Minnesota forward Amanda Kessel has been named a finalist for the 2013 Sportswoman of the Year Award in the Team Sport Category by the Women’s Sports Foundation.
Currently training with the United States women’s national team that will play in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Kessel, who will be a senior in 2014-15, is one of six finalists to have distinguished themselves between Aug. 13, 2012 and July 31, 2013.
Over the past year, Kessel helped the U.S. women’s national team win the gold medal at the 2013 IIHF Women’s World Championship and captured first place at the 2012 IIHF Four Nations Cup, as well as leading the Gophers to a historic unbeaten season and the 2013 NCAA Division I national title.
Kessel was also named the 2013 Patty Kazmaier Award winner after a season that also saw her named WCHA player of the year with a 101-point season on 46 goals and 55 assists, numbers that also led all of the NCAA.
Sportswoman of the Year honorees will be unveiled during the 34th Annual Salute to Women in Sports awards gala on Oct. 16 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
