Five League Members Named All-Americans

Three Coaches Finalists for National Coach of the Year

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March 22, 2003

DULUTH, Minn. - The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) released its list of All-Americans and eight finalists for coach of the year, putting five players from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association on its All-American Team and three coaches in the running for the national award.

Named first-team All-Americans were Minnesota senior defender Ronda Curtin, Gopher rookie forward Natalie Darwitz and Minnesota-Duluth junior forward Jenny Potter. Curtin was the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-WCHA defender. Darwitz, the League's rookie of the year, was also a first-team All-WCHA pick and a member of the League's All-Rookie Team. Potter was a first-team All-League pick and the WCHA Player of the Year.

Making the second team were a pair of forwards in Minnesota-Duluth senior Maria Rooth and Minnesota frosh Krissy Wendell. Both Rooth and Wendell were second-team All-WCHA skaters.

The AHCA also announced the Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson, Minnesota-Duluth head coach Shannon Millar and Minnesota head coach Laura Halldorson are among eight finalists for the ACHA University Division Coach of the Year. Johnson and Miller shared the WCHA Coach of the Year award, while Halldorson directed her squad to their second-straight NCAA Frozen Four appearance.

The coach of the year will be announced April 26 in Naples, Fla., at the AHCA Coach of the Year Banquet.

First Team
Goaltender, Jen Huggon, SR, New Hampshire
Defense, Ronda Curtin, SR, Minnesota#
Defense, Angela Ruggiero, JR, Harvard**
Forward, Jennifer Botterill, SR, Harvard*
Forward, Natalie Darwitz, FR, Minnesota
Forward, Jenny Potter, JR, Minnesota-Duluth@@

Second Team
Goaltender, Rachel Barrie, JR, St. Lawrence@
Defense, Kelli Halcisak, JR, Providence
Defense, Correne Bredin, SR, Dartmouth#
Forward, Julie Chu, FR, Harvard
Forward, Maria Rooth, SR, Minnesota-Duluth***
Forward, Krissy Wendell, FR, Minnesota

* Fourth First Team Selection
** Third First Team Selection
*** First Team in 2001-01 and 2001-02
# First Team in 2000-01
@ Second Team in 2000-01
@@ Second Team in 1998-99

2002-03 AHCA Women's Ice Hockey
University Division Coach of the Year Finalists

Shannon Miller (Minnesota-Duluth)
Mark Johnson (Wisconsin)
Laura Halldorson (Minnesota)#
Hilary Witt (Yale)
Katey Stone (Harvard)
Judy Oberting (Dartmouth)
Mike Sisti (Mercyhurst)
Brian McCloskey (UNH)

# 2001-02 winner