University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHER WOMEN'S HOCKEY AWARDS PRESENTED AT 3RD ANNUAL BANQUET
4/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The Gophers, who finished 32-6-1 while winning the American Women's College Hockey Alliance national championship, presented awards for highest plus/minus rating, highest grade point average, most improved player, unsung hero, most valuable player and the GWH (Gopher Women's Hockey) Award.
Plus/Minus Award-Given to the player with the best plus/minus rating at season's end.
Courtney Kennedy, 5-9, Junior, Defense, Woburn, Mass. (Buckingham Browne & Nichols)
Kennedy won the award after leading the team's defense in plus/minus rating for the second consecutive season. Her +50 rating this year was the highest by a Gopher blueliner. She earned second-team All-WCHA honors this season as well as all-tournament honors at the AWCHA National Championship. Kennedy was named WCHA player of the week, Nov. 29, after setting a school record with five assists in a 7-1 win over Minnesota State, Mankato. She finished the season fifth in the nation in points by defense (38), tied for ninth in overall power- play points (18) and was 16th in assists (29).
Highest GPA Award-Given to the player with the highest grade point average during the previous spring, fall and winter quarters.
Laura Slominski, 5-3, Sophomore, Right Wing, Burnsville, Minn. (Burnsville H.S.)
Slominski had a 3.80 grade point average during the last academic year. She posted career-high number in virtually every offensive category during the season and was ranked among the top 20 nationally six offensive categories, including a national-best eight short-handed points. She also ranked 10th in both points (59) and assists (34), tied for 13th in short-handed goals (2), tied for 14th in goals (25) and tied for 16th in power- play goals (6). Slominski was a second-team All-WCHA pick this season and was named to the WCHA All-Academic Team.
Most Improved Player Award-Given to the played who has, over the past season or from last season to this season, shown the most improvement on the ice.
Crystal Nicholas, 5-6, Sophomore, Goalie, Tulsa, Okla. (Union H.S.)
Nicholas is the second goalie in two years to win the award. A second-team All-WCHA selection, she led the nation in winning percentage, with a perfect 15-0-0 record, and was fifth in goals against average (1.55). During her two seasons, she had a 25-0-0 record and 10 shutouts, including three this season. Nicholas recorded a career-high 38 saves in a 4-3 win at Minnesota-Duluth, Feb. 11.
Unsung Hero Award-Given to the player who has made a significant contribution to the success of the team, on and off the ice, without receiving a great deal of attention or publicity for her efforts.
Tracy Engstrom, 5-6, Sophomore, Center, Willmar, Minn. (Willmar H.S.)
In a season which saw her set career-highs in nearly every offensive category, Engstrom highlighted the 1999- 2000 season by scoring the game-winning goal in the Gophers 3-2 national semifinal victory over Minnesota- Duluth. She ranked in the top 20 nationally in four offensive categories, tied for 13th in points (53), tied for 14th in power-play points (15), 15th in assists (30) and tied for 16th in power-play goals (6).
Most Valuable Player Award-Given to the player who has made a tremendous individual contribution to the program through her talent, attitude, and hard work, both on an off the ice, in order to help the team achieve success.
Nadine Muzerall, 5-7, Junior, Left Wing, Mississauga, Ontario (Kimball Union Academy)
The nation's leading goal-scorer with 49, Muzerall has won the MVP award two of the last three seasons. A first-team All-WCHA pick and an AWCHA National Championship all-tournament selection, she led the nation in goals, power-play points (27), power-play goals (16) and game-winning goals (9) as well as finishing second in points (77) and tied for 17th in assists (28). She set school records with all of her national-leading total as well as in points, shots on goal (212) and hat tricks (5).
GWH Award-Given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities expressed in the Gopher Women's Hockey Creed, which states "I will represent myself, the team, and the University of Minnesota with class, integrity, honesty, dependability, responsibility, a positive attitude, an unselfish and 'team-first' attitude, accountability, a strong work ethic, loyalty, an appreciation for privileges, and an awareness of my role as a member of Gopher Women's Hockey."
Kris Scholz< /a>, 5-8, Junior, Center, Hugo, Minn. (Stillwater Area H.S.)
A third-year team captain, Scholz was among the top 10 nationally in scoring her first two seasons before being relegated to the Gophers' third line, tallying seven goals and 22 points in 39 games. She did not miss a game for the second consecutive season and has missed just one in her career, ending the season with a consecutive games played streak of 81. She was also selected to the WCHA All-Academic team.
