MINNEAPOLIS — The finalists for the prestigious Ms. Hockey award have been announced. Ten semifinalists have been narrowed down to five candidates, with the winner to be announced on Sunday, Feb. 27, after the state tournament.
The five finalists include Dani Burgen of Chisago Lakes, Claire Enright of Lakeville South, Vivian Jungels of Edina, Madison Kaiser of Holy Family, and Sloane Matthews of Wayzata.
Dani Burgen of Chisago Lakes is the only Class A finalist this year. Burgen, a University of Minnesota Duluth commit, leads her team in both goals and assists this year. The future Bulldog has posted 42 goals and 24 assists for a total of 66 points this season.
Along with having a steller career with Chisago Lakes, Burgen has also been a part of the USA U-18 team and won a gold medal with them in 2020, and would've also competed with the team in January if the competition had not have been canceled. Unfortunately, her career with the Wildcats ended in the section final for Class 4A with a 4-2 loss to South St. Paul.
Enright of Lakeville South has the most points in the 2021-2022 season of all the Ms. Hockey finalists. Enright has netted 54 goals and 21 assists this year and helped the Cougars finish the season with a 25-3 record. Lakeville South's season ended in the section final for 1AA in a 2-1 OT loss to Northfield. Enright was slated to play with the USA-U18 team this past year before it was canceled. Claire will play for the Wisconsin Badgers next season.
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Jungels is the only defenseman of the Ms. Hockey finalists and currently holds the title for all-time leading scorer for a defender in all of Edina girls hockey history. She has posted 16 goals and 30 assists this season for a total of 46 points. Jungels was originally committed to the University of Minnesota but has since then flipped her college commitment to the Wisconsin Badgers.
Jungels won the Class AA state tournament her freshman and junior years and will be competing for another this year after winning the Section 6AA title. She is the only Ms. Hockey finalist whose team will be playing in the state tournament this year.
Matthews of Wayzata has had a big season with the Trojans, leading her team in both goals and assists. Matthews has posted 35 goals and 19 assists for a total of 54 points. The forward is committed to play for Ohio State University next year. Matthews helped Wayzata to a 17-9-1 record for the 2021-2022 season, but unfortunately played her last high school game in a semifinal loss to Benilde-St. Margaret's in Section 6AA.
And last but not least, we have Madison Kaiser of Holy Family. Kaiser previously played for Andover High School but has had a standout year for Holy Family for her senior year, netting 37 goals and 17 assists for a total of 54 points. Kaiser was another player who was slated to play for the USA U-18 team in January before it was canceled. Kaiser plans to play for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers next year. Kaiser's high school career ended when the Fire lost to Minnetonka in the Section 2AA championship match.
The five semifinalist who did not make the cut into the top five are Maddie Christian of Elk River/Zimmerman, Allie Franco of Hill-Murray, Emma Peschel of Benilde-St. Margaret's, Ilya Ryskamp of Orono, and Whitney Tuttle of Rosemount.
The winner of the award will be announced at the annual Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet on Feb. 27, the day after the state championship.
