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Five finalists announced for 2019 Ms. Hockey Award

02/14/2019, 11:00am CST
By Let's Play Hockey

Winner will be announced on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet at the St. Paul RiverCentre.

2019 Ms. Hockey Finalists

FINALIST POSITION SCHOOL/TEAM GP G A POINTS COLLEGE
CC Bowlby F Edina 27 26 26 52 Dartmouth
Izzy Daniel F Blake 27 25 36 61 Cornell
Kelsey King F Elk River/Zimmerman 27 45 21 66 Minnesota State
Kaitlyn Kotlowski D Warroad 26 12 29 41 Wisconsin
Madeline Wethington D Blake 27 21 31 52 Minnesota

The five finalists for the 24th annual Ms. Hockey Award are forwards CC Bowlby of Edina, Izzy Daniel of Blake and Kelsey King of Elk River/Zimerman, and defensemen Kaitlyn Kotlowski of Warroad and Madeline Wethington of Blake.

Each of the finalists have committed to a Division I women’s hockey program with three players heading to a WCHA school next season.  

The five honorees have scored an average of 26 goals and 29 assists this season. The finalists have been bound to the textbooks for the past several years as they check in with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.63.

The Ms. Hockey Award is presented to the top senior girls’ high school hockey player in Minnesota. The winner will be announced at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m., at the RiverCentre in St. Paul.

Alphabetically, here is a look at the five finalists for the 2019 Ms. Hockey Award:

CC Bowlby • Edina
Largely credited as a major reason for the Hornets’ success the past several seasons, CC Bowlby is Edina’s fifth ever Ms. Hockey finalist. This season, Bowlby owns totals of 26-26--52 in 27 games and has helped the Hornets to the state’s No. 2 ranking in Class AA and within one win of advancing to the program’s fifth straight state tournament.

Bowlby has scored at least one point in all but one game this season, and owns 15 multi-point and eight multi-goal games on the year. A 2018 all-state honorable mention forward, Bowlby has helped the Hornets to two straight Class AA state championships, earning all-tournament team honors last year. Following high school, she will continue her hockey career at Dartmouth.

“CC is one of the most dynamic hockey players of her age,” Edina head coach Sami Reber said. “Whether it’s scoring big goals, making clutch plays, blocking an important shot or just grinding to that final buzzer, CC embodies all of those when it comes to hockey. She is truly one of the best players in the state.”

Off the ice, Bowlby owns a 3.90 GPA, is a member of the Spanish Club and has volunteered with Feed My Starving Children. 

“CC demonstrates what it’s like to keep working hard to reach a goal and not giving up,” Reber said. “CC’s passion and drive are two of her qualities that are very apparent both on and off the ice.”

 

Izzy Daniel • Blake
One of the top players in program history, Izzy Daniel has helped the Bears to the No. 1 ranking in Class AA with scoring totals of 25-36--61 in 27 games this season. In the regular season, she ranked sixth in the state in assists and 12th in points.

Daniel owns 21 multi-point games and eight multi-goal games on the year, including two hat tricks. She has posted one four-point game, one five-point game and one six-point game this season. Daniel has helped Blake to a 25-2-0 overall record and within one win of qualifying for its first ever Class AA state tournament. Looking to become Blake’s third ever Ms. Hockey Award winner, Daniel will continue her hockey career at Cornell.

“Izzy is a game changer with her speed and incredible stick skills,” Blake head coach Shawn Reid said. “Her offensive abilities are on display every single game. Additionally, she is a tenacious backchecker and defender. Izzy is silky smooth and creates highlight-reel plays every game.”

Off the ice, Daniel owns a 3.0 GPA and has been involved in Haitian Initiative, a program that uses soccer as a way for kids to stay in school and get a guaranteed meal every day.

“Izzy was a unnamimous captain selection and is very well respected among all of our players,” Reid said. “She leads by example with a consistent hard-work ethic and connects with every player on the team with her quick wit and dry sense of humor. Additionally, Izzy is well-respected in our school community for being more than just a hockey player.”

 

Kelsey King • Elk River/Zimmerman
An elite goal scorer, Kelsey King is one of the state’s top forwards and is looking to become Elk River/Zimmerman’s first Ms. Hockey Award winner. This season, she posted totals of 45-21--66 in 27 games and ranked tied for first in the state in goals and third in points during the regular season. 

King scored at least one point in all but three games this season, and owned 17 multi-point and 12 multi-goal games on the year, including six hat tricks. A four-time all-conference honoree, King had one four-point game, one five-point game, two six-point games and two seven-point games this season. She is the fourth Elk to be named a Ms. Hockey finalist. King will continue her hockey career at Minnesota State.

