Photo by: Bill Prout
Ahola and Kyrkkö Named Finalists for WCHA Awards
3/4/2025 2:01:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Ahola selected as finalist for Goaltender of the Year, Kyrkkö tabbed as Rookie of the Year finalist
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – St. Cloud State Women's Hockey goaltender duo were named finalists for conference awards as the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) announced its award finalists on Tuesday. Fifth year goaltender Sanni Ahola (Helsinki, Finland) was selected as a Goaltender of the Year finalist, while freshman goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland) was named a finalist for Rookie of the Year. The pair earned all-conference honors on Monday as Ahola was named to the All-WCHA Third Team and Kyrkkö was a WCHA All-Rookie Team pick.
St. Cloud State Women's Hockey has had two netminders selected as WCHA Goaltender of the Year – Emma Polusny in 2023-24 and Ahola in 2023-24, but the Huskies have never had a player named Rookie of the Year.
Ahola became the second netminder to earn All-WCHA honors twice (First Team – 2023-24) after Polusny (Third Team in 2017-18 and First Team in 2021-22) and the third goaltender overall after Polusny and Lauri St. Jacques (Third Team in 2005-06).
During league play this season, Ahola posted a 2.58 goals against average and a .916 save percentage in 13 starts. She also recorded one shutout. Among other WCHA netminders in conference play, the Helsinki, Finland native was No. 4 in SV%, No. 4 in saves/game (26.69), No. 6 in GAA, tied for No. 6 in shutouts/game (0.08), No. 8 in total saves (347) and tied for No. 8 in shootouts (one).
For the season as a whole, the fifth year posted a 2.22 GAA and a .917 SV% in 19 starts, posting an 8-8-3 record with two shutouts. For the second consecutive season, Ahola was named to the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) Women's Goalie of the Year Award Watch List and she finished her Husky career ranked No. 1 in career wins (35), No. 1 in career shutouts (10), No. 4 in career goals against average (2.62), No. 5 in career saves (2,339), No. 5 in career save percentage (.926), No. 5 in season goals against average (2.23) and tied for 10th in season shutouts (2).
Kyrkkö was the fifth goalie to be an All-Rookie Team member following Julie Friend (2011-12), Janine Alder (2016-17), Polusny (2017-18) and Ahola (2020-21). Ahola was also the WCHA Goaltender of the Year in 2023-24.
During WCHA games this season, Kyrkkö posted a 2.10 goals against average and a .921 save percentage in 16 games/15 starts. Her record was 6-6-3 and she tallied two shutouts. Among all WCHA goaltenders in conference play, the freshman ranked No. 3 in GAA, No. 3 in SV%, No. 3 in shutouts/game (0.13), tied for No. 7 in shutouts (two), No. 7 in total saves (384) and No. 7 in saves/game (24.00).
For the whole season, the Nokia, Finland native owned a GAA of 1.98 and a SV% of .926, posting a 7-7-3 record in 18 games/17 starts with three shutouts. During the regular season, she was named WCHA Goaltender of the Week twice (Oct. 7 and Oct. 28), Rookie of the Week once (Oct. 21) and Rookie of the Month once (October). She was laos named the HCA National rookie of the Month (October) and was named to the HCA Women's Goalie of the Year Award Watch List. She finished the season No. 1 in career goals against average (1.99), No. 3 in career save percentage (.926), No. 3 in season goals against average (1.99), tied for fifth in season shutouts (three) and tied for sixth in season save percentage (.926).
To read the WCHA release, click here.
2024-25 ALL-WCHA AWARD FINALISTS
Goaltender of the Year
Sanni Ahola
Rookie of the Year
Emilia Kyrkkö
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
St. Cloud State Women's Hockey has had two netminders selected as WCHA Goaltender of the Year – Emma Polusny in 2023-24 and Ahola in 2023-24, but the Huskies have never had a player named Rookie of the Year.
Ahola became the second netminder to earn All-WCHA honors twice (First Team – 2023-24) after Polusny (Third Team in 2017-18 and First Team in 2021-22) and the third goaltender overall after Polusny and Lauri St. Jacques (Third Team in 2005-06).
During league play this season, Ahola posted a 2.58 goals against average and a .916 save percentage in 13 starts. She also recorded one shutout. Among other WCHA netminders in conference play, the Helsinki, Finland native was No. 4 in SV%, No. 4 in saves/game (26.69), No. 6 in GAA, tied for No. 6 in shutouts/game (0.08), No. 8 in total saves (347) and tied for No. 8 in shootouts (one).
For the season as a whole, the fifth year posted a 2.22 GAA and a .917 SV% in 19 starts, posting an 8-8-3 record with two shutouts. For the second consecutive season, Ahola was named to the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) Women's Goalie of the Year Award Watch List and she finished her Husky career ranked No. 1 in career wins (35), No. 1 in career shutouts (10), No. 4 in career goals against average (2.62), No. 5 in career saves (2,339), No. 5 in career save percentage (.926), No. 5 in season goals against average (2.23) and tied for 10th in season shutouts (2).
Kyrkkö was the fifth goalie to be an All-Rookie Team member following Julie Friend (2011-12), Janine Alder (2016-17), Polusny (2017-18) and Ahola (2020-21). Ahola was also the WCHA Goaltender of the Year in 2023-24.
During WCHA games this season, Kyrkkö posted a 2.10 goals against average and a .921 save percentage in 16 games/15 starts. Her record was 6-6-3 and she tallied two shutouts. Among all WCHA goaltenders in conference play, the freshman ranked No. 3 in GAA, No. 3 in SV%, No. 3 in shutouts/game (0.13), tied for No. 7 in shutouts (two), No. 7 in total saves (384) and No. 7 in saves/game (24.00).
For the whole season, the Nokia, Finland native owned a GAA of 1.98 and a SV% of .926, posting a 7-7-3 record in 18 games/17 starts with three shutouts. During the regular season, she was named WCHA Goaltender of the Week twice (Oct. 7 and Oct. 28), Rookie of the Week once (Oct. 21) and Rookie of the Month once (October). She was laos named the HCA National rookie of the Month (October) and was named to the HCA Women's Goalie of the Year Award Watch List. She finished the season No. 1 in career goals against average (1.99), No. 3 in career save percentage (.926), No. 3 in season goals against average (1.99), tied for fifth in season shutouts (three) and tied for sixth in season save percentage (.926).
To read the WCHA release, click here.
2024-25 ALL-WCHA AWARD FINALISTS
Goaltender of the Year
Sanni Ahola
Rookie of the Year
Emilia Kyrkkö
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Goaltender
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Goaltender
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