SYRACUSE, NY – Cortland freshman defensive player Ainsley Delacourt (Stoney Creek, ON, Canada/Brampton Canadettes U22AA) has been selected the 2023 Northeast Women's Hockey League Rookie of the Year and is one of six players to land on the NEWHL's All-Rookie Team.
Delacourt earned Rookie of the Year honors for being the player who received the most points during voting for the NEWHL All-Rookie squad. She follows teammate Mia Hlasnick who claimed the award in 2022.
The NEWHL All-Rookie Team is voted upon by the head coaches of the conference and was announced by the league on Wednesday, March 1, from its office in Syracuse, N.Y. This year's squad consists of two players from Canada, one from Sweden, one from New Jersey and a pair of rookies from the same hometown who competed for the Buffalo Bisons.
Delacourt is a key reason behind Cortland's return trip to the NEWHL Championship game on March 4 in Plattsburgh (3 p.m.). The rookie has amassed 20 points on six goals and 14 assists so far this season and is currently tied for 14th in scoring and tied for ninth in assists. She also has a +13 rating.
Delacourt is joined on the All-Rookie squad by freshman Cortland teammate F/D Fanny Aneborn (Linkoping, Sweden/Lulea HF Sweden) who has accrued 14 points on 10 goals and four assists with a +14 rating. She is tied for 11th in the NEWHL in goals scored.
Plattsburgh again landed a pair of players on the All-Rookie Team behind the terrific campaigns of freshmen defensive players Taya Balfour (Moorestown, NJ/Philadelphia Jr. Flyers) and Aizah Thompson (Williamsville, NY/Buffalo Bisons). The two players are key components to the Cardinals' current #2 ranking and bid for another NEWHL title.
Balfor totaled eight points on two goals and six assists with a +8 rating, while Thompson has totaled seven points on three goals and four assists. Her +19 rating ranks her ninth in the league.
Thompson's former teammate with the Buffalo Bisons – Buffalo State freshman Vanessa Willick (Williamsville, NY/Buffalo Bisons) – joins her on the NEWHL All-Rookie Team. The first-year Bengal completed her season with 15 points on nine goals and six assists. She is currently tied for 15th in the league in putting the puck in the back of the net.
Canton freshman forward Danika Lalonde (Sudbury, ON, Canada/Barrie Jr. Sharks) rounds out the All-Rookie Team after completing her stellar campaign by totaling 23 points on 10 goals and 13 assists with a +7 rating. She is currently tied for 11th in scoring and in goals per game, and she is tied for 12th in assists per game
The NEWHL All-League team will be announced on Thursday, March 2, at 10 a.m., while the Player of the Year award will be announced on Friday, March 3, at 10 a.m.
NEWHL All-Rookie Team
- F/D Fanny Aneborn (Cortland) - Linkoping, Sweden/Lulea HF Sweden
- D Taya Balfour (Plattsburgh) - Moorestown, NJ/Philadelphia Jr. Flyers
- D Ainsley Delacourt (Cortland) - Stoney Creek, ON, Canada/Brampton Canadettes U22AA*
- F Danika Lalonde (Canton) - Sudbury, ON, Canada/Barrie Jr. Sharks
- D Aizah Thompson (Plattsburgh) - Williamsville, NY/Buffalo Bisons
- F Vanessa Willick (Buffalo State) - Williamsville, NY/Buffalo Bisons
- *Rookie of the Year