June 2, 2005

Award Winners in PDF Format
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey today announced the athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and volunteers who will be honored for their excellence, dedication and contributions to the sport of hockey in the United States. The winners will be recognized at the 2005 USA Hockey Annual Congress, to be held June 8-12 at the Sheraton Colorado Springs Hotel.

The USA Hockey Annual Congress is the yearly gathering of USA Hockey's volunteer leaders, including members of the organization's board of directors, councils, committees and sections.

The following is an overview of the individuals from the WCHA who will be honored during USA Hockey's Annual Congress.

Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year
Natalie Darwitz, Eagan, Minn.
2005 U.S. Women's National Team/University of Minnesota (WCHA)

A national and world champion, Natalie Darwitz had a record-breaking season in 2004-05. A top three finalist for the 2005 Patty Kazmaier Award, she finished the collegiate season with an NCAA-record 114 points (42-72). She also led the nation in points per game (2.85) and assists (72) as her University of Minnesota Golden Gophers claimed the national championship. In her team's undefeated run at the NCAA Frozen Four, Darwitz set a tournament record with nine points (3-6). In the final game, she scored the go-ahead goal with just over a minute remaining to give the Gophers their second straight national championship. She was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player and garnered first team All-America honors for the third straight season.

During the 2004-05 campaign that saw Minnesota finish with a 36-2-2 record, Darwitz recorded 33 multiple point games, including 27 contests with three or more points. In six games of playoff action, she recorded 21 points (8-13). She was named Gophers' co-MVP in a vote by her teammates.

The 2005 WCHA scoring champion, Darwitz recorded 72 points (27-45) in 28 conference games. She notched nine points (5-4) in two games at the WCHA Tournament, including a hat trick in the semi-final game against Ohio State, and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Already Minnesota's career assists leader (144), Darwitz moved into first-place on the team's all-time points chart with 246 points (102-144) in her three-year career. She also claimed the school record for points in a season, becoming the first Gopher to break the 90-point mark.

Just four days after celebrating Minnesota's championship, Darwitz joined the U.S. Women's National Team at the World Championship in Sweden where she contributed four points (2-2) to help the team to its first-ever gold medal at the event.

A University of Minnesota Scholar-Athlete, Darwitz holds a 3.20 grade point average and volunteers for Read Across America and the Minnesota Special Olympics. She is the daughter of Scott and Nancy Darwitz and hails from Eagan, Minn.

USA Hockey annually salutes the accomplishments of an outstanding American-born women's ice hockey player with the Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year Award.

USA Hockey College Player of the Year
Marty Sertich, Roseville, Minn.
Colorado College (WCHA)

The 2005 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner and Western Collegiate Hockey Association Player of the Year, Marty Sertich was the nation's top scorer in 2004-05 (27-37--64). He led all skaters in points and points per game (1.62) while ranking second in both goals and assists. The Roseville, Minn., native earned First Team All-America honors as he led the Tigers to a share of the MacNaughton Cup as the WCHA regular-season champion.

Named Colorado College's Thayer Tutt Award winner as the team's most valuable player for the second time, his two goals and one assist at the NCAA West Regional helped the Tigers reach the NCAA Frozen Four and landed him a spot on the all-tournament team. The National Player of the Month in December, Sertich scored at least one point in 33 of the Tigers' 42 games and had 22 multiple-point outings

In conference play, Sertich led the WCHA with 42 points (17-25) and ranked second in assists. He enjoyed two point streaks of 16 and eight games respectively, and earned First Team All-WCHA honors. He was also named the U.S. College Hockey Online Player of the Year.

In his three-year career at Colorado College, Sertich owns 132 points on 47 goals and 84 assists in his 124 consecutive outings. He is one of just 68 players in school history to break the 100-point mark for his career and has recorded a point or better in 78 of his 124 appearances.

The son of Steve and the late Patty Sertich, Marty is a history major at CC. In the community, he volunteers with Colorado Springs school children and participates in the city's "Care and Share" food drive.

The USA Hockey College Player of the Year Award was established to recognize the accomplishments of the top American-born player in college hockey each season.

Bob Johnson Award, Presented by Nike
Phil Kessel, Madison, Wis.
2004-05 U.S. National Under-18 Team/2005 U.S. National Junior Team

The 2004-05 season was marked with much success for Phil Kessel, a native of Madison, Wis., who led Team USA to multiple victories on the international stage. After representing the United States at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in December and January, Kessel led the U.S. National Under-18 Team to a first-place finish at the Five Nations Cup in February. The 17-year-old's season culminated in April as he helped the Under-18 Team to the gold medal at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

In Team USA's gold-medal performance at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship in the Czech Republic, Kessel led the Under-18 Team to a perfect 6-0-0 record and was named the tournament's top forward after leading all scorers with nine goals and seven assists for 16 points.

Kessel had multiple-point performances in four of the U.S. games at the World Under-18 Championship, including a four-point effort in the gold-medal win over rival Canada and a five-point evening versus the Swiss in the preliminary round. Additionally, he scored the unassisted game-winner in the come-from-behind U.S. victory over the host Czech Republic with just under two and a half minutes remaining to secure the top seed in Group B and a bye in the quarterfinal round.

The University of Minnesota recruit also helped the United States to a first-place finish at the Five Nations Cup in Tjörn, Sweden, in February. Tallying five goals and an assist in six games, Kessel was once again instrumental in Team USA's success.

