The St. Cloud State Huskies women's ice hockey team is a college ice hockey program representing St. Cloud State University in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) conference of NCAA Division I competition. They play at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
History In 2010, Felicia Nelson became the first Huskies player to be a Top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. The club had a 15–14–8 overall record in 2009–10 and an 11–11–6 mark in the WCHA. The team finished the season in third place. This was the first time in school and league history that St. Cloud State was one of the top three schools in the standings.
In the 2015–16 NCAA season, Katie Fitzgerald was the starting goaltender for the St. Cloud State University Huskies. She would lead all goaltenders in the WCHA conference in shots faced, appearing in 34 games played. Her final win on home ice at St. Cloud took place on February 12, as she made 39 saves in a win against North Dakota, besting All-America goaltender Shelby Amsley-Benzie.
Season-by-season results
1998–99 Kerry Brodt Wethington 8 10 2 WCHA 1999–2000 Kerry Brodt Wethington 13 19 3 WCHA 6 15 4 4th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Ohio State Did not qualify 2000–01 Kerry Brodt Wethington 17 16 2 WCHA 12 10 2 4th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Ohio State Did not qualify 2001–02 Kerry Brodt Wethington 7 26 1 WCHA 6 17 1 6th WCHA Did not qualify Did not qualify 2002–03 Jason Lesteberg 11 23 0 WCHA 5 19 4 6th WCHA Did not qualify Did not qualify 2003–04 Jason Lesteberg 7 24 1 WCHA 4 19 1 6th WCHA Did not qualify Did not qualify 2004–05 Jason Lesteberg 9 22 4 WCHA 7 18 3 6th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Wisconsin Did not qualify 2005–06 Jason Lesteberg 18 18 1 WCHA 13 14 1 4th WCHA Won Quarterfinals vs. Ohio State Lost Semifinals vs. Wisconsin Did not qualify 2006–07 Jeff Giesen 12 18 7 WCHA 7 16 5 7th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota Duluth Did not qualify 2007–08 Jeff Giesen 18 15 5 WCHA 11 13 4 4th WCHA Won Quarterfinals vs. Ohio State Lost Semifinals vs. Minnesota Duluth Did not qualify 2008–09 Jeff Giesen 15 18 4 WCHA 11 14 3 4th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota State Did not qualify 2009–10 Jeff Giesen 15 14 8 WCHA 11 11 6 3rd WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Bemidji State Did not qualify 2010–11 Jeff Giesen 1 33 1 WCHA 1 26 1 8th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Wisconsin Did not qualify 2011–12 Jeff Giesen 5 29 2 WCHA 4 24 0 7th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota Did not qualify 2012–13 Jeff Giesen 9 24 3 WCHA 5 21 2 7th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Wisconsin Did not qualify 2013–14 Jeff Giesen 4 27 5 WCHA 3 21 4 8th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota Did not qualify 2014–15 Eric Rud 8 28 1 WCHA 5 22 1 7th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Wisconsin Did not qualify 2015–16 Eric Rud 14 18 2 WCHA 10 16 2 5th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. North Dakota Did not qualify 2016–17 Eric Rud 9 23 4 WCHA 7 18 3 6th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota Duluth Did not qualify 2017–18 Eric Rud 8 20 5 WCHA 6 14 4 6th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota Did not qualify 2018–19 Eric Rud 10 25 2 WCHA 5 19 0 7th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Wisconsin Did not qualify 2019–20 Steve Macdonald 6 25 4 WCHA 2 21 1 7th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota Did not qualify 2020–21 Steve Macdonald 6 12 1 WCHA 6 12 1 6th WCHA Did not qualify Did not qualify 2021–22 Steve Macdonald 9 23 3 WCHA 4 20 3 7th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Ohio State Did not qualify 2022–23 Brian Idalski 18 18 1 WCHA 11 16 1 5th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota Duluth Did not qualify 2023–24 Brian Idalski 17 17 2 WCHA 12 14 2 5th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota Duluth Did not qualify 2024–25 Brian Idalski 15 15 6 WCHA 10 13 5 5th WCHA Lost Quarterfinals vs. Minnesota Duluth Did not qualify
Current roster
Coaching staff Head coach: Mira Jalosuo Associate head coach: Jinelle Zaugg-Siergiej Assistant coach: Noora Räty Assistant coach: Emily Ach
Awards and honors NCAA Division I Patty Kazmaier Award The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is awarded annually to the national player of the year in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey.
