University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's hockey players Cristine Chao, Madeline Albert, Louie Bieman and Gabrielle De Serres were recognized as Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced women's hockey major award winners and all-stars on Wednesday morning.

Chao was named an OUA second team all-star, while Albert, Bieman and De Serres were honoured as members of the OUA all-rookie team this season.

A third-year defenceman from Toronto, Chao garners her second straight all-star nod after being named to the first team last season. The commerce major scored four goals and added seven assists for 11 points while also quarterbacking Toronto's powerplay, which ranked fourth in the province in 2017-18.

Albert shone in her first season in the Blue and White. The Whitby, Ont., native led all OUA goaltenders with a .945 save percentage, while ranking second with a 1.32 goals against average through 16 games played. After earning back-to-back shut outs in her first two OUA starts, Albert was named the OUA and U SPORTS female athlete of the week, while also earning U SPORTS athlete of the month honours in October. She ended the 2017-18 campaign with five shut outs to her name.

The future also looks bright for Toronto as De Serres and Bieman each had stellar rookie campaigns.

A native of Ville Mont-Royal, Que., De Serres co-led Toronto and ranked third among OUA defencemen with 10 assists. She also scored two goals to rank fourth among OUA defencemen with 12 points this season. As 2017-18 progressed, the commerce major received more ice time in key situations as she recorded five points during Toronto's five-game winning streak late in the season.

Bieman, a first-year forward from Guelph, Ont., ranked second on Toronto in both goals (7) and points (13) and co-led the squad with three game-winning goals in 2017-18. She recorded a season-high two goals and one assist against the York Lions in Toronto's season-opener.

OUA Major Award Winners
Player of the Year – Katrina Manoukarakis, Queen's
Rookie of the Year – Maria Dominico, Nipissing
Defender of the Year – Zosia Davis, Nipissing
Forward of the Year – Katrina Manoukarakis, Queen's
Marion Hilliard Award – Ailish Forfar, Ryerson
Most Sportsmanlike Award – Claire Merrick, Guelph
Coach of the Year – Matt Holmberg, Queen's

OUA First-Team All-Stars
F – Katrina Manoukarakis, Queen's
F – Ailish Forfar, Ryerson
F – Maria Dominico, Nipissing
D – Zosia Davis, Nipissing
D – Jessica Wakefield, Queen's
G – Stephanie Pascal, Queen's

OUA Second-Team All-Stars
F – Kaitlin Lowy, Guelph
F – April Clark, Western
F – Kelly Gribbons, Guelph
D – Emma Pearson, Western
D – Christine Chao, Toronto
G – Jensen Murphy, Brock

OUA All-Rookie Team
F – Maria Dominico, Nipissing
F – Brooklyn Gemmill, Ryerson
F – Louie Bieman, Toronto
D – Gabrielle De Serres, Toronto
D – Paige Cohoon, Brock
G – Madeline Albert, Toronto

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite U of T athletes and teams, please visit www.varsityblues.ca. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat and Facebook for the latest and greatest in Varsity Blues intercollegiate athletics.