Furthermore, Kessel served as the youngest member of the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2005 IIHF World Junior Championship in Grand Forks, N.D. He finished fourth on the team in scoring with six points and tied for first in goals with four. In addition, he netted a natural hat trick in the United States' 8-2 win over Sweden to ring in the New Year on January 1.

Recently completing his two-year career with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Kessel re-wrote the NTDP record books to become the all-time top scorer in the eight-year history of the Ann Arbor-based elite development program. He is the son of Kathy and Phil Kessel, Sr.

Created in 1992, the Bob Johnson Award recognizes excellence in international ice hockey competition during a specific season of play.

Bob Johnson Award, Presented by Nike
Krissy Wendell, Brooklyn Park, Minn.
2005 U.S. Women's National Team/University of Minnesota (WCHA)

The Most Valuable Player at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship in April, Krissy Wendell led Team USA with four goals and nine points to help the U.S. Women's National Team claimed its first-ever World Championship gold medal. The 23-year-old scored one of three U.S. goals in the gold-medal game shootout as the Americans edged rival Canada, 1-0.

In the final game of round-robin action in the World Championship, Wendell tallied two shorthanded goals in a single period as the USA defeated Finland, 8-1. In the semi-final game against Sweden just two nights later, she contributed two assists as the U.S. claimed a 4-1 win.

The Brooklyn Park, Minn., native also starred for Team USA at the Women's Four Nations Cup held in Lake Placid, N.Y., in November. There, she led all players with five goals in four games and co-led the field with six points.

The 2005 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner ­ the top women's college hockey player ­ Wendell was a member of the NCAA champion University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in 2004-05. She finished her junior season with 104 points (43-61), ranking second in the nation, and was the top goal-scorer (43) in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. She earned first team All-WCHA honors, first team All-America laurels and was named the WCHA Player of the Year for the second straight season. After notching six points at the NCAA Frozen Four, Wendell was also named to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.

Wendell was a member of the silver medal-winning 2002 U.S. Olympic Team and has competed in five IIHF Women's World Championships. In 111 total games as a member of Team USA, she has 199 points (89-110). Krissy is the daughter of Larry and Drenda Wendell.

Created in 1992, the Bob Johnson Award recognizes excellence in international ice hockey competition during a specific season of play.

USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award
1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

There is little that hasn't been said about the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team. Heroes to generations of Americans and an inspiration to athletes worldwide, the team of U.S. amateur hockey players will always hold a special place in sports history.

On February 22, 1980, Americans across the nation tuned in to watch Team USA defeat a USSR squad that had dominated the Olympics since 1964. People across the nation tuned in as Al Michaels screamed, "Do you believe in miracles?" a slogan that continues to follow this celebrated victory today.

For a country saddled with political and economic challenges and an on-going cold war, the U.S. Olympic Team's accomplishment over the heavily favored Soviet Union team was much more than just a hockey game. It provided hope for a struggling nation and instilled national pride in even the most cynical Americans.

Guided by one of the greatest coaches of all-time, Herb Brooks' team put the United States on the map as a hockey nation. In doing the un-doable, the team of young men showed what heart, dedication and passion can add to the game. In a most memorable quote before the puck dropped, Mike Eruzione famously said, "Everyone's making this Russian game out to be a war, a battle of politics, east vs. west, But they're wrong, all wrong, it's more important than that."

The monumental shot came off Eruzione's stick, inspiring a chorus of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" and a surge in patriotism across the nation.

Contrary to popular belief, the win over the Soviet Union didn't give the USA the gold medal. The team would have to recover from the historic game to beat Finland two days later.

"If we don't win tomorrow," said goaltender Jim Craig, "everyone will forget us."

Of course, the Americans did win the following day, solidifying their place in the nation's history.

For inspiring generations of Americans then and now, and for providing this world with one of the greatest sports stories of all time, USA Hockey is proud to honor the 1980 U.S. Olympic Ice Hockey Team with the 2005 Distinguished Achievement Award.

Created in 1991, the USA Hockey Distinguished Achievement Award is presented annually to a United States citizen(s) who has made hockey his or her profession and has made outstanding contributions, on or off the ice, to the sport in America.

2005 USA Hockey Annual Congress Award Winners

Dave Peterson Goalie of the Year,
Presented by Itech:
Jeff Lerg (Livonia, Mich.)

Bob Allen Women's Player of the Year:
Natalie Darwitz (Eagan, Minn.)

USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year,
Presented by TPS:
Jeff Lerg (Livonia, Mich.)

USA Hockey College Player of the Year:
Marty Sertich (Roseville, Minn.)

Disabled Athlete of the Year:
Jeff Mansfield (Arlington, Mass.)

USAdult Ironman of the Year,
Presented by Labatt Blue:
Jim Ragold (Birmingham, Mich.)

USAdult Member of the Year,
Presented by Labatt Blue:
Ray Kraemer (Clinton Twp., Mich.)

Walter Yaciuk Award,
Presented by Easton:
Kevin Sullivan (East Falmouth, Mass.)

Chet Stewart Award:
Mike Martin (Kalamazoo, Mich.)

Excellence in Safety Award,
Presented by Itech:
Dr. V. George Nagobads (Edina, Minn.)

Bob Johnson Award,
Presented by Nike:
Phil Kessel (Madison, Wis.)
Krissy Wendell (Brooklyn Park, Minn.)

Distinguished Achievement Award:
1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team

Wm. Thayer Tutt Award:
Larry McCauley (Redwood, N.Y.)

(release courtesy of USA Hockey, Inc.)

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