February 7, 2005

MADISON, Wis.—The University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team was honored when two senior skaters, Carla MacLeod and Molly Engstrom, were selected as top-10 finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Wisconsin, along with Harvard and Minnesota, lead the list with two top-10 finalists apiece.

Sponsored by the USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizes the accomplishments of the most outstanding player in women’s college hockey each season. Candidates for the award must compete for a women’s intercollegiate varsity ice hockey team at an NCAA-member institution. Other selection criteria include outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration will also be given to academic achievement and civic involvement.

The two-year captain, MacLeod has received a number of weekly honors for her efforts on the ice for the Badgers. In addition to her contributions to the UW blueline, the Calgary, Alberta native has been a standard at Canada’s national team camps and has skated for Canada in several international competitions. Her leadership on and off the ice is tangible as the Badgers have been ranked in the top five for all of the 2004-05 season.

An accomplished athlete and leader as assistant captain to the Badger squad, Engstrom boasts a laundry list of awards and honors. In 2004, the Siren, Wis. native was selected to the U.S. national team and has gained experience playing a variety of international competitions. In addition, she was named the 2004 WCHA Defensive Player of the Year as well as a member of the WCHA Final Five all-tournament team and the All-WCHA first team.

Engstrom currently leads the team in power-play goals, ranking 11th in the nation as well as fifth nationally in scoring among defenders. MacLeod also rates among the nation’s finest at 14th in points per game for a defenseman. The two seniors anchor the Badger blueline that has the third stingiest defense in the nation and the second most potent combined special teams.

Wisconsin has only had one other athlete named to the Patty Kazmaier top-10—prolific scorer and multiple UW record-holder Meghan Hunter was chosen for the list in 2001.

The top 10 finalists were determined by a vote of the nation’s NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey coaches. The next cut will be announced March 14 when the field is narrowed to three. The eighth-annual Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be presented at a dinner at the Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth in Portsmouth, N.H., on March 26, 2005, in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four. Tickets for the dinner are extremely limited and must be purchased in advance either at PattyKaz.com or by calling 719-538-1172.

2005 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top 10 Finalists

Player Pos School Class Ht Hometown

Julie Chu F/D Harvard Jr 5-8 Fairfield Conn.

Desi Clark G Mercyhurst Sr 5-6 Salmo, B.C.

Nicole Corriero@ F Harvard Sr 5-4 Thornhill, Ont.

Natalie Darwitz#@ F Minnesota Jr 5-2 Eagan, Minn.

Molly Engstrom D Wisconsin Sr 5-9 Siren, Wis.

Carla MacLeod D Wisconsin Sr 5-4 Calgary, Alta.

Caroline Ouellette# F Minnesota Duluth Sr 5-11 Montreal, Que.

Cherie Piper F Dartmouth Jr 5-7 Scarborough, Ont.

Rebecca Russell F St. Lawrence Sr 5-6 Clarenville, Nfld.

Krissy Wendell#@ F Minnesota Jr 5-6 Brooklyn Park, Minn.