Vermont's Mlýnková named Hockey East player of the year; UVM women hoops players feted

For the second time in three seasons, the best player in Hockey East is from the University of Vermont women's hockey team.

Catamount senior Natálie Mlýnková has been named the conference's player of the year, Hockey East announced Wednesday. Two years ago, Theresa Schafzahl picked up the conference's POY award.

Mlýnková totaled 17 goals and 15 assists this winter for the Catamounts, who lost in the conference quarterfinals last Saturday at New Hampshire to close out a 13-17-5 campaign. In conference games only, Mlýnková was tied for most goals (15) and points (26) with Maine's Ida Kuoppala.

Mlýnková, who has a year of eligibility remaining, sits sixth all-time in program history with 91 career points; her 48 career goals rank third, one back of Amanda Pelkey for second place. Schafzahl holds club records for points (145), goals (71) and assists (74).

Utterback lands on America East first team

UVM women's basketball fifth-year senior guard Emma Utterback led the Catamounts' awards haul following Wednesday's announcement of America East's annual season-ending honors.

Utterback was named to the conference's first team for a third straight season, while Keira Hanson (third team, sixth player of the year) and Anna Olson (second team, all-defensive team) were also voted onto all-league squads.

Started all 30 games this winter, Utterback averaged a career-high 14.3 points a game, which ranked sixth in America East. She also averaged 4.0 assists, good for third among league leaders.

More: 2024 America East basketball tournaments: What you need to know for UVM men, women

Hanson, a sophomore guard, is the program's first sixth-player award winner. She finished 11th in the league in scoring (11.3 ppg) and ranked sixth in field-goal percentage (43.1%). Her 34 3-pointers in conference play was tops among league players.

A year after earning a first-team selection, Olson posted averages of 11.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 1.4 apg to make second team and land on all-defensive for the first time in her career.

Olson and fifth-year senior Delaney Richason also earned spots on the all-academic team.

The third-seeded Catamounts (20-10, 12-4), the league's reigning champions, open quarterfinal play Friday at home vs. No. 6 UMBC. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. at Patrick Gym.

Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter: @aabrami5.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Hockey East player of the year: Vermont's Mlýnková honored