NWHL announces finalists for five awards

The NWHL just announced its finalists for individual awards being voted on by media and broadcasters. This year, the media is voting on MVP, Goaltender of the Year, Defender of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and the Denna Laing Award.

Jillian Dempsey, Kaleigh Fratkin, Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Shannon Doyle, and Carly Jackson are all finalists for more than one award. Dempsey has an opportunity to win her second MVP award and third Denna Laing Award (the first time Dempsey earned the honor it was called the Perseverance Award). Fratkin is looking to become the first player in NWHL history to win back-to-back Defender of the Year honors. Amanda Leveille and Lovisa Selander also have an opportunity to become the first goalie to win Goaltender of the Year twice.

Here are the four finalists for each award:

MVP

• Jillian Dempsey of the Boston Pride
• Christina Putigna of the Boston Pride
• Kaleigh Fratkin of the Boston Pride
• Mikyla Grant-Mentis of the Toronto Six/

Goaltender of the Year

• Lovisa Selander of the Boston Pride
• Carly Jackson of the Buffalo Beauts
• Amanda Leveille of the Minnesota Whitecaps
• Elaine Chuli of the Toronto Six/

Defender of the Year

• Kaleigh Fratkin of the Boston Pride
• Mallory Souliotis of the Boston Pride
• Shannon Doyle of the Connecticut Whale
• Lindsay Eastwood of the Toronto Six/

Newcomer of the Year

• Sammy Davis of the Boston Pride
• Carly Jackson of the Buffalo Beauts
• Haley Mack of the Minnesota Whitecaps
• Mikyla Grant-Mentis of the Toronto Six/

Denna Laing Award

• Jillian Dempsey of the Boston Pride
• Brooke Stacey of the Buffalo Beauts
• Shannon Doyle of the Connecticut Whale
• Saroya Tinker of the Metropolitan Riveters/

The winners of these awards (and others) will be announced on “NWHL Open Ice” on Twitch hosted by Katie Gaus in a special live stream at twitch.tv/NWHL on Wednesday, April 28 beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.