Four WCHA Players Named 2003 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Finalists

Rooth, Potter, Darwitz and Wendell up for award.

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Feb. 4, 2003

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MADISON, Wis. - The 10 finalists for the 2003 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award were named by the USA Hockey Foundation on Monday and four of the finalists call the Western Collegiate Hockey Association their conference. The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizes the most outstanding player in women's collegiate varsity ice hockey.

Two players each from League-leader Minnesota-Duluth and second-place Minnesota were included among the 10 finalists. For UMD, senior Maria Rooth and junior Jenny Potter were recognized. First-year forwards Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell were named to the list for Minnesota.

Rooth, a four-time finalist for the award, ranks 12th in the nation with 32 points on 11 goals and 22 assists. Potter, a finalist in 2000, leads the nation's scorers with 66 points and 40 assists and shares the lead with 26 goals. She also leads the country with nine power-play goals and four short-handed tallies.

Darwitz, the nation's leading rookie scorer, ranks third overall with 52 points on 24 goals and 28 assists. She is a five-time WCHA Rookie of the Week. Her teammate, Wendell, ranks third in the nation among rookies with 48 points on 23 goals and 25 points. Her point-total is good for sixth in the country.

The three finalists for the award will be named March 10. The award dinner, where the name of the recipient of the 2003 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be announced, will be held Saturday, March 22 at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center (DECC) in Duluth, Minn. The banquet will be held in conjunction with the 2003 NCAA Women's Frozen Four that will take place March 21 and 23 also at the DECC.

The 2003 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top 10 Candidates

Name	            Yr.	  Pos.	School	                Hometown
Maria Rooth	    Sr.	  F	Minnesota-Duluth	Angelholm, Sweden
Jenny Potter	    Jr.	  F	Minnesota-Duluth	Edina, Minn.
Natalie Darwitz	    Fr.	  F	Minnesota	        Eagan, Minn.
Krissy Wendell	    Fr.	  F	Minnesota	        Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Jennifer Botterill  Sr.	  F	Harvard	                Winnipeg, Manitoba
Chanda Gunn	    Jr.	  G	Northeastern	        Huntington Beach, Calif.
Carly Haggard	    Sr.	  F	Dartmouth	        Port Alberni, B.C.
Kelli Halcisak	    Jr.	  D	Providence	        Grosse Ile, Mich.
Andrea Kilbourne    Sr.	  F	Princeton	        Saranac Lake, N.Y.
Angela Ruggiero	    Jr.	  D	Harvard	                Harper Woods, Mich.