Photo by: Holly Gustavsen
Podewell, Sundby tabbed Hockey East award winners
10/19/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
Podewell named Player of the Week, Sundby named Defender of the Week
ORONO, Maine -- Mackenzie Podewell and Kendall Sundby of the University of Maine women's hockey program were announced as Hockey East weekly award winners, the conference announced on Monday.
Podewell has been named the Hockey East Player of the Week after leading the Maine offense with four points on three goals and one assist during the Black Bears' two-game sweep of Rensselaer. Podewell opened the weekend with a three-point performance on Friday, scoring twice and adding an assist in Maine's 5-3 victory. She scored the lone goal of the second period before adding her second goal of the contest in the third period to put Maine ahead for good. Podewell followed that performance by scoring the game-winning goal in Saturday's 3-1 victory, giving her three goals over the weekend and helping the Black Bears secure their first weekend sweep of the season. This is the second Player of the Week for Podewell as she was named Co-Player of the Week back on Feb. 3, 2026
Sundby has been named the Army ROTC Defender of the week recording two points on one goal and one assist during Maine's two-game sweep of Rensselaer. Sundby opened the weekend by assisting on Mackenzie Podewell's second-period goal in Friday's 5-3 victory. She followed that performance by scoring the game-opening goal just 3:09 into Saturday's 3-1 win, stealing the puck in the neutral zone before capitalizing on a breakaway opportunity. Sundby finished the weekend with a plus-one rating, helping the Black Bears hold Rensselaer to just one goal in the series finale while successfully killing all six penalties across the two games. This is the second career Army ROTC Defender of the Week award for Sundby as she was named the award winner back on Feb. 17, 2025
Podewell and Sundby helped the Black Bears tally their first sweep since Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, 2025 where they swept New Hampshire at Alfond Arena and completed their first sweep of a non-conference opponent since Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, 2023 at Stonehill.
Maine heads into their bye week before returning to action by opening Hockey East play against Providence at Alfond Arena Oct. 30 and Oct. 31.
-UMaine-
Podewell has been named the Hockey East Player of the Week after leading the Maine offense with four points on three goals and one assist during the Black Bears' two-game sweep of Rensselaer. Podewell opened the weekend with a three-point performance on Friday, scoring twice and adding an assist in Maine's 5-3 victory. She scored the lone goal of the second period before adding her second goal of the contest in the third period to put Maine ahead for good. Podewell followed that performance by scoring the game-winning goal in Saturday's 3-1 victory, giving her three goals over the weekend and helping the Black Bears secure their first weekend sweep of the season. This is the second Player of the Week for Podewell as she was named Co-Player of the Week back on Feb. 3, 2026
Sundby has been named the Army ROTC Defender of the week recording two points on one goal and one assist during Maine's two-game sweep of Rensselaer. Sundby opened the weekend by assisting on Mackenzie Podewell's second-period goal in Friday's 5-3 victory. She followed that performance by scoring the game-opening goal just 3:09 into Saturday's 3-1 win, stealing the puck in the neutral zone before capitalizing on a breakaway opportunity. Sundby finished the weekend with a plus-one rating, helping the Black Bears hold Rensselaer to just one goal in the series finale while successfully killing all six penalties across the two games. This is the second career Army ROTC Defender of the Week award for Sundby as she was named the award winner back on Feb. 17, 2025
Podewell and Sundby helped the Black Bears tally their first sweep since Jan. 24 and Jan. 25, 2025 where they swept New Hampshire at Alfond Arena and completed their first sweep of a non-conference opponent since Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, 2023 at Stonehill.
Maine heads into their bye week before returning to action by opening Hockey East play against Providence at Alfond Arena Oct. 30 and Oct. 31.
-UMaine-
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