March 6, 2008

Niagara University, N.Y. - The Wayne State University women's hockey team had a league-high six players receive All-CHA honors. Junior forwards Melissa Boal (Pakenham, Ont./Ottawa Raiders) and Sam Poyton (Hamilton, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres) along with senior goalie Valery Turcotte (Jonquiere, Quebec/Royal Metabetchouan) were named First Team All-CHA. Earning Second Team All-CHA honors were juniors Lindsay DiPietro (Manotick, Ont./Ottawa Lady Senators) and Tina Vanderhoeven (London, Ont./London Juniors/Team Ontario) along with sophomore Chelsea Burnett (Ridgeway, Ont./Stoney Creek Sabres).

Head coach Jim Fetter garnered Coach of the Year honors for the third straight season after leading the Warriors to a share of their first CHA regular season title with a school record 21 wins and first national ranking in school history.

Boal was a unanimous selection along with Mercyhurst's Meghan Agosta. She leads the nation in points with 68, is second in assists with 34 and third nationally in goals with 34. Boal also was named Offensive Player of the Week five times during the regular season.

Poyton was the third forward selected. She is tied for the national lead in goals with 37 and leads the NCAA with 13 game-winning goals and also garnered Offensive Player of the Week honors five times.

There was a tie between Turcotte and Robert Morris junior Brianne McLaughlin for First Team netminder honors. Turcotte led the league in wins with nine, save percentage at .928 and minutes played at 728. She also earned Defensive Player of the Week honors three times.

DiPietro is the national leader in assists with 47 in just 32 games and ranks fourth nationally with 62 points in the regular-season.

Vanderhoeven led all conference blueliners in overall plus/minus rating at +25 and also contributed 12 points offensively.

Burnett finished second in overall scoring among defensemen with 18 points during the regular season which also ranks 25th nationally in defensive points per game. Burnett was named Defensive Player of the Week once during the regular season, while Vanderhoeven earned the honor twice.

2007-08 FIRST TEAM ALL-CHA

Meghan Agosta*, Mercyhurst-Sophmore Forward, Ruthven, Ontario

Melissa Boal*, Wayne State-Junior Forward, Pakenham, Ontario

Sam Poyton, Wayne State-Junior Forward, Hamilton, Ontario

Shannon Moulson*, Niagara-Senior Defense, Mississauga, Ontario

Natalie Payne*, Mercyhurst-Junior Defense, Mississauga, Ontario

Brianne McLaughlin, Robert Morris-Junior Goalie, Sheffield Village, Ohio

Valery Turcotte, Wayne State-Senior Goalie, Jonquiere, Quebec

2007-08 SECOND TEAM ALL-CHA

Valerie Chouinard, Mercyhurst-Junior Forward, Matane, Quebec

Ashley Riggs, Niagara-Junior Forward, Pickering, Ontario

Lindsay DiPietro, Wayne State-Junior Forward, Manotick, Ontario

Tina Vanderhoeven, Wayne State-Junior Defense, London, Ontario

Chelsea Burnett, Wayne State-Sophomore Defense, Ridgeway, Ontario

* Indicates unanimous selection