GLOUCESTER, Mass. – The American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) has announced the finalists for the 2022-23 Laura Hurd Award, awarded annually to the best NCAA Division III women's ice hockey player, with Maddie McCollins representing UW-River Falls as one of 11 finalists.

The Hurd Award honors the memory of former Elmira College standout Laura Hurd. A 2005 graduate of Elmira, and a four-time All-American, Hurd died in an automobile accident shortly after graduation. She was the recipient of the AHCA Player of the Year Award in 2005.

McCollins, a senior forward from Maple Grove, Minn., is this year's WIAC Co-Player of the Year, and led the Falcons to WIAC regular season and tournament titles with 48 points off 28 goals and 20 assists.

She set a UWRF single-season goal-scoring record with her 28 goals, breaking former Laura Hurd Award winner Dani Sibley's 27 goals set in 2017. 

Sibley was the first Falcon in program history to earn the Player of the Year award, followed by Callie Hoff last season.

The recipient of this year's Hurd Award will be announced on Thursday, March 16.