Hamline junior Simon, ‘a coach’s dream,’ chosen 2019 Laura Hurd Award winner

 (photo: Hamline Athletics)
Bre Simon leads the country in scoring with 63 points this season for Hamline (photo: Hamline Athletics).

Hamline junior forward Bre Simon is the recipient of the 2019 Laura Hurd Award.

The award, voted on by the nation’s Division III head coaches, is presented to the best player at the women’s Division III level.

Simon, a native of Elk River, Minn., leads the nation in scoring with 63 points on 26 goals and 37 assists in 28 games heading into Friday’s NCAA semifinal against St. Thomas.

Through three seasons, Simon has 74 goals and 72 assists for 146 points. She averages better than 2.25 points per game.

“Bre scored a point against every single team she faced this season,” said Pipers coach Natalie Darwitz in a statement. “She is the backbone of our team and it begins and ends with Bre. She is a coach’s dream. Not only does she put up points, but she does all of the little things you love to see as a coach, both on and off the ice.”

From late November through early February, Simon helped Hamline to a 17-game undefeated stretch (14-0-3), in which she averaged 2.35 points per game.

Simon is the first player from Hamline to win the Hurd Award.

The runner-up for this year’s Hurd Award is St. Thomas senior goaltender Kenzie Torpy.

The award is named in honor of former Elmira star Laura Hurd who died in a car accident shortly after graduation. Hurd was a four-time All-American who led Elmira to victory in the first NCAA Division III women’s championship.