Five NCAA players to watch as championship weekend kicks off

The semifinals and championship games are this weekend with the semifinals, the NCAA Frozen Four taking place today and the championship taking place on Sunday. I present five players to watch in the Frozen Four with a brief reasoning as to why.

Let’s jump in!

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Annelies Bergmann — Cornell Big Red

Bergmann really is it! The 19-year-old goaltender was recently named the ECAC’s Goaltender of the Year. She’s only the second goaltender in program history to win the recognition. During the playoffs she led her team to their conference championship by allowing just one goal in the game. In the playoffs, she shut out the University of Minnesota Duluth to help Cornell advance to the Frozen Four. Bergmann is practically a brick wall in net as she has 10 shutouts this season. If you tune in to Cornell’s matchup against Ohio State University, you will likely see Bergmann showing off her great puck stopping skills.

Jocelyn Amos — Ohio State University Buckeyes

Amos is a defending national champion after winning it all with the Buckeyes last year. Only in her sophomore season, she amassed 50 points thus far on 27 goals and 23 assists including two hat tricks! She has also recorded six points in her last five games. So, what you’ll get out of tuning in to see Amos and the Buckeyes play? A lot of offense and most likely a goal — or two — from her.

Laila Edwards — University of Wisconsin Badgers

It’s not easy to find a way to describe an incredible player. Edwards became the first Black player to play for the United States senior team when she was chosen as part of Team USA during the Rivalry Series in the fall of 2023. While she normally plays the forward position with Wisconsin, with Team USA, she plays a defender role. How cool is that? She can pretty much do it all. I wonder if she can play goalie too? Edwards is one of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the recognition given to the top women’s college ice hockey player in the United States. She finished this season with 66 points in 39 total games and is looking to win the national championship after losing in the finals last season. 

Abbey Murphy — University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Maybe this is a phrase reserved only for the NBA or basketball in general, but Murphy has ice in her veins. Captain of the Gophers, Murphy is the nation’s leading scorer and has been on a tear lately as she has four multi-goal games since the playoffs began at the beginning of the month. In her career playing at Minnesota she has scored 103 goals. She will be looking for that number to go up when she faces Wisconsin for the sixth time this season in the Frozen Four. Minnesota is hosting the Frozen Four and the championship game at their home arena in Minneapolis and the last time they did so, they won it all! Home ice advantage anyone?

Makenna Webster — Ohio State Buckeyes

Yes, there are only four teams to talk about but five slots to fill and I thought number five would be something different and fun. The other players are focused on what they can do during this championship weekend, and it’s not to say Webster isn’t a good player — she is — but her skills aren’t only on the ice. Webster is a two-sport star and also plays for Ohio State’s field hockey team. (It is Hockey Friday after all!) She’s played a pivotal role in the school’s field hockey program reaching new heights, including their highest national ranking ever. She actually transferred from her original school, Wisconsin, to Ohio State with the intent to focus on both sports. She has over 100 points in the three years she’s been on the Buckeyes’ field hockey team. She was named to the U.S. National Team back in January and will represent the red, white and blue on the field. But of course, Webster is currently focused on ice hockey and will look to win another championship this weekend.

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