SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Head Coach Josh Sciba and the Union College women's hockey team have announced their annual team awards. There were four winners for the five awards given out on June 9th at the teams end of the year banquet.

Senior captain Cassidy Michalicka was recognized as the George Morrison Team Most Valuable Player. The award, selected by her teammates, is given to the player who had a significant role in all of our success, was looked at to be a leader in the face of adversity, and was someone that the team highly valued as the most consistent contributor on/off the ice.

The two-year captain was an excellent player for the Dutchwomen in her senior season. The forwards totaled eight points on the season while appeared in 32 of the 34 games for the Dutchwomen. Michalicka was 48.6 percent from the face off circle and lead the team in face offs taking 552 draws, out pacing her next closest teammate by more than 200 draws. She finished 37 in the nation in face off wins with 268. Michalicka is leaving the program scoring five goals and chipping in 11 assists for 16 points in three seasons.

This year's recipient of the "Ancora Imparo" Process Award is first-year Emma Hebert. This award, named for the Italian phrase "I am still learning," is given to the player who has shown the most improvement over the course of this season or from last year to this year, whose development process has fueled growth on and off the ice.
Hebert played in all 34 games for the Dutchwomen in her first collegiate season. She scored one goal and added two assists as a key contributor from the blue line. Hebert scored her first collegiate goal against Cornell, where she also added an assist as well for the Union.

Senior Cassidy Michalicka earned the team's Garnet Glue Award this season. Voted by her teammates and coaches, this award goes to the student-athlete who best exemplifies servant leadership and who goes above and beyond to validate and empower her teammates. The team is excited to celebrate her genuine passion and commitment to others. Michalicka also earned the team's MVP Award.

Senior Grace Heiting is the winner of the Ashley Kilstein '08 Award, given to the player who has given her time to volunteer in the community and help raise money for various charities and non-profit organizations throughout the season. The award is named after former Dutchwoman Ashley Kilstein '08, who headed the team's community service projects during her career at Union.

Heiting was an important piece in the Dutchwomen's offensive success this season, leading the team with eight goals. The senior captain led her team on and off the ice. Helping organize the Gift of Life drive between the men's and women's hockey teams this season. The Gift of Life is an organization that helps find bone marrow matches for those in need. She is also a Gift of Life ambassador in the Union College community as well.

Junior Emily King earned the team's Hana Yamashita '97 Award, which is given to the player that shows a supreme competitiveness, consistently gives 100 percent effort in both practice and games, and is extraordinarily conditioned with an unmatched work ethic. The award is named in honor of Hana Yamashita '97, who started the women's ice hockey club team in 1994 and helped elevate it to varsity status.

King had a break out season this year for Union. She totaled career highs in goals, assists, and points while appearing in all 34 games for the Dutchwomen while finishing second in total points for the team with 13. She scored four goals and added nine assists in her junior campaign, while also playing defense for the beginning of the year before making the jump to center mid-way through the season.