MINNEAPOLIS - Five outstanding female hockey players have been named as finalists for Let's Play Hockey's 17th annual Ms. Hockey Award.
The trophy is presented each year to the top senior girls' high school hockey player in Minnesota. The top five finalists for 2011-2012 are Hannah Brandt of Hill-Murray, Hanna Brodt of Roseville Area, Jonna Curtis of Elk River, Milica McMillen of Breck and Lee Stecklein of Roseville Area.
In addition to their on-ice performance, all five finalists are standouts in the classroom with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.72.
Four of the five finalists have committed to a WCHA school next season with Brandt, McMillen and Stecklein headed for the U of M, and Brodt committed to St. Cloud State. Curtis is opting for New Hampshire.
The 2012 Ms. Hockey Award winner will be named at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 11:30 a.m., at the RiverCentre in St. Paul.
In addition to on-ice talent, criteria for the Let's Play Hockey Ms. Hockey Award include academics, community/extracurricular activities, citizenship and coachability.
Past winners of the prestigious award include:
- 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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