Lara Stalder is one step closer to the confirmation that the Bulldogs may just have the best women's hockey player in all of Division I NCAA hockey.
The University of Minnesota Duluth senior forward was named a Top-3 Finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Thursday, the award presented annually to the top player in the nation. The No. 2 Bulldogs leading scorer with 53 points (22g, 31a) in 32 games, the Luzern, Switzerland native also ranks second in the WCHA in scoring and goals and third in assists. In the NCAA, Stalder is second in points per game (1.66), third in goals per game, and fourth in assists. as well as tied for first with seven game-winning goals. Stalder, currently in the midst of a 27 point, 13-game scoring streak, has had 16 multiple point games for the Bulldogs, including seven outings with three or more points. In 12 games against top-10 opponents, Stalder had seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points.
Stalder also earned the first-ever Women's Hockey Association Player of the Month for January 2017, and was named the WCHA's Offensive Player of the Month for January 2017. Five times the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week this season, Stalder won the weekly award on Jan. 31, Jan. 24, Jan. 17, Nov. 15 and Oct. 11. Stalder was named a 2016-17 WCHA Scholar Athlete, and carries a 3.719 Cumulative GPA as a Retail Marketing Analytics major.
As a program, UMD has had a total of six top-3 finalists, with goaltender Kim Martin garnering the most recent honor prior to Stalder during the 2007-08 season. In all, the Bulldog program has had ten top-10 Patty Kazmaier finalists.
The award selection process began in February, when NCAA Division I women's ice hockey head coaches were asked to nominate players for the award. Players who are nominated by two or more coaches are then placed on an official ballot, which is sent back to the coaches to vote for the top 10 finalists. An independent accounting firm tabulates the ballots.
The three finalists, as well as the recipient of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, are chosen by a 13-member selection committee comprised of NCAA Division I women's ice hockey head coaches, representatives of the print and broadcast media, at-large members and representatives of USA Hockey. The winner will be announced at a ceremony at the 2017 NCAA Frozen Four on March 18 in St. Charles, Missouri.
For more information Lara Stalder visit umdbulldogs.com/Stalder4Patty.
