University of Minnesota Athletics
Wendell Inducted into U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
12/19/2019 8:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Gophers great Krissy Wendell was enshrined in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2019.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Gophers alum and USA Hockey legend Krissy Wendell, a three-time All-American and two-time national champion for the University of Minnesota, was honored as a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2019. Wendell joined Gary Bettman, Brian Gionta, Neal Henderson, and Tim Thomas to make up the newest inductees, who were celebrated at an induction ceremony in Washington, D.C., earlier this month.
Watch Wendell's induction speech, and read more on her Hall of Fame induction:
USA Hockey: A Historic Night of Great Speeches and Tremendous Memories
USA Hockey: Class of 2019 Shares a Legacy of Growing American Hockey
USA Hockey: About HOF Inductee Krissy Wendell
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame: Q&A with 2019 Hall of Fame Inductee Krissy Wendell
USA Hockey: Krissy Wendell Feature Video
USA Hockey: Krissy Wendell Acceptance Speech
Star Tribune: Krissy Wendell, Jack Blatherwick honored at U.S. Hockey Hall ceremony
Wendell appeared in 101 career games for the Gophers from 2002-03 to 2004-05. She recorded 237 career points with 106 goals and 131 assists during her three seasons; her 237 career points still ranks fourth in Gopher women's hockey program history. Wendell remains second in Minnesota history in career points per game (2.35), goals per game (1.05), and assists per game (1.30), and her 16 short-handed goals and 24 game-winning goals still stand as Minnesota program records as well.
A three-time All-American and three-time All-WCHA selection, Wendell led the Gophers to back-to-back national championships in 2004 and 2005 after Minnesota placed fourth at the NCAA Championship her freshman year. As a rookie, she led Minnesota to runner-up showings in both the WCHA regular season and WCHA postseason tournament, making her college debut with a 55-point rookie campaign (27 goals, 28 assists).
Wendell then led the Gophers to consecutive WCHA regular season and post-season titles in 2004 and 2005, along with back-to-back national championships. She was named the WCHA Player of the Year in each of those seasons, along with being a three-time Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award finalist and Minnesota's first-ever recipient of the award in 2005. Wendell recorded a career-best 104 points (43 goals, 61 assists) during the 2004-05 season, a scoring effort that still ranks second in Gophers' history to teammate Natalie Darwitz's 114 points during the same season.
Wendell continues to rank among the top-15 on the NCAA's all-time points list (237), and she is fourth in NCAA history with 2.35 points per game. She still shares the NCAA record for most shorthanded goals in a single season after notching seven tallies during the 2004-05 season as well.
Along with her success at the collegiate level, Wendell was a prolific a goal-scorer on the international stage. She represented the United States in 147 total games and registered 247 points, including 106 goals. She played in six IIHF Women's World Championships, including in 2005 when she helped the U.S. win its first-ever gold in the event with an MVP performance that included leading all skaters in the tournament with nine points.
In addition, Wendell donned the Team USA jersey at both the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Winter Games, serving as captain in the 2006 tournament. She earned two distinguished USA Hockey honors during her nine-year stint (1998-2007) as a member of the U.S. Women's National Team program, including the Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year in 2001 and the recipient of the Bob Johnson Award for international excellence in both 2000 and 2005. All total as a member of Team USA, Wendell earned one gold medal, six silvers and one bronze in major international competition.
In Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where her love for the game blossomed, Wendell led her Park Center Senior High School team to its first ever girls state championship in 2000. Wendell remains today the all-time scoring leader at Park Center and among the top 10 in Minnesota State High School League history.
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees are chosen on the basis of extraordinary contribution to the sport of hockey in the United States. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame was incorporated in 1969 and inducted its first class in 1973, and the Class of 2019 with be the 47th installed to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. To date, there are 182 enshrined members and four enshrined teams in the Hall.
The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum is located in Eveleth, Minnesota and is open daily. For hours of operation and admission prices, visit USHockeyHallMuseum.com or call 800-443-7825. For information on the members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, visit USHockeyHallofFame.com.
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Watch Wendell's induction speech, and read more on her Hall of Fame induction:
USA Hockey: A Historic Night of Great Speeches and Tremendous Memories
USA Hockey: Class of 2019 Shares a Legacy of Growing American Hockey
USA Hockey: About HOF Inductee Krissy Wendell
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame: Q&A with 2019 Hall of Fame Inductee Krissy Wendell
USA Hockey: Krissy Wendell Feature Video
USA Hockey: Krissy Wendell Acceptance Speech
Star Tribune: Krissy Wendell, Jack Blatherwick honored at U.S. Hockey Hall ceremony
Wendell appeared in 101 career games for the Gophers from 2002-03 to 2004-05. She recorded 237 career points with 106 goals and 131 assists during her three seasons; her 237 career points still ranks fourth in Gopher women's hockey program history. Wendell remains second in Minnesota history in career points per game (2.35), goals per game (1.05), and assists per game (1.30), and her 16 short-handed goals and 24 game-winning goals still stand as Minnesota program records as well.
A three-time All-American and three-time All-WCHA selection, Wendell led the Gophers to back-to-back national championships in 2004 and 2005 after Minnesota placed fourth at the NCAA Championship her freshman year. As a rookie, she led Minnesota to runner-up showings in both the WCHA regular season and WCHA postseason tournament, making her college debut with a 55-point rookie campaign (27 goals, 28 assists).
Wendell then led the Gophers to consecutive WCHA regular season and post-season titles in 2004 and 2005, along with back-to-back national championships. She was named the WCHA Player of the Year in each of those seasons, along with being a three-time Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award finalist and Minnesota's first-ever recipient of the award in 2005. Wendell recorded a career-best 104 points (43 goals, 61 assists) during the 2004-05 season, a scoring effort that still ranks second in Gophers' history to teammate Natalie Darwitz's 114 points during the same season.
Wendell continues to rank among the top-15 on the NCAA's all-time points list (237), and she is fourth in NCAA history with 2.35 points per game. She still shares the NCAA record for most shorthanded goals in a single season after notching seven tallies during the 2004-05 season as well.
Along with her success at the collegiate level, Wendell was a prolific a goal-scorer on the international stage. She represented the United States in 147 total games and registered 247 points, including 106 goals. She played in six IIHF Women's World Championships, including in 2005 when she helped the U.S. win its first-ever gold in the event with an MVP performance that included leading all skaters in the tournament with nine points.
In addition, Wendell donned the Team USA jersey at both the 2002 and 2006 Olympic Winter Games, serving as captain in the 2006 tournament. She earned two distinguished USA Hockey honors during her nine-year stint (1998-2007) as a member of the U.S. Women's National Team program, including the Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year in 2001 and the recipient of the Bob Johnson Award for international excellence in both 2000 and 2005. All total as a member of Team USA, Wendell earned one gold medal, six silvers and one bronze in major international competition.
In Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where her love for the game blossomed, Wendell led her Park Center Senior High School team to its first ever girls state championship in 2000. Wendell remains today the all-time scoring leader at Park Center and among the top 10 in Minnesota State High School League history.
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees are chosen on the basis of extraordinary contribution to the sport of hockey in the United States. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame was incorporated in 1969 and inducted its first class in 1973, and the Class of 2019 with be the 47th installed to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. To date, there are 182 enshrined members and four enshrined teams in the Hall.
The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum is located in Eveleth, Minnesota and is open daily. For hours of operation and admission prices, visit USHockeyHallMuseum.com or call 800-443-7825. For information on the members of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, visit USHockeyHallofFame.com.
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