ECAC Hockey

February 19, 2007

ECACHL's Apps, Chu, Harbec and Vaillancourt Among Top 10 Finalists for 2007 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The USA Hockey Foundation today announced the top 10 finalists for the 2007 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. In its 10th anniversary, the award annually recognizes the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. Four ECAC Hockey League athletes - Gillian Apps (Dartmouth), Julie Chu (Harvard), Sabrina Harbec (St. Lawrence) and Sarah Vaillancourt (Harvard) -- are among this year's finalists.

One of the most diverse top-10 classes in the history of the award, the 10 candidates represent all four women's college conferences - College Hockey America, the ECAC Hockey League, Hockey East and the Western Collegiate Hockey Association - and a total of eight schools - Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Mercyhurst College, the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of New Hampshire, The Ohio State University, St. Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin.

Along with the ECACHL selections, the other six finalists are: Meghan Agosta from Mercyhurst, Sara Bauer from Wisconsin, Tessa Bonhomme from Ohio State, Martine Garland from New Hampshire, Noemie Marin from Minnesota Duluth and Meaghan Mikkelson from Wisconsin.

Three of this year's finalists have also finished among the nation's best in previous seasons. In 2006, Bauer won the award and Harbec was in the top three, and in 2005, Chu was among the top 10.

The award selection process begins in late January, when NCAA Division I women's ice hockey coaches are asked to nominate up to two players from their respective teams for the award. Nominated players are then placed on an official ballot, which is sent back to the coaches to vote for the top 10 finalists. The independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP tabulates the ballots.

The top three finalists, including the recipient of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, are chosen by a 13-member selection committee comprised of NCAA Division I women's ice hockey coaches, representatives of the print and broadcast media and a representative of USA Hockey, the National Governing Body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States.

The three finalists for this year's award will be announced March 5.

NOTES: The 2007 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be presented at a brunch ceremony on March 17, in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Frozen Four, in Lake Placid, N.Y. . Tickets to the event may be purchased at pattykaz.com or by calling 800-566-3288, ext. 169 ($60/individual seats, $500/table of 10) . Five previous winners of the award will be in attendance at this year's ceremony, including three-time U.S. Olympian Angela Ruggiero (Harvard/2004), two-time Olympian A.J. Mleczko (Harvard/1999), the inaugural award recipient Brandy Fisher (New Hampshire/1998), last year's award winner Sara Bauer (Wisconsin/2006) and the first goaltender to win the award Ali Brewer (Brown University/2000).

ABOUT THE PATTY KAZMAIER MEMORIAL AWARD
An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizes the accomplishments of the most outstanding player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey each season. Other selection criteria include outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is also be given to academic achievement and civic involvement.

ABOUT PATTY KAZMAIER
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, who was a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League defenseman for Princeton University from 1981-86. An accomplished athlete who helped lead the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship in three consecutive seasons (1981-84), Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died on Feb. 15, 1990 at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.

2007 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top 10 Finalists

Name	Year	Pos	School
Meghan Agosta	Fr	F	Mercyhurst College
Gillian Apps	Sr	F	Dartmouth College
Sara Bauer	Sr	F	University of Wisconsin
Tessa Bonhomme	Jr	D	The Ohio State University
Julie Chu	Sr	F	Harvard University
Martine Garland	Jr	D	University of New Hampshire
Sabrina Harbec	Jr	F	St. Lawrence University
Noemie Marin	Sr	F	University of Minnesota Duluth
Meaghan Mikkelson	Sr	D	University of Wisconsin
Sarah Vaillancourt	So	F	Harvard University

BIOS OF ECACHL FINALISTS

Gillian Apps -- Dartmouth
Senior, Forward
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
GPA: 2.70
Major: Psychology
Team captain . Tied for 11th in the NCAA with 42 points in 27 games and tied for second with 29 goals . Tied for the nation's lead with eight game-winning goals . Ninth in the nation with 1.56 points per game and third with 1.03 goals per game . Is seventh on Dartmouth's all-time scoring list . Team is 19-1-2 when she records a point . Fifth in the ECAC Hockey League with 34 points in 20 league games and ranks second with 23 goals . Leads the conference with seven game-winning goals . Named ECACHL Player of the Week twice (Jan. 8, Jan. 29) . Volunteers with Big Green Readers program, aimed at helping local youth learn to read . Works with Kids and Caps, where she volunteers with young athletes . Involved in Right to Play, an organization that helps give children in other countries the opportunity to play sports.

Julie Chu -- Harvard
Senior, Forward
Hometown: Fairfield, Conn.
GPA: 3.37
Major: Psychology
Team co-captain . Ranks first in the NCAA with 64 points and 47 assists in 26 games . Leads the nation with 2.46 points per game and 1.81 assists per game . Has scored at least one point in 25 of 26 games . Is Harvard's all-time leader in assists (195) . Ranks third in Harvard career scoring, behind two-time Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner Jennifer Botterill and Tammy Shewchuk . Leads the ECAC Hockey League in points (53), assists (37) and power-play points (5-22-27) in 20 league games . Named ECACHL Co-Player of the Week on Jan. 8 . Volunteers at UniLu homeless shelter . Serves as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative . Member of Athletes in Action and Women's Sports Foundation . Does public speaking at local elementary schools.

Sabrina Harbec - St. Lawrence
Junior, Forward
Hometown: St. Hubert, Que.
GPA: 3.13
Major: Math & Economics
Fourth in the NCAA with 59 points in 32 games and is tied for seventh with 23 goals and third with 36 assists . Tied for second nationally with three shorthanded markers . Ranks fourth in the nation with 1.84 points per game and 1.12 assists per game . Third in the ECAC Hockey League with 41 points and 24 assists in 22 league games and tied for fifth with 17 goals . Leads the conference with three shorthanded goals . Named ECAC Hockey League Player of the Week twice (Dec. 11, Jan. 15) . Involved in "Buddies" program, working with local elementary school children.

Sarah Vaillancourt -- Harvard
Sophomore, Forward
Hometown: Sherbrooke, Que.
GPA: 3.00
Major: Psychology
Fifth in the NCAA with 53 points (29-24) in 25 games . Tied for second in the nation with 29 goals and tied for 12th with 24 assists . Fifth in the nation with 13 power-play tallies . Ranks second in the country with 2.12 points per game, first with 1.16 goals per game and eighth with .96 assists per game . Has four hat tricks this season, including a five-goal game and a four-goal game . Ranks 12th on Harvard's career scoring chart . Leads the ECAC Hockey League with 24 goals, and is fourth with 37 points in 18 league games . Tied for second in the league with 18 power-play points and second with 10 power-play goals . Named USCHO National Offensive Player of the Week on Dec. 5 . President of Honor at children's hospital in Quebec . President of Honor at a diabetes foundation in Quebec . Serves as a public speaker at local elementary schools.