BOSTON – Three members of the Northeastern women's hockey team were honored as Hockey East All-Stars at the league's annual postseason banquet on Friday evening at the Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge. Junior forward McKenna Brand was recognized as a First-Team All-Star, while junior forward Denisa Krizova and senior defenseman Heather Mottau took home Second-Team All-Star laurels.

Following a 10-goal sophomore campaign, Brand has exploded onto the collegiate scene in her third season on Huntington Avenue with 23 goals through 35 games. Brand's 13-goal increase is tied for the best mark in the nation among returning players, while her 23 total goals are tied for the third-highest mark in the NCAA overall. The Nevis, Minnesota native led the team with 18 goals against Hockey East opponents, including five game-winners and three shorthanded tallies. With Brand's First-Team honor, Northeastern has now had at least one First-Team All-Star in each of the last six seasons. 

A model of consistency, Krizova earned Second-Team All-Star recognition for the second straight year. The Horni Cerekev, Czech Republic native has notched at least one point in 25 of 32 games and leads Northeastern with 44 points on 18 goals and 26 assists. A two-time WHEA Player of the Month, Krizova enters the weekend riding an eight-game point streak, during which she has compiled 16 points on six goals and 10 assists. Krizova recently broke into the program's top-10 in all-time scoring with 138 career points in 102 collegiate games.

The runner-up for the Best Defenseman in Hockey East, Mottau earned postseason All-Star laurels for the fourth straight season. Mottau's nine goals are tied for the third-most among defensemen in the league this season, while her two game-winning tallies are tied for second among WHEA blue-liners. The Milton, Massachusetts native enters the weekend as the sixth-highest scoring defenseman in program history with 83 career points, and needs just two more points to break into the top five.

On Wednesday, senior Hayley Scamurra was also honored as Hockey East's Best Defensive Forward. 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. Scamurra is the second player in program history (Casey Pickett) to win Hockey East's Best Defensive Forward Award.

The Huskies (21-11-3) will battle Boston University on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in the Hockey East semifinals at BU's Walter Brown Arena. To purchase tickets, click here.
 

First-Team Hockey East All-Stars
Position	Player	Year	Team
Goaltender	Victoria Hanson	Sr.	Boston University
Defenseman	Megan Keller	Jr.	Boston College
Defenseman	Amy Schlagel	Jr.	New Hampshire
Forward	Victoria Bach	Jr.	Boston University
Forward	McKenna Brand	Jr.	Northeastern
Forward	Jonna Curtis	Sr.	New Hampshire

 

Second-Team Hockey East All-Stars
Position	Player	Year	Team
Goaltender	Madison Litchfield	Sr.	Vermont
Defenseman	Heather Mottau	Sr.	Northeastern
Defenseman	Taylor Willard	Jr.	Vermont
Forward	Denisa Krizova	Jr.	Northeastern
Forward	Makenna Newkirk	So.	Boston College
Forward	Mary Parker	Sr.	Boston University

 

Honorable Mention Hockey East All-Stars
Position	Player	Year	Team
Goaltender	Annie Belanger	Jr.	Connecticut
Goaltender	Katie Burt	Jr.	Boston College
Defenseman	Whitney Dove	Fr.	Providence
Defenseman	Kali Flanagan	Jr.	Boston College
Defenseman	Kate Friesen	So.	Providence
Forward	Andie Anastos	Sr.	Boston College
Forward	Cassidy Carels	Sr.	Providence
Forward	Brooke Stacey	Jr.	Maine

Player of the Year: Megan Keller, Boston College

Pro Ambitions Rookies of the Year: Whitney Dove, Providence; Tereza Vanisova, Maine

Hockey East Coach of the Year: Bob Deraney, Providence