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Breck's Grace Zumwinkle Named 2017 Ms. Hockey

By LPH/Morris, 03/12/17, 1:45PM CDT

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Breck’s Grace Zumwinkle named Ms. Hockey

 

Grace Zumwinkle, a senior forward on the Breck School girls’ hockey team, was named the winner of the 22nd annual Ms. Hockey Award by Let’s Play Hockey newspaper today at the annual Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet. The award, presented to the top senior girls’ high school hockey player in Minnesota, is based on the following criteria: academics, community/extracurricular activities, citizenship, coachability and, of course, on-ice performance.

 

Considered one of the top players in the nation in her age group, Zumwinkle becomes the first player from Breck to be named Ms. Hockey. She helped the Mustangs to a 19-6-3 record the No. 2 ranking in Class A. Despite missing five games this season, Zumwinkle led  Breck in scoring with totals of 42-16--58 in 23 games.

 

The team’s captain, Zumwinkle posted 10 multi-goal games and 14 multi-point games, including nine hat tricks. She was held scoreless only twice in 23 games during the season. Zumwinkle is a four-time all-conference pick, a three-time all-state honoree and the 2016-17 Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year.

 

Zumwinkle was a member of two gold medal-winning U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Teams at the 2016 and 2017 IIHF World U18 Championships. She also trained with the U.S. Women’s National Team prior to the Four Nations Cup. Following high school, Zumwinkle will continue her hockey career at the University of Minnesota.

 

“Grace has been a top player since I started at Breck her freshman year,” Breck head coach Ronda Engelhardt said. “However, this year, she took things to a whole new level and is an elite player who was able to dominate high school hockey. She is a two-way player that is a force in both ends of the ice. Most people know her by her 82-mph slap shot and a strong offensive threat, but what has gotten Grace this far is her work ethic.”

 

Owner of a 3.7 GPA, Zumwinkle has served over 100 hours volunteering in inner city schools, helping the elderly or assisting with youth athletics. In addition, she is a four-time all-conference and two-time state champion tennis player and a three-time all-conference and two-year captain for the Breck golf team.

 

“It is rare to have a three-sport athlete in high school, maintain great grades at a challenging school, and still find time to give back,” Engelhardt said. “Grace is always willing to help others and will volunteer for things with minimum free time. She is a great role model for younger kids and is well respected by staff at Breck.”

 

The other finalists for Ms. Hockey were defensemen Grace Bowlby of Edina and Emily Brown of Blaine, and forwards Naomi Rogge of Eden Prairie and Taylor Wente of Maple Grove.

 

Past winners: Presley Norby of Minnetonka (2016), Taylor Williamson of Edina (2015), Sydney Baldwin of Minnetonka (2014), Dani Cameranesi of Blake (2013), Hannah Brandt of Hill-Murray (2012), Karley Sylvester of Warroad (2011), Bethany Brausen of Roseville (2010) Becky Kortum of Hopkins (2009), Sarah Erickson of Bemidji (2008), Katharine Chute of Blake (2007), Allie Thunstrom of North St. Paul (2006), Gigi Marvin of Warroad (2005), Erica McKenzie of Hastings (2004), Andrea Nichols of Hibbing/Chisholm (2003), Ashley Albrecht of South St. Paul (2002), Renee Curtin of Roseville (2001), Krissy Wendell of Park Center (2000), Ronda Curtin of Roseville (1999), Laura Slominski of Burnsville (1998), Annamarie Holmes of Apple Valley (1997) and Winny Brodt of Roseville (1996).

 

The 22nd annual award, selected based on votes from a panel of high school coaches and Division I and III college coaches from Minnesota and Wisconsin, is sponsored by Let’s Play Hockey and the Minnesota Wild.


Grace Zumwinkle - USA Hockey U18 World Championships


Grace Zumwinkle - Breck School