ORDER TICKETS TO THE 2016 MS. HOCKEY AWARDS BANQUET
Last Updated on Wednesday, 17 February 2016 16:34
The five finalists for the 21st annual Ms. Hockey Award are forwards Sydney Brodt of Mounds View, Carly Bullock of Blake, and Presley Norby of Minnetonka, and defensemen Katie Robinson of Dodge County and Mekenzie Steffen of Hill-Murray.
Each of the finalists have committed to a Division I women’s hockey program with four of the players heading to a WCHA school next season. The five honorees have scored an average of 26 goals and 21 assists this season and have helped their respective teams to top 20 rankings. The finalists have been bound to the textbooks for the past several years as they check in with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.67.
The Ms. Hockey Award is presented to the top senior girls’ high school hockey player in Minnesota. The winner will be announced at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet on Sunday, Feb. 21, at 9 a.m., at the RiverCentre in St. Paul.
Alphabetically, here is a look at the five finalists for the 2016 Ms. Hockey Award:
| Finalist | Pos. | School/Team | GP | G | A | TP | College |
| Sydney Brodt | F | Mounds View | 22 | 20 | 22 | 42 | Minnesota Duluth |
| Carly Bullock | F | Blake | 25 | 47 | 16 | 63 | Princeton |
| Presley Norby | F | Minnetonka | 24 | 32 | 21 | 53 | Wisconsin |
| Katie Robinson | D | Dodge County | 27 | 16 | 27 | 43 | Minnesota |
| Mekenzie Steffen | D | Hill-Murray | 27 | 13 | 18 | 31 | Wisconsin |
Sydney Brodt • Mounds View
One of the state’s elite forwards, Sydney Brodt has led the Mustangs to the No. 17 ranking in Class AA and within one win of qualifying for a third state tournament during her career. Despite missing five games this season, Brodt leads Mounds View in scoring with totals of 20-22--42 in 22 games.
Brodt has scored at least one point in all but four games this season, and owns 11 multi-point and six multi-goal games on the year. She has posted one four-point game, one five-point game and one seven-point game on the season.
A four-time all-conference and the first three-time captain in school history, Brodt was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team at the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championship. Following high school, she will continue her hockey career at Minnesota Duluth.
“Sydney is a coach’s dream,” Mounds View coach Aaron Moberg said. “She is a dynamic player who consistently makes her teammates better. She consistently puts her team’s goals ahead of her own and her dedication to the team is unquestionable. Syd has been the heart of our team and her teammates love her because of the person that she is.”
Along with being an excellent hockey player, Brodt is also a top-notch student. She holds a 3.86 GPA, serves as a Mustang Mentor at Mounds View High School and volunteers throughout the year with the local youth hockey association.
“Sydney is an amazing hockey player, but it is her character that makes her truly special,” Moberg said. “She leads a life of integrity, joy and love. She cares deeply for her teammates and truly does not care who gets the credit. She is consistently one of the last girls to leave the ice after practice, picking up pucks, putting the nets away or cleaning up the locker room. Her legacy is a great one!”
Carly Bullock • Blake
One of the top girls’ hockey players in Blake’s illustrious history, Carly Bullock has helped the Bears to the No. 2 ranking in Class A with scoring totals of 47-16--63 in 25 games this season. She ranks first in the state in goals and 11th in points, and has tallied at least one point in all but two games this season. Bullock owns 19 multi-point games and 15 multi-goal games on the year, including 10 hat tricks.
Bullock has helped Blake to a 22-2-2 overall record and within one win from earning its third straight trip to the state tournament. Following high school, Bullock will continue her hockey career at Princeton.
“Carly has been an absolute joy to coach,” Blake coach Shawn Reid said. “Her passion for hockey is magnetic as the rest of the team feeds off of her enthusiasm. When we need a spark – or a goal – it is Carly that delivers consistently. She brings teammates together and keeps the atmosphere competitive and fun.”
Off the ice, Bullock is accomplished in many different areas, from the classroom, the community and other sports. In school, she owns a 3.33 GPA at a rigorously academic, college preparatory school . In the community, Bullock has volunteered with numerous organizations, including Minnesota Special Hockey and the Humane Society. She is also a multi-sport athlete, competing in track in ninth grade before switching to lacrosse in her junior year.
“Carly is the exact type of person that every coach wants on his/her team,” Reid said. “Hockey accolades and talent aside, Carly has sound moral character. She cares deeply about others and about animals. I trust her unequivocally.”
Presley Norby • Minnetonka
Considered one of the top players in the nation in her age group, Presley Norby has helped the Skippers to the No. 2 ranking in Class AA and just one win away from their fourth state tournament in the last five years. Despite missing two games this season, Norby leads Minnetonka in scoring with totals of 32-21--53 in 24 games.
The team’s captain, Norby has posted 10 multi-goal games and 16 multi-point games, including four hat tricks. She has been held scoreless only four times in 24 games this season. A two-year captain, Norby is a three-time all-conference pick and a two-time all-state honoree.
