WAKEFIELD, Mass. – Senior Hayley Scamurra of the Northeastern women's hockey team was named the Best Defensive Forward in Hockey East, as announced by the league on Wednesday during its preliminary postseason awards release. 

Scamurra ranks second on the team and fourth in Hockey East with a plus-27 rating in 35 games this season, including a team-high plus-19 rating in league play. The Williamsville, New York native has also blocked 41 shots, which ranks second among NU forwards (Paige Savage, 52), and leads the Huskies with 321 faceoff wins in 2016-17.

Centering NU's top line with juniors Denisa Krizova and McKenna Brand, Scamurra has racked up 31 points on eight goals and 23 assists in her senior season. Scamurra's 111 career points are tied for the 19th-most in program history, while her 72 career assists are tied for ninth in the program record books. 

In addition to Scamurra's honor, senior Heather Mottau was named the runner up for Hockey East's Best Defenseman (Megan Keller, BC), while Brand was named the runner up for the ARMY ROTC Three Stars Award (Jonna Curtis, UNH).

Currently riding a three-game goal streak, Mottau has posted 17 points on nine goals and eight assists in 35 games this season. The Milton, Massachusetts native ranks as the sixth-highest scoring defenseman in program history with 83 points and needs just two more points to break into the top five.

Brand leads the Huskies with 23 goals, including a team-high 18 in league play. The Nevis, Minnesota native is tied for third in the nation in goal scoring, while her five game-winning goals are tied for seventh nationally. 

Hockey East will announce the remainder of its postseason awards (All-Star teams, Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year) on Friday evening as part of its annual Championship
banquet. 
 

Hockey East Preliminary Postseason Awards
Best Defensive Forward	Hayley Scamurra, Northeastern
Runner Up	Brooke Stacey, Maine
Best Defenseman	Megan Keller, Boston College
Runner Up	Heather Mottau, Northeastern
ARMY ROTC Three Stars Award	Jonna Curtis, New Hampshire
Runner Up	McKenna Brand, Northeastern
Runner Up	Brooke Boquist, Providence
Runner Up	Andie Anastos, Boston College
Scoring Champion	Victoria Bach, Boston University
Runner Up	Jonna Curtis, New Hampshire
Sportsmanship Award	Cassidy Carels, Providence
Runner Up	Andie Anastos, Boston College
Runner Up	MJ Pelletier, New Hampshire

 

Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team

Defenseman: Abby Cook, Boston University

Defenseman: Whitney Dove, Providence

Forward: Delaney Belinskas, Boston College

Forward: Caitrin Lonergan, Boston College

Forward: Eve-Audrey Picard, Vermont

Forward: Tereza Vanisova, Maine