BOSTON – University of Vermont senior goaltender Madison Litchfield as well as junior defenseman and tri-captain Taylor Willard have been named Hockey East Second Team All-Stars for the 2016-17 season, as voted upon by the league's head coaches. The conference made the announcement Friday evening at its Championship Awards Banquet.

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The All-Star honor is Litchfield's first of her career. It is Willard's second as a Catamount, having earned the same recognition in 2016.
 
A native Vermonter from Williston, Litchfield has backstopped the Cats in 23 games this season, compiling a 2.03 goals against average and a 10-6-6 record in the process. The winningest netminder in program history, she also sits fourth in the UVM record book with 2,221 career saves. Most recently in Vermont's Hockey East Quarterfinal series against Providence last weekend, Litchfield made 83 saves, including a .948 save percentage in the final two games.
 
"This is a tremendous honor for Madi and illustrates both how much she has improved and how valuable she has been to the team's success this year," said head coach Jim Plumer. "I really tip my cap to her for putting in the work and seeing it pay off. She deserves it."
 
Willard has appeared in all 37 games this season for the Catamounts and provided three goals plus 11 assists throughout the campaign. She has also contributed 41 blocked shots, a mark that is tied for the team lead with sophomore Daria O'Neill. Last weekend in at Providence, Willard notched a goal and an assist, including the game-winner on Saturday (Feb. 25) to force a decisive third contest. To date this season, Vermont is 7-3-1 when the Naperville, Illinois native registers a point.
 
"I'm thrilled for Taylor that my fellow Hockey East coaches recognized her impact on the game," Plumer said. "She had played huge minutes for us all season and has quarterbacked our defensive corps. She's clearly one of the most dominant defensemen in our league."
 
Friday's announcement marks the sixth and seventh time that Hockey East has lauded a Catamount with All-Star recognition. Prior to Willard's first selection in 2016, Gina Repaci and Amanda Pelkey were named to the second team in 2014. Former goaltender Roxanne Douville is the only Catamount to make the first team, doing so in both 2013 and 2014.
 
Vermont is currently concluding preparations for the Hockey East Semifinals and a meeting with top-seed Boston College. That game will take place on Saturday (March 4) at 1:30 p.m. from Walter Brown Arena in Boston, with the winner advancing to face either Boston University or Northeastern for the conference title. Tickets can be purchased in advance via Ticketmaster or by calling (800) 745-3000.
 
2016-17 Hockey East First Team All-Stars
G:  Victoria Hanson, Boston University
D:  Megan Keller, Boston College
D:  Amy Schlagel, New Hampshire
F:  Victoria Bach, Boston University
F:  McKenna Brand, Northeastern
F:   Jonna Curtis, New Hampshire
 
2016-17 Hockey East Second Team All-Stars
G:  Madison Litchfield, Vermont
D:  Heather Mottau, Northeastern
D:  Taylor Willard, Vermont
F:  Denisa Krížová, Northeastern
F:  Makenna Newkirk, Boston College
F:  Mary Parker, Boston University
 
The Windjammer Restaurant and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2016-17 women's hockey season