{"id":27363,"date":"2005-03-26T23:04:14","date_gmt":"2005-03-27T05:04:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2005\/03\/26\/wendell-claims-minnesotas-first-patty-kazmaier-award\/"},"modified":"2010-08-17T19:56:13","modified_gmt":"2010-08-18T00:56:13","slug":"wendell-claims-minnesotas-first-patty-kazmaier-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uscho.com\/2005\/03\/26\/wendell-claims-minnesotas-first-patty-kazmaier-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Wendell Claims Minnesota’s First Patty Kazmaier Award"},"content":{"rendered":"
The 2005 winner of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given to the year’s most outstanding women’s college ice hockey player by the USA Hockey Foundation, is junior forward Krissy Wendell from the University of Minnesota.<\/p>\n
Wendell, who beat out linemate Natalie Darwitz and rival forward Caroline Ouellette from Minnesota-Duluth in the award’s final tally, finished second nationally in points and goals scored and led the nation in shorthanded goals. A 2002 U.S. Olympian renowned for her skating ability, Wendell netted the game-winners in both Gopher wins over top rival Minnesota-Duluth and the WCHA championship game against Wisconsin, as well as a hat trick against ECACHL champion Harvard. She has scored 105 goals and 130 assists in 100 games played over her three-year college career.<\/p>\n
A two-time All-American selection, Wendell was also named the WCHA’s Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. She is the first Minnesota player and WCHA player to win the honor.<\/p>\n
In her acceptance speech, Wendell singled out the two other finalists for the award.<\/p>\n
“Caroline Ouellette, I’ve played against you many times, and our teams have developed quite a rivalry,” Wendell said. “But I have so much respect for you and your ability.<\/p>\n
“Natalie has been my teammate, my linemate, and my friend for more than five years now,” she continued. “She makes me a better player on the ice, and I enjoy coming to the rink to play with you. If I could share this award with you, I would.”<\/p>\n
Wendell also thanked her teammates, coaches, friends and family.<\/p>\n