April 1, 2006

DETROIT, Mich. - The Wayne State University women's hockey team held its annual year-end awards ceremony on Saturday, April 1 at St. Andrew's in Detroit.

Freshman Melissa Boal (Pakenham, Ont./Ottawa Raiders) was honored as the team's Most Valuable Player. Just 35 games into her collegiate career, Boal had an enormous impact on the team this year, setting several single-season records and rapidly climbing the all-time lists in several categories. She became the first Warrior in history to score four goals in a game on Feb. 25 against Robert Morris and established several new WSU single-season marks, including points (48), assists (25), and power-play goals (11). She ranks fourth all-time in points and is the active leader on the team. She also set new College Hockey America records for shots on goal (201), power-play goals, and power-play points (26).

Due to her display of scoring prowess this season, Boal was also presented with the "Top Gun" award, as her 48 points marked a team high, and her 25 assists tied for the team lead with classmate Lindsay DiPietro (Manotick, Ont./Ottawa Lady Senators).

Rookie of the Year honors went to Sam Poyton (Hamilton, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres), who set a school record on Jan. 20 against Rensselaer when she scored her 16th goal of the season, breaking the previous mark set by Emily McGrath-Agg in the 2003-04 campaign. By the end of the regular season, Poyton tallied 29 goals, matching the CHA record. She currently stands as the active goal-scoring leader on the team and in second on the all-time list behind former Warrior Kelly Zamora (34).

Sophomore forward Kristy Leng (Lindenhurst, Ill./Wisconsin Wild) earned Most Improved Player honors, as she set career-highs in assists (7) and points (11) during the 2005-06 campaign. She also set a school record for assists in a period, tallying three in the second period on Jan. 21 against Rensselaer.

Senior blueliner Peyton Patterson (Brampton, Ont./Toronto Sting) earned the Best Defenseman award for the second straight year. With career-highs in assists (12) and points (13) this season, Patterson climbed her way into the WSU record books, as her 27 career points rank tied-for-15th all-time and her 24 assists tie for ninth.

Sophomore Ashley King (Winnipeg, Man./River East Lightning) was presented with the President's Award for academic success. A marketing major, King has the highest cumulative grade-point average on the team.

The Coaches' Award was given to senior Jessica Snelgrove (Tecumseh, Ont./Team Ontario), who was also honored for her service as the team captain this past season. The recipient of the CHA Student-Athlete of the Year Award, Snelgrove ranks on the school's top 10 all-time lists for points (39), goals (15), and assists (24).