“Kelsey is a motivated and intense individual both on and off the ice,” Elk River/Zimmerman head coach Brian Ballenger said. “She strives for excellence in everything she does. She has explosive speed and has developed one of the best shots in the state.”

Along with being an excellent hockey player, King is also a top-notch student and multi-sport athlete. She holds a 3.75 GPA and received a distinguished academic achievement award through ERHS. King also competed on the varsity tennis team, helping the Elk to back-to-back state consolation titles.

“Kelsey is a top student at Elk River High School, a multi-sport athlete and a member of the National Honor Society,” Ballenger said. “With each of those things, Kelsey has demonstrated solid citizenship. Whether it is volunteering with NHS or showing up to a girls’ youth hockey practice on Halloween to pass out candy and take pictures with them, she is always thoughtful, caring and helpful.”

 

Kaitlyn Kotlowski • Warroad
One of the state’s elite defensemen, Kaitlyn Kotlowski looks to become the first blueliner to be named Ms. Hockey since 2014 winner Sydney Baldwin of Minnetonka. With 12-29--41 in 27 games this season, Kotlowski has notched 147 career points during her time with the Warriors.

Third on the team in scoring, Kotlowski posted 14 multi-point games and was routinely tasked with playing against opposing teams’ best players. A 2018 all-state selection, Kotlowski has helped Warroad to three straight Class A state tournaments, and to a 26-0-1 overall record and No. 1 ranking this season. Following high school, she will continue her hockey career at the University of Wisconsin.

“Katie has been an integral part of our girls’ hockey team since she was an eighth grader, Warroad head coach David Marvin said. “We count on her to be a main force on the blue line, and her consistent excellent play inspires her teammates to elevate their play. She is a force every time she takes the ice with her long reach and strong skating ability.”

Off the ice, Kotlowski owns a 3.69 GPA and has accumulated over 200 hours of community service during her high school career.

“Katie is not only a talented hockey player, but she is also an all-around good ‘kid,’ Marvin said. “She is a multi-sport athlete who also excels in the classroom. She strives to do her best in whatever activity she is involved in.”

 

Madeline Wethington • Blake
Considered one of the top players in the nation in her age group, Madeline Wethington has helped the Bears to the No. 1 ranking in Class AA and just one win away from their first Class AA state tournament appearance. An elite defenseman, Wethington ranks fourth on her team in scoring with totals of 21-31--52 in 27 games.

Wethington will graduate as one of the most decorated girls’ high school hockey players of all time. She has won three state championships (2014, 2016, 2017) and one runner-up title (2015), and has been named all-state three times. Additionally, Wethington is a three-time gold medalist for the U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team team. She was the only high school player invited to train with the national team over the holiday break this season. 

This season, Wethington has posted 16 multi-point games and has been held without a point just once in 27 games. She will continue her hockey career at the University of Minnesota.

“Madeline has been on the Blake varsity team since 7th grade and has been a standout every season,” Reid said. “Her dedication to self-improvement is unmatched. It’s been a lot of fun and a privilege to watch her continually grow as a player and person.”

Away from hockey, Wethington owns a 3.8 GPA and last year earned the Harvard Book Prize for the student who displays excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with achievement in other fields.

“Madeline is acutely aware of the opportunities she has received through the sport and has done much to give back to hockey,” Reid said. “She recognizes that the sport is bigger than any one person and that it is the individual’s responsibility to carry on tradition and success for the future generations.”  

 

In addition to announcing Ms. Hockey, the winner of the 2019 Senior Goalie of the Year Award will be named at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the St. Paul RiverCentre. Both awards are sponsored by Let’s Play Hockey, the Minnesota Wild, GoodWood Hockey and OS Hockey.

Additionally, all-state and all-academic awards will be presented by the Minnesota Girls’ Hockey Coaches Association, as well as the coaches of the year, the Brano Stankovsky Award, and the Charlie Stryker and Adrenaline Fundraising Scholarship awards for 2018-19. Keynote speakers are U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame forward Natalie Darwitz and former University of Minnesota women’s hockey coach Laura Halldorson. Tickets for the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet may be ordered by calling Beth Kurtt at 612-306-1935.

In addition to on-ice talent, criteria for the Ms. Hockey Award includes academics, community/extracurricular activities, citizenship and coachability. 

Past winners: 2018 Taylor Heise (Red Wing), 2017 Grace Zumwinkle (Breck), 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).

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Tag(s): State Of Hockey  News  Awards  Ms. Hockey