Gophers' Emma Kreisz, Ava Lindsay named to Rookie of the Year Watch List

Gophers women’s hockey freshmen Emma Kreisz and Ava Lindsay were named to the National Women’s Rookie of the Year Award Watch List by the Hockey Commissioners’ Association on Friday.

The Rookie of the Year Award will be voted on by the nation’s assistant coaches and announced during the Frozen Four in Durham, N.H., in March. In all, 25 first-year players across five conferences were named to the watch list.

Kreisz is the most recent 20-point scorer for the U, and one of five on the Gophers’ roster. Her two assists on Jan. 26 in a 4-3 win over Minnesota State put her right at 20 points (4 goals, 16 assists) on the season. She has a plus-minus of plus-3 on the year.

Lindsay, meanwhile, has also provided a boost to the U with 16 points (8 goals, 8 assists) this season. She was also named the WCHA Rookie of the Month in December. The Minnetonka native is currently fourth on the team in goals scored and seventh on the team in points.

The last U player to win the Rookie of the Year Award was Peyton Hemp in 2022.