Gophers women’s hockey star Amanda Kessel is officially the top player in Division I college women’s hockey, the Star Tribune reports.
Kessel won the Patty Kazmaier Award Saturday at the University of Minnesota campus, beating out two other finalists that happen to be her teammates: senior defenseman Megan Bozek and senior goaltender Noora Raty.
All three team members have been instrumental in the Gophers’ unbeaten season, leading up to the NCAA title game Sunday against Boston University.
The junior forwards leads college women’s hockey with 44 goals and 53 assists. This year Kessel became the 24th player in NCAA history to reach 200-career points and only the ninth player to reach the feat in three seasons.
Kessel is the second Gopher to win the Patty Kazmaier Award since its inception 16 years ago. Krissy Wendell won it in 2005.
The Gophers beat Boston College 3-2 in overtime Friday to advance to Sunday’s championship.
The team is 40-0-0 this season and has an undefeated streak of 48 games dating back to last season.
