AMESBURY, Mass. – Graduate defenseman Sini Karjalainen was named Army ROTC Hockey East Defender of the Year by the league office Wednesday. She shares the honor with Northeastern's Megan Carter. Karjalainen is the second Catamount in program history to receive the honor. It is the second straight year that a Husky and Catamount have shared the award after Skylar Fontaine and Maude Poulin-Labelle did so in 2021-22.
 
"What a tremendous honor for Sini, who saved her best for last this season," said Head Coach Jim Plumer.  "She has always been a consistent performer for us but this year she has taken her game to another level.  She is always playing against the other teams' top line, and she is a shutdown defender who has now added an offensive element to our game.  She's had a fantastic twelve months, winning an Olympic Bronze medal last year and now leading our team to another historic season.  She has really left her mark on our program."
 
In 27 league games this season Karjalainen has two goals and 19 assists for 21 points. She also carries a +20 in league action, ninth best in Hockey East and fourth best among defenseman, playing top minutes against teams' top lines all year. Overall this season she has 23 assists, tying a program single season record.
 
On Wednesday, Hockey East also announced the Pro Ambitions All-Rookie Team. First year forward Lara Beecher was named to the squad. In league play this season she had eight goals and 10 assists. She also scored three game-winning goals in conference for the Catamounts.
 
Vermont will host the eight-seed New Hampshire in a Hockey East Quarterfinal at Gutterson Fieldhouse on Saturday, February 25 at 1 p.m. Tickets are available now at https://go.uvm.edu/23qtr. Youth players 12 and under will receive free admission if they're wearing a jersey.
 
Like all regular season action in Hockey East the quarterfinals and semifinals will air live on ESPN+. The Hockey East Championship is scheduled for Saturday, March 4 at noon and the game will air live nationally on ESPNU. The quarterfinal will also be available on a pay-per-view basis outside of North America at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hockeyeast. Subscriptions to the service are available for $9.99 USD per month or $4.99 USD for individual games.

The Windjammer Inn and Conference Center is the presenting sponsor of the UVM women's hockey program