Theresa Schafzahl

Austrian ice hockey player

Ice hockey player
Theresa Schafzahl
Schafzahl with the Vermont Catamounts in 2022
Born (2000-04-12) 12 April 2000 (age 24)
Weiz, Austria
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
PWHL team PWHL Boston
National team  Austria
Playing career 2018–present

Theresa Schafzahl (born 12 April 2000) is an Austrian professional ice hockey player for the PWHL Boston of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and member of Austria women's national ice hockey team. She played college ice hockey at Vermont, where she is the program's all-time leader in goals, assists and points.

College career

Schafzahl began her collegiate career with the Vermont Catamounts during the 2018–19 season. During her freshman year, she recorded seven goals and 10 assists in 36 games. She led all Catamounts rookies in points, and ranked tied for second-most on the team with 17.[1] During the 2019–20 season in her sophomore year, she recorded 14 goals and 15 assists in 36 games. She led the team in goals and tied for the team lead with 29 points. During the 2020–21 season in her junior year, she recorded four goals and four assists in a season that was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She tied for the team lead with four goals.[1]

During the 2021–22 season in her senior year, she recorded 25 goals and 21 assists in 29 games. She set the Vermont single season record for points (46) and goals (25).[1] On 9 October 2022, she recorded two goals and became the program's all-time career leader in points with 106.[2] She was named the Hockey East Player of the Month and the HCA National Player of the Month for the month of January. She led the NCAA with nine goals and 17 points in nine games during the month. She recorded at least one point in all nine games and had six multiple point games.[3][4] Following an outstanding season she was named a unanimous First Team All Hockey East selection, Hockey East Scoring Champion, Hockey East Player of the Year, and PNC Bank Three Stars Award winner.[5] She was also named a CCM/AHCA Hockey First Team All-American and a top-ten finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, becoming the first player in program history to be named a finalist for the award.[6][7]

During the 2022–23 season, as a graduate student, she recorded 21 goals and 24 assists in 36 games. She led the team in scoring with 45 points and tied the Vermont single season record for assists (24).[8] Following the season she was named a First Team All Hockey East selection.[9] She finished her career at Vermont as the program's all-time leader in goals (71), assists (74), and points (145).[10]

Professional career

On 12 May 2023, Schafzahl signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Force of the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF).[11] The PHF ceased operations on 29 June 2023, as a result she never played a game for the Force.[12]

On 18 September 2023, Schafzahl was drafted 39th overall by PWHL Boston in the 2023 PWHL Draft.[13] On 1 November 2023, she signed a two-year contract with Boston.[14]

International play

Schafzahl representing Austria at the 2022 Olympic Qualification

Schafzahl represented Austria at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in the girls' individual skills challenge and won a bronze medal.[15] She represented Austria at the 2015 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship where she recorded one assist in four games. She again represented Austria at the IIHF World Women's U18 Championship in 2016, 2017 and 2018, where she led the team in scoring each year.[16]

Schafzahl made her senior national team debut for Austria at the 2016 IIHF Women's World Championship Division I, where she recorded one goal in five games and won a bronze medal. She again represented Austria at the IIHF World Women's Championship in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022.[17][18]


Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2018–19 Vermont HE 36 7 10 17 12 — — — — —
2019–20 Vermont HE 36 14 15 29 18 — — — — —
2020–21 Vermont HE 11 4 4 8 8 — — — — —
2021–22 Vermont HE 29 25 21 46 8 — — — — —
2022–23 Vermont HE 36 21 24 45 8 — — — — —
NCAA totals 148 71 74 145 54 — — — — —

International

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2015 Austria U18-D1A 4 0 1 1 2
2016 Austria U18-D1A 4 3 5 8 4
2016 Austria WC-D1A 5 1 0 1 0
2017 Austria U18-D1A 5 1 4 5 8
2017 Austria WC-D1A 5 2 5 7 2
2017 Austria OGQ 3 0 0 0 2
2018 Austria WC-D1A 5 2 1 3 0
2018 Austria U18-D1A 5 5 1 6 4
2019 Austria WC D1A 5 5 0 5 2
2021 Austria OGQ 3 1 1 2 2
2022 Austria WC-D1A 4 2 1 3 0
Junior totals 18 9 11 20 18
Senior totals 30 13 8 21 8

Awards and honours

Honors Year
College
First Team All-Hockey East 2022 [5]
Hockey East Scoring Champion 2022
Hockey East Player of the Year 2022
CCM/AHCA Hockey First Team All-American 2022
First Team All-Hockey East 2023 [9]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Theresa Schafzahl Bio". uvmathletics.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  2. ^ Manley, Ryan (9 October 2022). "Schafzahl Sets Program Record in 3-0 Victory at Holy Cross". uvmathletics.com. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Theresa Schafzahl Named Hockey East Player of the Month". hockeyeastonline.com. 2 February 2022. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  4. ^ "UVM's Schafzahl, Michigan's Beniers & St. Cloud's Perbix Top January Honors". hockeycommissioners.com. 3 February 2022. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Vermont's Theresa Schafzahl Named Hockey East Player of the Year". hockeyeastonline.com. 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Schafzahl and Poulin-Labelle Named CCM/AHCA All-Americans". uvmathletics.com. 17 March 2022. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  7. ^ "Schafzahl First Catamount Named to Patty Kazmaier Top-10". uvmathletics.com. 3 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  8. ^ "Karjalainen and Schafzahl Named New England Division I Women's All-Stars". uvmathletics.com. 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Hockey East Names 2022-23 Women's All-Star Teams". hockeyeastonline.com. 24 February 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  10. ^ Viles, Taylor (12 May 2023). "Exclusive: UVM's Schafzahl realizing a pro-hockey dream". mychamplainvalley.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  11. ^ Kennedy, Ian (12 May 2023). "Force Ink NCAA Standout Theresa Schafzahl". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  12. ^ Salvian, Hailey (30 June 2023). "What we know about the PHF shutdown, and more on the new pro women's hockey league". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  13. ^ "Hockey East Boasts 20 Selected In Inaugural PWHL Draft". hockeyeastonline.com. 18 September 2023. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  14. ^ Kennedy, Ian (1 November 2023). "Austrian Star Theresa Schafzahl Signs With Boston". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Schafzahl holt Bronze bei Skills-Challenge". laola1.at (in German). 16 February 2016. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  16. ^ Montroy, Liz (2 February 2018). "The Future Remains Bright for 2016 Youth Olympic Games Medallists". womenshockeylife.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  17. ^ Montroy, Liz (22 April 2022). "Schafzahl powers forward for Austria". IIHF.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  18. ^ Kennedy, Ian (19 May 2023). "Meet Theresa Schafzahl: A Headliner For The Talented NCAA Cohort Headed To The PHF". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.

External links

  • Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com
  • Vermont Catamounts bio