Like Brodt, Norby was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team at the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championship. She also played for the U.S. Women’s National Team that won the Four Nations Cup in November. Following high school, Norby will continue her hockey career at the University of Wisconsin.
“Presley’s impact on our team is like Ovechkin’s impact on Washington,” Minnetonka coach Eric Johnson said. “She scores big goals. A lot of them. She is by far the most explosive and electric player in the state. She is the hardest working player on the ice. Every practice, every game. She is the most competitive person in any game. She is humble and quick to deflect credit to her teammates. She energizes our team with her intensity and compete level.”
Owner of a 3.75 GPA, Norby has served as volunteer for Mount Calvary Church, Minnetonka Big Sisters and Minnetonka Youth Hockey. She also was a two-year member of the Skipper cross country team.
“Presley is a great role model for our young athletes around the state and around the country,” Johnson said. “Despite all her championships and accolades, she remains humble, level headed and hard working.”
Katie Robinson • Dodge County
Largely credited as a major reason for the Wildcats’ success the past several seasons, Katie Robinson is Dodge County’s second straight Ms. Hockey finalist after Dana Rasmussen last season. This season, Robinson owns totals of 16-27--43 in 27 games and has helped the Wildcats to the state’s No. 13 ranking in Class AA and within one win of advancing to the program’s first-ever state tournament.
Ranking among the top scoring blueliners in the state this season with totals of 16-27--43 in 27 games, Robinson notched a point in all but four games this season, posting 10 multi-point contests. A three-year team captain, Robinson has played on the Dodge County varsity team for six seasons. She was named to the all-state team last season attended the U.S. Women’s National Team training camp in 2014. Following high school, Robinson will continue her hockey career at the University of Minnesota.
“Katie is an extremely driven, disciplined and hard-working athlete,” Dodge County coach Jeremy Gunderson said. “She is very coachable and is a natural leader both on and off the ice. Katie is a great role model and leads by example. She is a leader among her peers and is very respected in our locker room, as well as by opposing players.”
Away from hockey, Robinson owns a 3.884 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society. She’s an avid volunteer, giving her time to the United Way, the Kasson Fire Department, the American Cancer Society and the local youth hockey association.
“Katie is a standout in many facets of her life,” Gunderson said. “She is known as an athlete, but also for her contributions to the community and area youth. Katie is also recognized for her leadership, school participation and academic achievements. She has been an exemplary student, has had a perfect off-ice record as an athlete and continuously gives back to the community.”
Mekenzie Steffen • Hill-Murray
One of the state’s elite defensemen, Mekenzie Steffen looks to become the second Pioneer to be named Ms. Hockey after 2012 winner Hannah Brandt. With totals of 13-18--31 in 27 games, Steffen has helped top-ranked Hill-Murray to within one win away from advancing to the state tournament for the third straight year.
Fifth on the team in scoring, Steffen has posted seven multi-point games, and has tallied at least one point in all but five games this season.
A four-time all-conference honoree, Steffen was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team at the 2015 IIHF World U18 Championship. Following high school, she will continue her hockey career at the University of Wisconsin.
“Mekenzie is incredibly strong and powerful as a player, and possesses one of the hardest shots in girls’ hockey,” Hill-Murray coach Bill Schafhauser said. “She has been an integral part of our success while winning two state championships the last two years. Perhaps Mekenzie’s greatest attribute is her work ethic. This trait makes her a great example for our younger players in showing what it takes to be a top player on a championship team.”
Off the ice, Steffen owns a 3.54 GPA and has volunteered at a local elementary school, a hospital, a monastery, a care center and her local Lions Club.
“Mekenzie’s work ethic helps her balance her academics, community service experiences and sporting interests,” Schafhauser said. “Always quick to smile and laugh, Mekenzie is a great representation of what can be accomplished when you mesh talent with hard work.”
In addition to announcing Ms. Hockey, the winner of the 2016 Senior Goalie of the Year Award will be named at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet. Both awards are sponsored by Let’s Play Hockey, the Minnesota Wild and Shakopee Chevrolet.
Additionally, all-state and all-academic awards will be presented by the Minnesota Girls’ Hockey Coaches Association, as well as the coaches of the year, the Brano Stankovsky Award, and the Charlie Stryker and Adrenaline Fundraising Scholarship awards for 2015-16. Dawn Mitchell of Fox 9 will serve as the emcee and Erin Andrews of Fox Sports will be the keynote speaker. Tickets for the banquet may be ordered by calling 952-944-0023.
In addition to on-ice talent, criteria for the Ms. Hockey Award includes academics, community/extracurricular activities, citizenship and coachability.
Past winners: 2015 Taylor Williamson (Edina), 2014 Sydney Baldwin (Minnetonka), 2013 Dani Cameranesi (Blake), 2012 Hannah Brandt (Hill-Murray), 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).
