USA Hockey Foundation Announces Top 10 Candidates For
The 2001 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (January 29, 2001) -- The USA Hockey Foundation
today announced the top 10 candidates for The 2001 Patty Kazmaier Memorial
Award, presented by Texaco.
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizes the accomplishments of the most
outstanding player in women's intercollegiate varsity ice hockey each
season. This year's award dinner will be held the evening of Saturday, March
24 in Minneapolis at the Radisson Hotel Metrodome. After being held in
Boston last year, The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award returns to the Twin
Cities, site of its presentation in 1999, during the first-ever NCAA Women's
Ice Hockey National Collegiate Championship tournament.
The announcement was made by USA Hockey Foundation President Walter L. Bush,
Jr. (Edina, Minn.) and the executive committee of The Patty Kazmaier
Memorial Award which, in addition to Bush, includes: Jim Erickson
(Bloomington, Minn.), Bob Fallen (Minneapolis, Minn.), Cammi Granato
(Downers Grove, Ill.), Laura Halldorson (Minneapolis, Minn.), Julie Sasner
(Durham, N.H.) and Ben Smith (Gloucester, Mass.).
The 10 candidates represent eight different colleges and universities.
Harvard University and the University of Minnesota each boast two
candidates. Of the 10 candidates, six are seniors, two are juniors, one is a
sophomore and one is a freshman. Two of the candidates, Jennifer Botterill
(Winnipeg, Man.) and Maria Rooth (Angelholm, Swe.) were also top-10
candidates last year.
Earlier this year, The USA Hockey Foundation asked women's Division I
intercollegiate varsity ice hockey coaches to nominate up to two players
from their team for The 2001 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Those players
were placed on an official ballot and sent to the coaches who then voted for
the top 10 finalists. The official ballots were tabulated by the nationally
respected accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
The finalists, as well as the recipient of The 2001 Patty Kazmaier Memorial
Award, will be chosen by an 11-member selection committee comprised of
women's intercollegiate varsity ice hockey coaches, representatives of the
print and broadcast media, and a representative of USA Hockey, the National
Governing Body for the sport of hockey in the United States. Candidates for
the award must compete for a women's intercollegiate varsity ice hockey team
at an NCAA-member institution. Other selection criteria include outstanding
individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch,
personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration will
also be given to academic achievement and civic involvement.
The three finalists for the award will be announced March 12.
Individual dinner tickets are priced at $100.00 for adults and $50.00 for
children 12 and under. Tickets, in addition to incremental levels of dinner
sponsorship, may be purchased by calling The USA Hockey Foundation at (800)
566-3288, ext. 165; or The Missabe Group at (651) 455-9446. Individual
tickets and sponsorship packages are tax-deductible.
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award was presented to the inaugural recipient,
University of New Hampshire forward Brandy Fisher (Colton, N.Y.), in 1998.
Harvard University forward and 1998 Olympian A.J. Mleczko (Nantucket, Mass.)
received the honor in 1999, and Brown University goaltender Ali Brewer
(Racine, Wis.) was the 2000 recipient.
Now in its fourth year of existence, the award is named in honor of the late
Patty Kazmaier, who was a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League
defenseman for the Princeton University women's ice hockey team from 1981-82
through 1985-86. An accomplished athlete who helped lead the Tigers to the
Ivy League Championship in three consecutive seasons (1981-82 through
1983-84), Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died on Feb. 15, 1990 at the age of 28
following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.
The 2001 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top 10 Candidates
Name Yr. Pos. School Hometown
Jennifer Botterill Jr. F Harvard Winnipeg, Man.
Meghan Hunter Fr. F Wisconsin Oil Springs, Ont.
Courtney Kennedy Sr. D Minnesota Woburn, Mass.
Andrea Kilbourne Jr. F Princeton Saranac Lake, N.Y.
Nadine Muzerall Sr. F Minnesota Mississauga, Ont.
Maria Rooth So. F Minnesota-Duluth Angelholm, Swe.
Tammy Shewchuk Sr. F Harvard St. Laurent, Que.
Erika Silva Sr. G Northeastern Middletown, R.I.
Jessica Tabb Sr. F Providence Holland, Mass.
Michelle Thornton Sr. F New Hampshire Gloucester, Ont.
Jennifer Botterill
Leads the Eastern College Athletic Conference and is tied for sixth in the
nation with 37 points (23-14) in only 13 games, good for a 2.85
points-per-game average. Also leads the ECAC in goals (23) and is tied for
eighth in the league with 14 assists. Tied for first in the league with four
power-play points (2-2).
Meghan Hunter
Is the top scoring player in the nation with 57 points (31-26) in 23 games.
Also leads the nation in goals (31) and power-play points (9-15-24). Is tied
for first in the country with nine power-play goals and is ranked second
nationally with 26 assists.
Courtney Kennedy
Among the top scoring defensemen in the country and ranks first among all
Minnesota defensemen with 20 points (4-16) in 22 games. Is ranked 12th in
the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in assists (16), and is tied for
10th in the league with 11 power-play points (0-11).
Andrea Kilbourne
Among the top scorers in the nation and tied for fourth overall in the
Eastern College Athletic Conference with 35 points (15-20) in 19 games.
Ranks fourth in the ECAC in goals (15) and assists (20) and is tied for
sixth with nine power play points (1-8).
Nadine Muzerall
Is tied for 17th in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with 23 points
(13-10) in 18 games. Tied for 10th in the WCHA with 13 goals and is tied for
eighth in the league with five power-play goals. Three of her 13 goals have
been game-winners, good for fourth in the WCHA.
Maria Rooth
Ranks second in the nation in scoring with 47 points (24-23) in 19 games,
good for a 2.47 points-per game average. Also is second in the nation in
goals (24), is tied for fourth in the country in assists (23), and ranks
third in the nation in power-play points (6-10-16).
Tammy Shewchuk
Is among the top 15 in the nation and ranks fifth in the Eastern College
Athletic Conference with 32 points (9-23) in 14 games. Among league leaders
in goals (9), and is tied for second in the ECAC with 23 assists. Tied for
first in the league with four power-play points (2-2).
Erika Silva
Among the Eastern College Athletic Conference's top goaltenders. Has posted
a 12-7-1 record with a 2.39 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage
and a .625 winning percentage. Ranks among the top 10 goaltenders in the
league in all three categories.
Jessica Tabb
Is tied for third overall in the Eastern College Athletic Conference and
eighth in the nation with 36 points (11-25) in 24 games. Leads the ECAC and
is ranked third in the nation with 25 assists. Is tied for third in the
league with 10 power-play points (3-7).
Michelle Thornton
Leads the Eastern College Athletic Conference, and is tied for sixth in the
nation with 37 points (14-23) in 25 games. Is tied for sixth in the league
in goals (14) and is tied for second in assists (23). Ranks second in the
ECAC with 13 power-play points (3-10).
For more information, please contact:
USA Hockey Media Relations, (719) 576-8724
Heather Ahearn, ext. 169
Chuck Menke, ext. 171
or visit www.usahockey.com
--------------------
Craig Roberts
Asst. Media Relations Director
University of Minnesota Women's Intercollegiate Athletics
Phone: (612) 624-0522 Fax: (612) 624-8018
For the latest in Gopher Sports News visit www.gophersports.com
Or call the Diet Coke Gopher Sports Hotline at (612) 624-STAT
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