Fourth-year Pandas goalie Halle Oswald, and head coach Howie Draper were both honoured as major award winners on Thursday, as Canada West unveiled their 2023 Women's Hockey award winners. 

Oswald, a first team conference all-star, was named the Canada West Goalie of the Year, while Howie Draper was named the CW Coach of the Year. 

Oswald led Canada West with 18 wins and six shutouts in 25 starts, posting an 18-5-1 record. Her 1.19 goals against average was second in the conference, as was ger 0.942 save percentage. Following her stellar season, Oswald now sits atop the Canada West record book for career goals against average with a 1.107 mark, with her 0.943 career save percentage ranks second all-time. 

She is the first Panda to win Goalie of the Year, with 2023 being the second season it has been awarded. 

"Halle has been the backbone of our team over the second half of the season," said Draper. "She is a highly competitive athlete that challenges our players to be better shooters in practice. The confidence that she exudes in games has emanated from the net out to her teammates. She helps all of us believe that we can succeed in any game that we play."

For the eighth time in his storied career, Howie Draper was named the conference's coach of the year. Draper led the young Pandas to the No. 2 seed in Canada West, finishing with a 21-6-1 record. Even more remarkable was the collective age of the Pandas, with a roster consisting of 17 first and second year players. 

In 26 years coaching the Pandas, Draper owns a 429-113-8 conference record and a 664-185-13 overall record. 

"It is very fitting that Howie be recognized as the Canada West Coach of the Year in this year, the twenty-fifth season of play for the Pandas Hockey program, with Howie serving as the head coach for every one of those seasons," said interim director of athletics, Katie Spriggs. "Howie's ability to attract and develop the student-athletes, assistant coaches and support staff that the Pandas Hockey team has needed to be consistently competitive in Canada West women's hockey is exceptional. I congratulate Howie and his staff on earning this recognition. It is well deserved."

Both Oswald and Draper will go forward as the Canada West nominees for the U SPORTS Women's Hockey awards. 

2023 WOMEN'S HOCKEY AWARD WINNERS
 
Goaltender of the Year
Halle Oswald (Alberta)
 
Player of the Year
Tatum Amy (MRU)
 
Top Defenceman
Emma Bergesen (MRU)
 
Rookie of the Year
Sydney Mercier (Calgary)
 
Student-Athlete Community Service Award
Tatum Amy (MRU)
 
Sportsmanship and Ability
Tatum Amy (MRU)
 
Coach of the Year
Howie Draper (Alberta)