UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- College Hockey America announced its individual award winners on Wednesday afternoon. Head coach Jeff Kampersal was named CHA Coach of the Year while Kiara Zanon was tabbed CHA Player of the Year and CHA Scoring Champion. Tessa Janecke received the CHA Rookie of the Year honor while Izzy Heminger earned her first CHA Best Defenseman award.
This is the most CHA individual awards the program has compiled it its history.
Zanon's third season as a Nittany Lion was an historic one in 2022-23. She broke Natalie Heising's record in single season goals which was 21 as she's currently recorded 25 this season. The Fairport, N.Y., native leads the nation with five shorthanded goals. On Jan. 13 against RIT, the forward equaled and surpassed the 100-career point mark as she scored back-to-back shorthanded goals on the same penalty kill. Zanon also broke her own single season program record in points from a season ago which was 41 as she's tallied 48 so far. She is a three-time CHA Forward of the Week recipient and captured two CHA Forward of the Month honors. This is her second career CHA Player of the Year honor.
Janecke has had one of the best breakout seasons in Penn State history. She's broken every freshman single scoring record including goals, assists and points in 2022-23. She sits second on the team in points with 46 as she's tallied 22 goals and 24 assists. She is a six-time CHA Rookie of the Week recipient and a four-time CHA Rookie of the Month honoree.
She was also named HCA National Rookie of the Month for January as she recorded three goals and four assists for seven points in the month.
Heminger's impact as a defenseman has been critical to the program's success in her four years at Penn State. Heminger broke the single season program record for assists by a defenseman this season as she surpassed the 16-assist mark on February 4 against Syracuse. She's secured three CHA Defensive Player of the Week honors and two CHA Defensive Player of the Month nods as well. This is Heminger's first career Best Defenseman award selection.
Kampersal received his second CHA Coach of the Year award as he did in the 2020-21 season. He earns this honor following a record-breaking year, winning a program high 26 wins alongside having a CHA regular season title belt. The team has comprised a total of 26 CHA weekly award winners, 12 CHA monthly award winners, and five All-CHA team selections. He's produced a team that has gone on a 17-game unbeaten streak and been national ranked top 10 in the nation. During this season, he also compiled is 400th-career win as a head coach and sits fifth in wins amongst present day coaches. At Penn State, Kampersal has recorded a 96-65-37 record (.578) since taking the reins of the PSU program.
Penn State returns to action on Saturday, March 4 when they host Mercyhurst in the CHA Tournament Championship. Puck-drop is set for 2 p.m.
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