ITHACA, N.Y. - Three Cornellians have earned ECAC Hockey Yearly Awards for the 2024-25 season. Doug Derraugh '91 has been named ECAC Hockey Coach of The Year. Lindzi Avar has been named Rookie of The Year. Annelies Bergmann was named Goaltender of The Year.

Doug Deraugh '91 - Coach of The Year
Derraugh has led the Big Red to a 22-4-5 record so far on the season, which gives Cornell its best winning percentage since the 2019-20 season, and its second best since 2012-13. Coach Doug Derraugh has been named ECAC Hockey Coach of The Year on six occasions, with his first nod being in 2011, and his most previous distinction coming after the 2019-20 season when the Big Red was ranked first in the nation. His six ECAC Hockey Coach of The Year awards are the most any coach has captured in league history.

The success that Cornell has had this season was described by Big Red captains Rory Guilday, Ashley Messier, and Gabbie Rud as a testament to the culture that Derraugh has built. Since starting the season with a 1-3-1 record through the first five games, Cornell has a 21-1-4 record and currently holds a 13-game unbeaten streak.

Lindzi Avar - Rookie of The Year
Avar has had a stellar freshman campaign for the Big Red, notching a team-leading 14 goals to go along with five assists on the season. Her 14 goals and counting are the most a Big Red rookie has potted since Maddie Mills during the 2017-18 season.

Avar has bolstered Cornell's power-play in her first season in the red and white, registering five power-play goals so far this year. She not only holds the highest goal-total on the team, but also boasts a team-best shooting percentage of .203 as it stands. The ECAC and Ivy League Rookie of The Year does her part on the defensive end as well, as she is the second-ranked forward on the team in blocks with 20.

"Lindzi has been a real force at forward this year.  She is big and strong with a real heavy shot.  She also is very committed to the defensive side of the game as well.", Derraugh added.

Annelies Bergmann - Goaltender of The Year
Annelies Bergmann has been named ECAC Hockey Goaltender of The Year, becoming the second net-minder (Lindsay Browning, 2019-20) in program history to be honored with the award. Bergmann was named an ECAC Hockey First-Team selection.

"Annelies has been outstanding all year for us.  She gives our entire team confidence.  She is a fierce competitor who is constantly working on her game.", Derraugh shared.

Bergmann has displayed dominance and consistency in net this season, putting herself in the conversation for National Goaltender of The Year consideration. She has played in 31 games this year, making 647 saves on a .939 save percentage. It is rare that a skater sneaks one past the ECAC Hockey Goalie of The Year, as she boasts a 1.37 goals-against average.

Her top game of the season came early on when she put her foot down against the no. 12-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions and made 37 saves to lead Cornell to a 2-0 victory at the Ice Breaker Tournament. Her nine shutouts on the year puts her first in the nation, and third all-time in the Cornell record-book. She has been a key element to bolstering Cornell's third-ranked scoring defense.

All-ECAC Team Selections:

All-ECAC Hockey First Team:
D - Haley Winn, Clarkson*
D - Nicole Gosling, Clarkson
F - Anne Cherkowski, Clarkson 
F - Kalty Kaltounkova, Colgate
F - Issy Wunder, Princeton
G - Annelies Bergmann, Cornell

All-ECAC Hockey Second Team:
G - Hannah Murphy, Colgate
D - Kendall Cooper, Quinnipiac
D - Ashley Messier, Cornell
F - Sarah Paul, Princeton* 
F - Abby Hustler, SLU
F - Elyssa Biederman, Colgate

All-ECAC Hockey Third Team:
G - Emma Sofie Nordstrom, St. Lawrence
D - Rory Guilday, Cornell
D - Andrea Trnkova, RPI
F - Anna Segedi, St. Lawrence
F - Emma Pais, Colgate
F - Avi Adam, Cornell

ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team:
G - Michaela Hesova, Dartmouth*
D - Makayla Watson, Quinnipiac
D - Rosie Klein, Princeton
F - Mackenzie Alexander, Princeton*
F - Lindzi Avar, Cornell*
F – Karianne Engelbert, Union (tied)
F – Monique Lyons, Brown (tied)

* denotes unanimous selection

Next Up
The no. 3-ranked Cornell women's ice hockey team will return to the ice this weekend, as the Big Red will host the Clarkson Golden Knights on Friday for an ECAC Hockey Tournament semifinal game. Puck drop between the Big Red and the Golden Knights is slated for 3:00 p.m. at Lynah Rink. Game action will be broadcast on ESPN+.