BOSTON - Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) revealed the results of the women's coaches' poll and preseason awards on Tuesday, ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
AHA coaches completed a poll and voted on conference players to determine the honors.
Penn State found itself in the top position for the fifth consecutive season, receiving six first-place votes, dating back to the 2021-22 College Hockey America (CHA) preseason coaches' poll.
Reigning AHA Coach of the Year, Jeff Kampersal, enters his ninth season as the Nittany Lions' bench boss after accumulating a single-season program record 31 wins, including an AHA high of 19 conference victories. The Nittany Lions captured both the conference regular season and tournament titles for a third consecutive year.
Penn State senior
Tessa Janecke earns the honor for a second straight year after leading the Nittany Lions with 53 points (24G-29A), skating in all 38 games. The Orangeville, Ill. native was named AHA's Meghan Agosta Player of the Year, Vicki Bendus Forward of the Year. The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award top 10 finalist also captained the Nittany Lions a season ago. Janecke led the nation in faceoff wins (617) and finished in the top 10 in goals and points.
This year's Preseason All-AHA Team's forwards are Janecke, Penn State senior Katelyn Roberts and Mercyhurst sophomore Julia Schalin. A season ago, Janecke was named to the AHA All-Tournament Team, tabbed four AHA Player of the Week awards and was named AHA Forward of the Month in October and November. Roberts finished behind Janecke among Penn State skaters and hit a new collegiate career high of 35 points (11G-24A). Schalin led all AHA rookies with 32 points (14G-18A) in 37 games played, and finished second among all Lakers in goals, points and assists. Schalin is also the 2024-25 AHA Rookie of the Year.
The two blueliners on this year's team include the defending Molly Byrne Best Defenseman Award winner, senior Kendall Butze from Penn State, alongside RIT junior Emma Pickering, who was a finalist for the same award last season. Butze played in all 38 games a season ago for the Nittany Lions and was the highest-scoring defenseman on the team after recording 27 points (4G-23A). Pickering was named 2024-25 All-AHA First Team and notched 22 points (11G-11A). The Fishers, Ind. native also recorded eight power play goals, leading the AHA and the fifth-most in Division I in 2024-25.
Senior netminder Katie DeSa is the Preseason All-AHA team's goaltender for a second straight season. In 2024-25, the Pawcatuck, Conn. native earned AHA Goaltender of the Year and All-AHA First Team honors, and was a semifinalist for the HCA Goalie of the Year award. DeSa finished a record-breaking junior campaign by posting a 27-6-0 record, the most wins in program history. Additionally, the two-time AHA Goaltender of the Month tied the program record for most shutouts (nine) and boasted a 1.41 goals against average, the fourth-highest in the nation and a .932 save percentage, which was the 16th best in Division I.
Team (First Place Votes)
1. Penn State (6)
2. Mercyhurst (1)
3. RIT
4. Syracuse
5. Robert Morris
6. Lindenwood
7. Delaware
Tessa Janecke, SR, Penn State (6)
Others that received votes: Emma Pickering, SO, RIT (1)
Forwards
Tessa Janecke, SR, Penn State (6)
Julia Schalin, SO, Mercyhurst (6)
Katelyn Roberts, SR, Penn State (4)
Others that received votes: Maddy Christian, SR, Penn State - Alaina Giampietro, R-SO, Robert Morris - Jackson Kinsler, JR, Syracuse
Defensemen
Kendall Butze, SR, Penn State (6)
Emma Pickering, SO, RIT (5)
Others that received votes: Makayla Javier, SR, Mercyhurst
Goaltender
Katie DeSa, SR, Penn State (5)
Others that received votes: Maggie Hatch, R-JR, Robert Morris
*Coaches were not permitted to vote on their own players or programs.
The 2025-26 women's season begins on Friday, Sept. 19. Watch AHA home games on FloHockey this season.
About Atlantic Hockey America
Atlantic Hockey America (AHA) embarks on its second season in 2025-26 following the merger between the Atlantic Hockey Association and College Hockey America. The conference fields 10 men's teams (Bentley University, Canisius University, The College of Holy Cross, Mercyhurst University, Niagara University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Robert Morris University, Sacred Heart University, the United States Air Force Academy and the United States Military Academy), and seven women's teams (University of Delaware, Lindenwood University, Mercyhurst University, Penn State University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Robert Morris University and Syracuse University). For more information, visit atlantichockeyamerica.com.
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