Maple Ridge’s Jenn Gilligan, a freshman goaltender on the University of New Hampshire women’s ice hockey team, was named the Women’s Hockey East Association Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Gilligan recorded a season-high 24 saves to help the UNH Wildcats to a 1-1 tie against fifth-ranked Boston College on Oct. 14.
Gilligan stopped every shot in the second, third and overtime periods to finish with a .960 save percentage.
She also anchored the penalty kill to a perfect 4-4 effort that included a crucial penalty kill in overtime.
In four games this season, Gilligan has 2-1-1 record with a 1.73 goals against average, .916 save percentage and one shutout. She has proved even better at home, with a 0.98 goals against average, .948 save percentage and one shutout.
Gilligan earned a victory in her collegiate debut, a start in the Sept. 30 at Niagara University in which she made 21 saves.
In her second career start, Gilligan made 19 saves to record her first shutout – a 3-0 win against Colgate University.
Gilligan is majoring is sports training while studying at UNH on a full-ride scholarship to the school. Gilligan was formerly a member of the Pacific Steelers junior women’s hockey team.
The UNH Wildcats are 3-1-1 so far this season, and next face St. Lawrence University on Oct. 21.
