Women's December Honors: Light Month Still Produces Outstanding Performances
Thursday, January 8, 2026
December was a fairly light month for NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey but a number of athletes managed to stand out above the rest. Five of them have been chosen for top monthly honors by the Women’s Hockey Commissioners Association.
Women’s Forward of the Month: Mackenzie Alexander, SO F, Princeton
(Etobicoke, ON)
Alexander averaged 2.5 PPG in a pair of wins against nationally ranked Colgate and Cornell. She had the hat trick and added an assist in a 6-1 win at Colgate, and followed that by setting up the second goal in a 3-2 win at Cornell the next day. Her 3-2-5 effort helped the Tigers to an 11-4 record at year’s end.
Runners-Up:
Jessica MacKinnon, SO F, Robert Morris
(Clarks Harbour, NS) (4 GP, 2-5-7)
Jamie Nelson, GR F, Minnesota
(Andover, MN) (2 GP, 1-3-4)
Gracie Sacca, SR F, Stonehill
(Manotick, ON) (2 GP, 0-6-6)
Women’s Co-Goalies of the Month: Ava McNaughton, JR G, Wisconsin
(Seven Fields, PA)
Backstopped the top-ranked Badgers to a sweep at #2 Ohio State, allowing a single goal in each game. She had 25 saves in a 2-1 win and followed that with 35 saves in a 6-1 victory. Her numbers for the month: 1.00 GAA with a save percentage of .968. Later in the month, she was named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic Team.
Maggie Hatch, JR G, Robert Morris Cleveland Heights, OH)
Went 3-1 with a .985 save percentage and 0.49 GAA in sweeps of LIU and Syracuse.
Runners-Up:
Reese Keating, JR G, RPI
(Thunder Bay, ON) (2 GP, 2-0-0, 1.00, .964)
Mari Petersen, JR G, Boston University
(Goodwood, ON) (1-1-1, .957, 1.30)
Women’s Defender of the Month: Caroline Harvey, SR F, Wisconsin
(Salem, NH)
The Badgers captain is a three-peat as Defender of the Month. Harvey recorded two goals and two assists in the Wisconsin’s road sweep of Ohio State. She was also named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic Team.
Runners-Up:
Peyten Evans, SR D, Mercyhurst
(Calgary, AB) (2 GP, 2-4-6)
Seina Spadone, SO D, Stonehill
(Buffalo, NY) (2 GP, 2-2-4)
Hailey Maguire, SO D, Dartmouth
(Whitby, ON) (4 GP, 1-2-3)
Maya Serdachny, JR D, UConn
(Edmonton, AB) (2 GP, 0-3-3)
Women’s Rookie of the Month: Nina Rossi, FR F, New Hampshire
(Pittsgrove, NJ)
Rossi led all Hockey East players with 2-3-5 in just three games in December. One of her goals came in a 4-3 win at #6 in the nation Northeastern.
Runners-Up:
Maria Mikaelyan, FR F, St. Cloud State
(Moscow, Russia) (2 GP, 0-4-4)
Carla McSweeney, FR F, Harvard
(Chicago, IL) (2 GP, 2-0-2, 1.0 GPG)
