Simms, McNaughton earn HCA Player of the Month honors
April 17, 2025 | Women's Hockey
Duo led Wisconsin to its eighth NCAA title
MADISON, Wis. – After leading Wisconsin women's hockey to its eighth NCAA title, junior forward Kirsten Simms and sophomore goaltender Ava McNaughton took home Hockey Commissioner Association Player of the Month honors, the group announced on Thursday.
Simms was named the HCA Player of the Month for March after scoring the game-tying and game-winning goals in the NCAA title game while McNaughton was named the HCA Goaltender of the Month after going a perfect 6-0-0 in March.
A native of Plymouth, Michigan, Simms had a team-high six goals and added six assists in March. Simms' 12 points were tied for the second most in the WCHA behind linemate Casey O'Brien who led all skaters. Simms had three game-winning goals in six games. The first-team All-American scored two of the most memorable goals in program history as the winger scored a penalty shot goal with 18 seconds left in regulation in the NCAA title game to force overtime. She followed up that goal with the game-winning tally in overtime to secure UW's eighth NCAA championship.Â
McNaughton backstopped UW to both WCHA tournament titles and NCAA titles in March and her six wins led all goaltenders in the NCAA. McNaughton broke the Badger school record for most wins in a single season with her 36th victory. Her 1.87 goals-against average ranked second among league netminders and her .923 save percentage ranked second among goaltenders with more than one start.Â
The duo are currently with the U.S. national team as they compete at the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship in Czechia.
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