Top-10 finalists 2009–10: Felicia Nelson
Nominees 2009–10: Caitlin Hogan
All-Americans All-American selections are made by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA).
Second Team 2009–10: Felicia Nelson (F)
National Players of the Month National Player of the Month honors are awarded by the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA).
Goaltender October 2023: Sanni Ahola December 2023: Sanni Ahola
WCHA Player of the Year 2009–10: Felicia Nelson (co-winner with Zuzana Tomčíková of Bemidji State)
Student-Athlete of the Year 2009–10: Caitlin Hogan
Goaltender of the Year The WCHA Goaltender of the Year has been awarded since the 2017–18 season. It should not be confused with the Goaltending Champion, which is awarded to the goaltender with the best goals against average (GAA) in WCHA play (only in-conference statistics are included) and has been awarded since the 1999–2000 season. 2021–22: Emma Polusny 2023–24: Sanni Ahola
Coach of the Year 2000–01: Kerry Wethington (co-winner with Laura Halldorson of Minnesota) 2022–23: Brian Idalski (co-winner with Nadine Muzerall of Ohio State)
All-WCHA
First Team 2021–22: Emma Polusny (G) 2023–24: Sanni Ahola (G)
Second Team 2000–01: Ricki-Lee Doyle (F), Kobi Kawamoto (D), Fiona McLeod (D) 2001–02: Kobi Kawamoto (D) 2002–03: Kobi Kawamoto (D) 2005–06: Kristy Oonincx (F) 2009–10: Felicia Nelson (F), Holly Roberts (F)
Third Team 2005–06: Hailey Clarkson (F), Lauri St. Jacques (G) 2009–10: Caitlin Hogan (F) 2015–16: Molly Illikainen (F) 2017–18: Emma Polusny (G) 2023–24: Emma Gentry (F)
All-Rookie Team
2002–03: Kelly Stewart (D) 2006–07: Holly Roberts (F) 2011–12: Julie Friend (G) 2015–16: Julia Tylke (F) 2016–17: Janine Alder (G) 2017–18: Emma Polusny (G) 2019–20: Klára Hymlárová (F) 2020–21: Sanni Ahola (G)
Monthly honors
Forward of the Month
Defender of the Month November 2015: Katie Fitzgerald
Goaltender of the Month November 2022: Sanni Ahola October 2023: Sanni Ahola December 2023: Sanni Ahola
Rookie of the Month December 2019: Klára Hymlárová January 2020: Olivia Cvar October 2024: Emilia Kyrkkö
Statistical leaders Felicia Nelson, NCAA leader, 2009–10 season, Goals per game, 0.91
Huskies in professional hockey
Player Position Team(s) League(s) Years ChampionshipsHannah BatesDefenceConnecticut WhalePHF2021–2023 Katie FitzgeraldGoaltenderMetropolitan RivetersPHF, PWHPA2016–2020 1 (2018)Klára HymlárováForwardMinnesota FrostPWHL2024–2025 1 (2025)Linnea MelotindosForwardIlvesNaisten Liiga2022–presentJenniina NylundCentreBrynäs IFSDHL2023–presentMeaghan PezonForwardMinnesota WhitecapsPHF2018–2023 1 (2019)Emma PolusnyGoaltenderLeksands IFSDHL2022–presentKelsey RussellForwardLinköping HCSDHL2022–present
See also St. Cloud State Huskies St. Cloud State University St. Cloud State Huskies men's ice hockey
References