WAKEFIELD, Mass. – University of Vermont forwards Alyssa Gorecki and Ève-Audrey Picard have been recognized by Hockey East as part of the conference's weekly awards for the period ending February 26. Announced Monday by the league, Gorecki has been named the Hockey East Player of the Week, while Picard has been honored with Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week laurels.

RELATED LINKS
Hockey East Release
 
It is Gorecki's second Player of the Week selection as well as Picard's first Rookie of the Week award. Picard was previously named the Hockey East Co-Player of the Week on October 10.
 
Gorecki notched three goals and three assists this past weekend as the Catamounts battled back from a 1-0 series deficit to take down Providence at Schneider Arena in the Hockey East Quarterfinals. In the series opener on Friday (Feb. 24), the sophomore netted a third period power play tally, also being credited an assist on Daria O'Neill's goal earlier in the period while on the advantage.
 
A native of Monee, Illinois, she dished out two helpers in the Green and Gold's convincing 5-1 win in Game 2 of the series against the Friars (Feb. 25). In the decisive Game 3 on Sunday (Feb. 26), she put Vermont on the board in the first period and extended UVM's lead to 4-0 with another power play goal in the middle stanza.
 
Picard also was one of several Catamounts who had an instrumental role in the series. The Longueuil, Quebec product finished the weekend with four goals and two assists. After opening the series with a goal and assist in Game 1, she proceeded to score Vermont's first-ever Hockey East postseason penalty shot goal on Saturday. On Sunday, Picard helped seal the series with an early power play goal as well as an empty netter in the third period, notching an assist in between on Saana Valkama's goal.
 
She is the second Catamount rookie in program history to have a multi-goal game in the playoffs, following's Valkama pair at Boston University on Feb. 27, 2016. Dating back to the regular season, Picard has lit the lamp in four of her last five games.
 
Seeded fifth in the Hockey East Tournament, the Catamounts are now in the midst of preparations for the conference semifinals and a meeting with top-seeded Boston College. That game will take place on Saturday (March 4) at 1:30 p.m. from Walter Brown Arena in Boston. Fans can purchase tickets for the Hockey East Semifinals in advance via Ticketmaster or by calling (800) 745-3000. The trip to the semifinals is just the second for Vermont in program history and first since the 2013-14 season.

Hockey East Weekly Awards–February 27, 2017
Hockey East Player of the Week: Alyssa Gorecki, Vermont
Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week: Ève-Audrey Picard, Vermont
Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week: Katie Burt, Boston College
 
The Windjammer Restaurant and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2016-17 women's hockey season