sarah Fillier (New York Sirens), Britta Curl-Salemme (Minnesota Frost) and former Montreal Victoire forward Jennifer Gardiner (PWHL Vancouver). Both All-Rookie defenders, Cayla Barnes and Anna Wilgren, were from the Montreal Victoire, but will head to PWHL Seattle via expansion for next season. The All-Rookie goalie was Ottawa's Gwyneth Philips.
The PWHL then named their First and Second Team All-Stars. Named to the Second Team were Aerin Frankel (Boston Fleet) in net, Ella Shelton who was recently acquired by the Toronto Sceptres from the New York Sirens and Claire Thompson (PWHL Vancouver) who spent last season with the Minnesota Frost. Up front Tereza Vanisova (PWHL Vancouver) who played for the Ottawa Charge last year, Kendall Coyne Schofield (Minnesota Frost), and Daryl Watts (Toronto Sceptres).
The First Team All-Stars were Hilary Knight (PWHL Seattle) who played for the Boston Fleet, New York's Sarah Fillier, and Montreal's Marie-Philip Poulin up front. The First Team defenders were Toronto's Renata Fast and PWHL Vancouver's Sophie Jaques who played for Minnesota, while the goaltender was Montreal's Ann-Renee Desbiens.
The league also handed out the Intact Impact Award recognizing one player per team who went above and beyond as a teammate this season. The inaugural winners for that award were Emmy Fecteau (New York Sirens), Amanda Boulier (Montreal Victoire), Rebecca Leslie (Ottawa Charge), Nicole Hensley (Minnesota Frost), Allie Munroe (Toronto Sceptres), and Jamie Lee Rattray (Boston Fleet).
The big winner of the night was Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin who was the league's Forward of the Year and league MVP.
Individual PWHL Awards
Hockey For All Award - Laura Stacey, Montreal Victoire
Coach of the Year - Kori Cheverie, Montreal Victoire
Rookie of the Year - Sarah Fillier, New York Sirens
Goaltender of the Year - Ann-Renee Desbiens, Montreal Victoire
Defender of the Year - Renata Fast, Toronto Sceptres
Forward of the Year - Marie-Philip Poulin, Montreal Victoire
Billie Jean King MVP Award - Marie-Philip Poulin, Montreal Victoire
