CALGARY – Fifth-year University of Calgary Dinos forward Iya Gavrilova is the 2015-16 Canada West women's hockey most outstanding player for the second straight year, the conference announced Wednesday.

The reigning CIS MVP, Gavrilova moves forward as the Canada West nominee for the Brodrick Trophy, which will be handed out on Wednesday, March 16 at the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary as the Dinos get set to host the 2016 CIS Women's Hockey Championship March 17-20.

Gavrilova led the nation in scoring this year, potting 20 goals and adding 23 helpers to finish eight points ahead of her closest competition in teammate Sasha Vafina. The Arts student from Krasnoyarsk, Russia was a CIS-best +28 on the season and led the Dinos on an inspired run into the playoffs in the second half of the season. The opposition held Gavrilova off the scoresheet just once in the Dinos' last 18 games of the season, a run that included a 12-game point streak.

The Russian national team member, who has competed in the last three Winter Olympics, was the lone CIS women's hockey player to crack the 20-goal plateau this season. She finishes her four-year CIS career with 69 goals and 66 assists for 135 points to set a new school career scoring record, edging Hayley Wickenheiser by a single point.

"It is such a great accomplishment to win this award two years in a row," said Dinos head coach Danielle Goyette. "It shows what kind of player she is, that she still wants to be better year after year. Her work ethic and passion for the game show every time she steps on the ice. It has been a pleasure to coach her for the last four years."

Gavrilova is the first back-to-back winner of the Canada West MVP award since Alberta's Danielle Bourgeois in 2003 and 2004. Her selection marks the fourth time in the last six years that a Dino has captured the honour, with Wickenheiser earning it in both 2011 and 2013.

Other award winners in Canada West women's hockey include rookie of the year Jaycee Magwood (Regina), coach of the year Sarah Hodges (Regina), and student-athlete community service winner Janelle Froehler (Alberta).

2015-16 CANADA WEST WOMEN'S HOCKEY AWARDS
Player of the Year: F Iya Gavrilova, CALGARY
Rookie of the Year: F Jaycee Magwood, Regina
Coach of the Year: Sarah Hodges, Regina
Student-athlete Community Service: F Janelle Froehler, Alberta

-UC-