Photo by: Bill Prout
Kyrkkö Named to HCA Goalie of the Year Award Watch List
1/14/2026 1:01:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Sophomore netminder owns .936 save percentage and 2.04 goals against average this season
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Women's Hockey sophomore goaltender Emilia Kyrkkö (Nokia, Finland) was named to the Hockey Commissioners Association (HCA) Goalie of the Year Award Watch List, as announced by the organization on Wednesday. It is the second consecutive season Kyrkkö has been named to the watch list.
The HCA National Women's Goalie of the Year Award was created in 2021 to recognize the top female goalie in NCAA Division I Hockey.
Kyrkkö is one of four Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) players on the 31-member watch list. The goalies to watch come from all five NCAA Division I conferences with 16 from the United States, ten from Canada, and five from Europe (two from Finland and Sweden and one from Denmark).
In her sophomore season, Kyrkkö has made 11 appearances/10 starts and owns a 5-4-1 record, 2.04 goals against average and .936 save percentage with three shutouts. She has been named WCHA Goaltender of the Week once this season (Dec. 1) and was recently named to Team Finland ahead for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, Milano Cortina. Among all DI netminders she ranks No. 8 in shutouts, No. 11 in SV% and No. 15 in GAA this season.
This initial "Watch List" of outstanding goalies is comprised of those with a goals against average of 2.20 or lower or a save percentage of .923 or higher. A committee of voters — made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, and media — will pare this list down within the next two weeks and then ultimately choose the winner who will be announced in March during the NCAA Frozen Four. NOTE: The process allows for goalies not on this first list to be considered before the first vote.
HCA Release (web) | HCA Release (pdf)| WCHA Release
2026 HCA Goalie of the Year Award Watch List
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.
The HCA National Women's Goalie of the Year Award was created in 2021 to recognize the top female goalie in NCAA Division I Hockey.
Kyrkkö is one of four Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) players on the 31-member watch list. The goalies to watch come from all five NCAA Division I conferences with 16 from the United States, ten from Canada, and five from Europe (two from Finland and Sweden and one from Denmark).
In her sophomore season, Kyrkkö has made 11 appearances/10 starts and owns a 5-4-1 record, 2.04 goals against average and .936 save percentage with three shutouts. She has been named WCHA Goaltender of the Week once this season (Dec. 1) and was recently named to Team Finland ahead for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, Milano Cortina. Among all DI netminders she ranks No. 8 in shutouts, No. 11 in SV% and No. 15 in GAA this season.
This initial "Watch List" of outstanding goalies is comprised of those with a goals against average of 2.20 or lower or a save percentage of .923 or higher. A committee of voters — made up of a cross section of coaches, administrators, and media — will pare this list down within the next two weeks and then ultimately choose the winner who will be announced in March during the NCAA Frozen Four. NOTE: The process allows for goalies not on this first list to be considered before the first vote.
HCA Release (web) | HCA Release (pdf)| WCHA Release
2026 HCA Goalie of the Year Award Watch List
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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