Grace Zumwinkle, Alex Carpenter, Corinne Schroeder receive 3 Stars of the Week Honors
TORONTO, ON (JANUARY 8, 2024) — Minnesota right winger Grace Zumwinkle, New York center Alex Carpenter, and New York goaltender Corinne Schroeder have been named the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) inaugural ‘3 Stars of the Week’ for the week of January 1 to January 7.
The ‘3 Stars of the Week’ will be announced each Monday throughout the season and will encompass games from the previous Monday through Sunday. Points will be awarded to each selection and will help determine rankings at the end of the regular season.
First Star = 30 Points
Second Star = 20 Points
Third Star = 10 Points
FIRST STAR – GRACE ZUMWINKLE, RW, MINNESOTA
First-year pro Grace Zumwinkle made an immediate impact in Minnesota’s first two games, scoring four goals to help her team win both games in Week One. In Minnesota’s season-opener on the road against Boston, the former University of Minnesota captain scored the game-winner at 8:34 of the second period to help secure a 3-2 win. The Excelsior, Minnesota native put on a show in game two on January 6, scoring on all three of her shots to record the league’s first-ever hat trick — and produce all of her team’s goals — in a 3-0 victory before a record crowd of 13,316. Zumwinkle’s four goals, including two game-winners, puts her atop the PWHL leaderboard in points, goals and GWG.
SECOND STAR – ALEX CARPENTER, C, NEW YORK
Carpenter quickly showed why the team signed her as one of its founding free agents, with exceptional play in both games played last week. In the inaugural PWHL game, at Toronto on January 1, Carpenter won the draw that led to teammate Ella Shelton’s first period goal— the first goal in PWHL history. The 28-year-old then capped a rush with a wrist shot to the top corner in the third period, providing the insurance goal in a 4-0 win in front of a sold-out crowd. She also went 60% (12/20) in the face-off circle. In New York’s home opener on January 5, Carpenter once again landed on the scoresheet, capitalizing on a one-timer from the top of the slot. The North Reading, Massachusetts native drove much of the play throughout the game and led all players with six shots on goal. She once again had a strong game in the face-off circle, winning 56% of her draws, for a two-game face-off percentage of 58%. After Week one, Carpenter sits second in the PWHL in goals and is tied for second in points.
THIRD STAR – CORINNE SCHROEDER, G, NEW YORK
On January 1, in the PWHL’s inaugural game, Schroeder turned aside all 29 shots to lead her team to victory on the road against Toronto. The 24-year-old from Elm Creek, Manitoba was especially strong in the second period, preserving New York’s 1-0 lead despite a 16-4 shot advantage by Toronto in the session. New York would go on to score three goals in the third period to put the game away. Schroeder’s performance marked the league’s historic first shutout, win and road win. This is also the second time in her professional career that Schroeder has opened the season with a shutout, posting three-straight during the 2022-23 campaign with the PHF’s Boston Pride.
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