NCHA honors Laughlin and Schultz

University of Wisconsin-Superior’s Dan Laughlin and Dani Schultz have been voted the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association’s coach and player of the year, respectively, by the league coaches.

In just her first season of collegiate hockey, Schultz, a freshmen from Morris, Minn., established herself as a premier goal-scorer, notching 21 goals in 25 games for the Yellowjackets.

“As a freshman, to come in and be the hardest worker, is remarkable,” Laughlin said. “We wanted her to come in and score goals, and she has given us a huge boost in that department. She’s not the flashiest player, but she has a nose for the net that is just very rare for a freshman.”

Schultz’s statistics are worthy of the NCHA’s highest honor. She put up 28 points in her 25 regular season games. Twenty-one of those points came on goals, and seven of her goals were game-winners — tied for first in the nation as of this release.

Six of her game-winners came in NCHA competition, which is quite impressive given the rugged conference schedule. Schultz also posted five multi-goal games this season and 10 multi-point games and she sits tied for sixth in the country in points per game by a rookie.

Schultz’s efforts, no doubt, contributed to UWS pulling away and clinching the No. 2 seed for the upcoming O’Brien Cup Playoffs.

The Yellowjackets host St. Norbert having won eight of their past 11 games. Schultz has 10 goals in that span.

As for Laughlin, he guided the Yellowjackets to a 15-7-3 regular season record and a national ranking of No. 10. UWS has been in the top 10 most of the season and recently handed No. 5 Gustavus Adolphus its first loss of the year.

This is the fourth coach of the year award for Laughlin, who also won it in 2008, 2006 and 2004. He has coached at UWS since 2000.

Also for the Yellowjackets, junior Kaiti Graham (Middleview, Mich.) was named All-NCHA on defense, sophomore Shanley Peters (Gnadenthal, MB) was a first-team goaltender and sophomore Sheryl Kaskiw (Souris, MB) was an honorable mention pick on defense.

’JACKET JOTTINGS: UWS plays St. Norbert at 7:05 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday at Wessman Arena.

2012 Women’s All-NCHA Selections

Forwards: Katie Batters, UWRF, So.; Erin Marvin, UWSP, Jr.; Olivia Rork, Adrian, Sr.; Dani Schultz, UWS, Fr.; Monika Waidacher, CSS, So.; Nina Waidacher, CSS, Fr.

Defensemen: Angie Chronis, LF, Jr.; Kaiti Graham, UWS, Jr.; Lotta Haarala, SNC, So.; Kelly Salis, Adrian, Sr.

Goaltenders: Shanley Peters, UWS, So.; Brittany Zeches, Adrian, Sr.

2012 Women’s Honorable Mention All-NCHA

Forwards: Michelle Fischer, CSS, So.; Katie Flanagan, UWRF, Jr.; Brooke Hanson, UWSP, Jr.; Kim Herring, LF, Sr.; Hannah McGowan, Adrian, Fr.; Emma Nordness, UWRF, Sr.; Henriette Ostergaard, SNC, So.

Defensemen: Brenna Flatley, CSS, So.; Emily Heckendorf, Concordia-Wis., Fr.; Sheryl Kaskiw, UWS, So.; Alana Levido, CSS, So.

Goaltenders: Katie Aluia, SNC, So.; Jenna Brankin, LF, Fr.; Melissa Deardorff, UWRF, Sr.

2012 NCHA All-Rookie Team

Forwards: Hannah McGowan, Adrian, Fr., Dani Schultz, UWS, Fr.; Nina Waidacher, CSS, Fr.

Defensemen: Alex Blair, CSS, Fr.; Emily Heckendorf, Concordia-Wis., Fr.; Courtney Millar, Adrian, Fr..

Goaltender: Jenna Brankin, LF, Fr.

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