NEWHA Weekly Awards: Week 18
NEWHA Weekly Awards: Week 18
Player of the Week
Kayla McGaffigan, Assumption University
The junior forward helped power the Greyhounds to a weekend sweep over NEWHA conference rival, Saint Michael's. She totaled four goals and two assists in two dominant conference wins. In Friday's 6-1 win, she recorded one goal and one assist, posting a plus-two on-ice rating. She also controlled possession at the faceoff dot, winning 69.6 percent of her draws (16-23). She followed that performance with a standout effort on Saturday, scoring three goals and adding another assist in a 9-0 shutout win. Her hat trick marked not only the first of her career, but also the first in program history. She recorded a plus-three on-ice rating on Saturday, contributing a power-play goal and a game-winning goal. Across the two-game series, the South Dennis, Mass. native tallied six points (4G, 2A) and a plus-five on-ice rating, helping lead the Greyhounds to a dominant NEWHA conference weekend.
Defensive Player of the Week
Annabel Ziskin, Assumption University
The graduate defender continued her outstanding two-way play this weekend to help the Greyhounds to their weekend series sweep of Saint Michael's. She recorded a total of three points (1G, 2A and a plus-four on-ice rating over the weekend play. In Friday's 6-1 victory, she tallied an assist on the eventual game-winning goal early in the second period. She followed that up with another strong performance on Saturday, tallying her first goal of the season and adding another assist in the Greyhounds' dominant 9-0 shutout. She finished the weekend with a plus-four on-ice rating. Across the two games, the reigning NEWHA Defensive Player of the Week contributed on both ends of the ice as the Greyhounds outscored their opponent 15-1 on the weekend.
Goaltender of the Week
Jillian Petruno, Sacred Heart University
The senior goaltender delivered a dominant performance in net, backstopping the Pioneers to back-to-back wins on the road against Post this weekend. She allowed just two goals on the weekend across 122:39 minutes of action. On Friday, she made 46 saves in a 3-2 road victory, posting a .958 save percentage. She followed Friday's effort with a stellar 32-save shutout in a 1-0 win on Saturday, stopping all shots faced to secure her second victory of the weekend. For the series, she compiled a 0.98 goals-against average, and a .975 save percentage, anchoring a defensive effort that helped the Pioneers to a perfect NEWHA conference weekend. The Wixom Mich, native's 1.94 goals-against average and .946 save percentage on the season currently have her in second place in both categories among NEWHA goaltenders.
Rookie of the Week
Natalie Joiner, Assumption University
The freshman forward receives her first weekly NEWHA recognition after her strong offensive contributions for the Greyhounds against Saint Michael's this weekend. She recorded three goals and two assists on the weekend, totaling five points. On Friday, she netted a power-play goal in the Greyhounds' 6-1 victory. She also won 73.3 percent of her faceoffs (11-15) on Friday. She followed that with a breakout performance on Saturday, recording her first collegiate multi-goal game, with two goals and two assists in a 9-0 win. Across the two-game series, she tallied 11 shots, won 17 of 27 draws taken, and finished with a plus-three on-ice rating. The White Lake, Mich. native established herself as a key contributor this weekend for the Greyhounds in a 2-0-0 NEWHA conference weekend.
2025-26 WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
WEEK 18
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kayla McGaffigan, Assumption University
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Annabel Ziskin, Assumption University
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Jillian Petruno, Sacred Heart University
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Natalie Joiner, Assumption University
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Nicola Forth, Saint Anselm College
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Annabel Ziskin, Assumption University
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Victoria Rutnik, Long Island University
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Hailey Jussila, Sacred Heart University
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Bria Holm, Sacred Heart University
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Emma Hoen, Post University
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Jillian Petruno, Sacred Heart University
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Payton Palsa, Stonehill College
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brooklyn Schneiderhan, Saint Anselm College
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brenna Young, Saint Anselm College
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Jill Hertl, Franklin Pierce University
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Addison Andre, Franklin Pierce University
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Grace Babington, LIU
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Reagan Whynot, Stonehill College
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Jill Hertl, Franklin Pierce University
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Addison Andre, Franklin Pierce University
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ella Holm, Sacred Heart University
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Addison Robillard, LIU
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Clara Kammholz, LIU
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Addison Robillard, LIU
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Nicola Forth, Saint Anselm College
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kayla Lunney, Saint Anselm College
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Kayla Czukoski, Saint Anselm College
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Kayla Lunney, Saint Anselm College
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Maddi Achtyl, Stonehill College
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Emma Mörtl, LIU
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Jill Hertl, Franklin Pierce University
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Abby Broz, Franklin Pierce University
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gracie Sacca, Stonehill College
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Justina Valentini, Assumption University
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Jillian Petruno, Sacred Heart University
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Sasha Marino, Assumption University
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Addison Andre, Franklin Pierce University
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Melanie Targosz, Franklin Pierce University
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Hannah Saunders, Post University
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Abby Broz, Franklin Pierce University
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kayla McGaffigan, Assumption University
CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brooklyn Schneiderhan, Saint Anselm College
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Justina Valentini, Assumption University
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Kayla Czukoski, Saint Anselm College
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Abby Broz, Franklin Pierce University
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Alexis Poppleton, Saint Anselm College
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Melanie Targosz, Franklin Pierce University
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Eve Stone, Stonehill College
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Kayla Czukoski, Saint Anselm College
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Lucy DeCoteau, Saint Anselm College
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Emma Hoen, Post University
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Hannah Saunders, Post University
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Kayla Czukoski, Saint Anselm College
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Addie Bowlby, Sacred Heart University
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brianna Morden, Sacred Heart University
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Jill Hertl, Franklin Pierce University
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Kailey Jussila, Sacred Heart University
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Maddi Achtyl, Stonehill College
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Maggie Korneta, Franklin Pierce University
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Eve Stone, Stonehill College
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Georgia Stevens, Post University
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kayla McGaffigan, Assumption University
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Maddie Quinn, Saint Michael's College
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Annika Lavender, Saint Michael's College
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Kayla Czukoski, Saint Anselm College
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Bria Holm, Sacred Heart University
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Reagan Whynot, Stonehill College
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Jillian Petruno, Sacred Heart University
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Kayla Czukoski, Saint Anselm College
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Brooklyn Schneiderhan, Saint Anselm College
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Justyce Ohlgren, Saint Anselm College
GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK: Clara Kammholz, LIU
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Kayla Czukoski, Saint Anselm College
ABOUT THE NEW ENGLAND WOMEN'S HOCKEY ALLIANCE
Founded in 2017, the New England Women's Hockey Alliance is comprised of three NCAA Division I institutions and five NCAA Division II institutions. Members of the NEWHA include Assumption University, Franklin Pierce University, Long Island University, Post University, Sacred Heart University, Saint Anselm College, Saint Michael's College, and Stonehill College.
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