WESTFIELD, Mass. -- In a historic moment for the conference, Rivier's Rebecca McKelvey and Worcester State's Kelsey Czerniawski earn the first-ever MASCAC Women's Ice Hockey Player and Defensive Player of the Year and headline the 2024-25 All-Conference team as voted on by the coaches from around the conference prior to the tournament.
Earning the first MASCAC Women's Ice Hockey Player of the Year honors in conference history, McKelvey, a sophomore forward from Barre, Vt., led the MASCAC in points at 31 and goals with 19 while adding 12 assists. She netted three game-winners and six on the power play to finish at a +12 rating. She ended the season tied for 15th nationally in points per game with 1.15. Eight times this season, McKelvey registered two or more points with her top game coming in the win over Framingham State where she had two goals and three assists.
Czerniawski, a junior goalie from Chicopee, Mass. was a force in goal for the Lancers to earn the 2024- 25 MASCAC Women's Ice Hockey Defensive Player of the Year honors. She led the conference in save percentage at .958 which is also the fifth-best in Division III while also making 639 stops, another conference best. She also registered a 1.71 goals against average while helping the team to eight wins and two ties. Over the regular season slate, she allowed one goal or less over nine contests with three games of 50 or more saves.
Landing the 2024-25 MASCAC Women's Ice Hockey Rookie of the Year is Emily Johns of Worcester State. The first year forward from Clinton, Mass. had a solid start to her collegiate career, netting 12 goals and eight assists for 20 points with a +23 rating, all in the top of the MASCAC. She also collected three game-winner goals and one on the power play. The seven-time Rookie of the Week tallied a point over more in 13 of her 26 games she played.
In her first season at the helm and after leading the Raiders to their best season with 15 wins, Marykate Drinkwater of Rivier was voted the 2024-25 BSN Sports Coach of the Year by her peers.
Joining McKelvey, Czerniawski and Johns on the first team are Jordyn Bleaney of Anna Maria at forward, and Carlen Bertrand of MCLA and Lauren McNeil of Plymouth State on defense.
Landing on the second team are Alexandrea Bednar of MCLA, Katie Porrello of Plymouth State and Sydney Vautour of Worcester State at forward, Molly Dukesherer of Rivier and Caroline Melanson of Worcester State on defense and Rachel Hinkley of Rivier in goal.
2024-25 MASCAC WOMEN'S ICE HOCKEY ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
Player/Institution Class Position Hometown
Jordyn Bleaney, Anna Maria Senior Forward Nanoose Bay, British Columbia Rebecca McKelvey, Rivier Sophomore Forward Barre, Vt.
Emily Johns, Worcester State First Year Forward Clinton, Mass.
Carlen Bertrand, MCLA Sophomore Defense Timmons, Ontario
Lauren McNeil, Plymouth State Graduate Defense Ottawa, Ontario
Kelsey Czerniawski, Worcester State Junior Goalie Chicopee, Mass.
SECOND TEAM
Player/Institution Class Position Hometown
Alexandrea Bednar, MCLA Senior Forward Vita, Manitoba
Katie Porrello, Plymouth State Junior Forward Milford, Conn.
Sydney Vautour, Worcester State Graduate Forward Hamilton, Mass
Molly Dukesherer, Rivier Junior Defense Richland, Mich.
Caroline Melanson, Worcester State Sophomore Defense Wakefield, Mass.
Rachel Hinkley, Rivier Senior Goalie Swedesboro, N.J.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rebecca McKelvey, Rivier Sophomore Forward Barre, Vt.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Kelsey Czerniawski, Worcester State Junior Goalie Chicopee, Mass.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Emily Johns, Worcester State First Year Forward Clinton, Mass.
BSN SPORTS COACH OF THE YEAR
Marykate Drinkwater, Rivier