Amanda Kessel is the third Gopher to receive the Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year (Natalie Darwitz, 2005; Krissy Wendell, 2001).
USA Hockey announced Wednesday morning that University of Minnesota women’s hockey player Amanda Kessel is the recipient of the 2013 Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year. The annual award salutes the accomplishments of an outstanding American-born women’s hockey player.
Kessel, who won the 2013 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, led the nation in scoring with 101 points (46g-55a) to become only the fourth player in NCAA history to reach the century mark in a season. The junior forward played in 37 games and averaged 2.66 points per game while also guiding the Gophers to back-to-back NCAA National Championships. The Madison, Wis. native battled nagging injuries all season but finished with 28 multi-point games. Midway through the year, Kessel became the 24th player in NCAA history to surpass 200 career points and only the ninth to do so in three seasons.
Kessel is the third Gopher to receive this honor as Minnesota’s top two career scoring leaders Natalie Darwitz (2005) and Krissy Wendell (2001) are also recipients
On the international stage, the Gopher helped lead the U.S. Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship. At the IIHF Women’s World Championship, she scored the game-winning goal in the goal-medal game to aid Team USA in securing its fourth goal medal in five world championships. She was named U.S. Player of the Game and earned recognition as one of the top three players of the tournament for Team USA.
Additional awards Kessel has garnered this season include: First Team All-American, USCHO Co-Player of the Year, First Team All-USCHO, WCHA Player of the Year, WCHA Scoring Champion, NCAA All-Tournament Team and WCHA All-Academic Team.
Kessel along with eight other current and former Gophers will be vying for spots on Team USA’s 2014 Sochi Olympic Team come June 16 as they attend the weekend-long U.S. Women’s National Team Selection Camp. The camp will be held at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.
USA Hockey will honor Kessel as well as other 2013 award recipients on June 5 at its annual Night of Tribute Awards Dinner at the Hotel Elegante in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Previous Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year Award Winners
2012 Kelli Stack – U.S. Women’s National Team
2011 Meghan Duggan – U.S. Women’s National Team/Univ. of Wisconsin
2010 Jenny Potter – U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team
2009 Jessie Vetter – U.S. Women’s National Team/Univ. of Wisconsin
2008 Caitlin Cahow – U.S. Women’s National Team/Harvard Univ.
2007 Julie Chu – U.S. Women’s National Team/Harvard Univ.
2006 Katie King – U.S. Olympic Women’s Team
2005 Natalie Darwitz – U.S. Women’s National Team
2004 Angela Ruggiero – U.S. Women’s National Team
2003 Angela Ruggiero – Harvard University
2002 Sara DeCosta – U.S. Olympic Women’s Team
2001 Krissy Wendell – U.S. Women’s National Team
2000 Sara DeCosta – Providence College
1999 A.J. Mleczko – Harvard University
1998 Karyn Bye – U.S. Olympic Women’s Team
1997 Laurie Baker – U.S. Women’s National Team
1996 Cammi Granato – U.S. Women’s National Team
1995 Karyn Bye – U.S. Women’s National Team
1994 Erin Whitten – U.S. Women’s National Team
**Courtesy Cory Hall & University of Minnesota Athletic Department
USA Hockey announced Wednesday morning that University of Minnesota women’s hockey player Amanda Kessel is the recipient of the 2013 Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year. The annual award salutes the accomplishments of an outstanding American-born women’s hockey player.
Kessel, who won the 2013 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, led the nation in scoring with 101 points (46g-55a) to become only the fourth player in NCAA history to reach the century mark in a season. The junior forward played in 37 games and averaged 2.66 points per game while also guiding the Gophers to back-to-back NCAA National Championships. The Madison, Wis. native battled nagging injuries all season but finished with 28 multi-point games. Midway through the year, Kessel became the 24th player in NCAA history to surpass 200 career points and only the ninth to do so in three seasons.
Kessel is the third Gopher to receive this honor as Minnesota’s top two career scoring leaders Natalie Darwitz (2005) and Krissy Wendell (2001) are also recipients
On the international stage, the Gopher helped lead the U.S. Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship. At the IIHF Women’s World Championship, she scored the game-winning goal in the goal-medal game to aid Team USA in securing its fourth goal medal in five world championships. She was named U.S. Player of the Game and earned recognition as one of the top three players of the tournament for Team USA.
Additional awards Kessel has garnered this season include: First Team All-American, USCHO Co-Player of the Year, First Team All-USCHO, WCHA Player of the Year, WCHA Scoring Champion, NCAA All-Tournament Team and WCHA All-Academic Team.
Kessel along with eight other current and former Gophers will be vying for spots on Team USA’s 2014 Sochi Olympic Team come June 16 as they attend the weekend-long U.S. Women’s National Team Selection Camp. The camp will be held at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y.
USA Hockey will honor Kessel as well as other 2013 award recipients on June 5 at its annual Night of Tribute Awards Dinner at the Hotel Elegante in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Previous Bob Allen Women’s Player of the Year Award Winners
2012 Kelli Stack – U.S. Women’s National Team
2011 Meghan Duggan – U.S. Women’s National Team/Univ. of Wisconsin
2010 Jenny Potter – U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team
2009 Jessie Vetter – U.S. Women’s National Team/Univ. of Wisconsin
2008 Caitlin Cahow – U.S. Women’s National Team/Harvard Univ.
2007 Julie Chu – U.S. Women’s National Team/Harvard Univ.
2006 Katie King – U.S. Olympic Women’s Team
2005 Natalie Darwitz – U.S. Women’s National Team
2004 Angela Ruggiero – U.S. Women’s National Team
2003 Angela Ruggiero – Harvard University
2002 Sara DeCosta – U.S. Olympic Women’s Team
2001 Krissy Wendell – U.S. Women’s National Team
2000 Sara DeCosta – Providence College
1999 A.J. Mleczko – Harvard University
1998 Karyn Bye – U.S. Olympic Women’s Team
1997 Laurie Baker – U.S. Women’s National Team
1996 Cammi Granato – U.S. Women’s National Team
1995 Karyn Bye – U.S. Women’s National Team
1994 Erin Whitten – U.S. Women’s National Team
**Courtesy Cory Hall & University of Minnesota Athletic Department