For Immediate Release Feb. 16, 2017
Contact: Kevin Kurtt (952-288-9319, editor@letsplayhockey.com)
Five finalists announced for 2017 Ms. Hockey Award
Let’s Play Hockey announced today the five finalists for the 22nd annual Ms. Hockey Award, presented to the top senior girls’ high school hockey player in Minnesota. The finalists include three forwards and two defensemen. The five honorees have scored an average of 25 goals and 22 assists this season and have helped their respective teams to top 20 rankings.
In addition to their on-ice performance, all five finalists are standouts in the classroom as they check in with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.86. Each of the finalists have committed to a Division I women’s hockey program with all five of the players heading to a WCHA school next season.
The finalists for the 2017 Minnesota Ms. Hockey Award are as follows, in alphabetical order (statistics through games of Feb. 15):
Semifinalist Pos. School/Team GP G A TP College
Grace Bowlby D Edina 26 11 17 28 Wisconsin
Emily Brown D Blaine 25 14 26 40 Minnesota
Naomi Rogge F Eden Prairie 26 34 22 56 Minnesota Duluth
Taylor Wente F Maple Grove 25 26 27 53 Minnesota
Grace Zumwinkle F Breck 22 42 16 58 Minnesota
The 2017 Ms. Hockey Award winner will be named at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 9:30 a.m., at the RiverCentre in St. Paul. The award is sponsored by Let’s Play Hockey and the Minnesota Wild. WCHA Women’s Commissioner Katie Million will be the keynote speaker. To order tickets to the Ms. Hockey Banquet, call Beth Kurtt at 612-306-1935.
In addition to on-ice talent, criteria for the Ms. Hockey Award include academics, community/extracurricular activities, citizenship and coachability. Past winners: 2016 Presley Norby (Minnetonka), 2015 Taylor Williamson (Edina), 2014 Sydney Baldwin (Minnetonka), 2013 Dani Cameranesi (Blake), 2012 Hannah Brandt (Hill-Murray), 2011 Karley Sylvester (Warroad), 2010 Bethany Brausen (Roseville), 2009 Becky Kortum (Hopkins), 2008 Sarah Erickson (Bemidji), 2007 Katharine Chute (Blake), 2006 Allie Thunstrom (North St. Paul), 2005 Gigi Marvin (Warroad), 2004 Erica McKenzie (Hastings), 2003 Andrea Nichols (Hibbing/Chisholm), 2002 Ashley Albrecht (South St. Paul), 2001 Renee Curtin (Roseville), 2000 Krissy Wendell (Park Center), 1999 Ronda Curtin (Roseville), 1998 Laura Slominski (Burnsville), 1997 Annamarie Holmes (Apple Valley), 1996 Winny Brodt (Roseville).
Other awards that will be presented at the banquet include the Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year Award, which goes to the top senior goalie in girls’ high school hockey, as well as the Minnesota Girls High School Hockey Coaches Association’s Coaches of the Year, and All-State and All-Academic Award winners for the 2016-17 season.
For more on the five Ms. Hockey finalists, go to www.letsplayhockey.com.
-- LPH --
Emily Brown - Blaine HS
Taylor Wente - Maple Grove HS
Grace Bowlby - Edina HS
Naomi Rogge - Eden Pfrairie HS
Grace Zumwinkle - Breck School