Illikainen and Tyke Receive WCHA All-Team Honors

St. Cloud, Minn. --- On Thursday March 3 the WCHA released the 2015-16 season awards and among the talented group of student-athletes were St. Cloud's own forward duo, senior Molly Illikainen and freshmen, Julia Tylke.

The senior from Grand Rapids, Minn. etched her name on the All-WCHA Third Team and leaves her mark on the program after sparking the Huskies' best season since 2009-10 with a career-high 17 goals and 32 points, including 14 goals, 10 assists and 24 points in conference contests.

After a standout first season in the cardinal red and black, Tylke was named to the WCHA-All Rookie Team. Tylke tied for second among WCHA rookies with nine-goals, 15-assist, 24-point overall stat lines, while the Huskies' forward tied for the league lead with three game-winning strikes.

St. Cloud State also landed 12 student-athletes on the WCHA All-Academic team, which is comprised of 121 student-athletes representing all eight WCHA women's-member institutions. Those student-athletes include; Brittney Anderson, Hanna Brodt, Alyssa Erickson, Lauren Hespenheide, Molly Illikainen,Caroline Markstrom, Christa Moody, Payge Pena, Jenna Redford, Lexi Slattery, Vanessa Spataro, Emma Turbyville.

To qualify for the WCHA All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have completed one year of eligibility at present institution, prior to the current academic year and have a GPA of at least 3.0 for the previous two semesters or three quarters.

2015-16 WCHA Awards

Player of the Year: Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin
Defensive Player of the Year: Ivana Bilic, Sr., D, Bemidji State
Rookie of the Year: Sarah Potomak, Fr., F, Minnesota
Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year: Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Sr., G, North Dakota
Coach of the Year: Mark Johnson, Wisconsin
Scoring Champion: Dani Cameranesi, Jr., F, Minnesota
Goaltending Champion: Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin

All-WCHA First Team

Forwards: Hannah Brandt, Sr., Minnesota; Annie Pankowski, So. Wisconsin; Dani Cameranesi, Jr., Minnesota
Defensemen: Lee Stecklein, Jr., Minnesota; Courtney Burke, Sr., Wisconsin
Goaltender: Ann-Renée Desbiens, Jr., G, Wisconsin

All-WCHA Second Team

Forwards: Emily Clark, So., Wisconsin; Ashleigh Brykaliuk, Jr., Minnesota Duluth; Amy Menke, Jr., North Dakota
Defensemen: Jenny Ryan, Jr., Wisconsin; Milica McMillen, Sr., Minnesota
Goaltender: Brittni Mowat, Jr., Bemidji State

All-WCHA Third Team

Forwards: Sarah Nurse, Jr., Wisconsin; Sarah Potomak, Fr., Minnesota; Molly Illikainen, Sr., St. Cloud State
Defensemen: Ivana Bilic, Sr., Bemidji State; Halli Krzyzaniak, Jr., North Dakota
Goaltender: Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Sr., North Dakota

WCHA All-Rookie Team

Forwards: Sarah Potomak, Minnesota; Sam Cogan, Wisconsin; Julia Tylke, St. Cloud State
Defensemen: Lauren Boyle, Ohio State; Anna Kilponen, North Dakota and Melissa Hunt, Bemidji State
Goaltender: Maddie Rooney, Minnesota Duluth