Thirteen of the most Captivating Women of Hockey for 2013
Emily
Berzins
At first glance,
it may look as if Megan Fox is playing hockey. In fact, it is Emily Berzins, a
British Columbia raised player who once competed for the now-defunct Wayne
State Warriors hockey program in the NCAA. A solid contributor for the Calgary
Inferno, she is working tirelessly to help the club reach its first Clarkson
Cup postseason appearance.
Tessa
Bonhomme
While her release
from the Canadian Centralization Camp was heartbreaking, Bonhomme remains a fan
favorite. Earlier in the season she was the face of Hockey Canada’s Livestrong
jerseys campaign, in which the jerseys were styled in the black and yellow colors
of the Livestrong foundation.
Angelina
Goncharenko
Having
helped the Russian squad capture a bronze medal at the 2013 IIHF Women’s World Championships,
she gained national attention in Canadian media when she collided with Canada’s
Meghan Agosta into the boards during the event. Ironically, both players wear number
2. Also a competitor with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs in the
NCAA, Goncharenko is hoping for a podium finish at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.
Michelle
Karvinen
As one of the scoring
stars of the Finnish national team, Michelle Karvinen will be counted upon to
help the Finns reach their second consecutive podium finish at the 2014 Sochi
Winter Games. In addition to her tenure with the Finnish team, she is also a member
of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. On November 4, 2011, she had a five-point
game against St. Cloud State. Her finest season with the Fighting Sioux was her
first (2011-12), in which she accumulated an astounding 61 points. With over
100 career points in only two seasons, she is poised to become part of the NCAA
200-point club.
Amanda
Kessel
Should
the United States claim their first gold medal in women’s ice hockey at the
Winter Games since 1998, Amanda Kessel will have a say in it. With two brothers
in pro hockey (Phil and Blake), hockey is in her blood. Her 2013 in hockey was
one of the finest years in the history of the game. With a 100-point season in
NCAA play, she not only captured the Patty Kazmaier Award, she helped the
Minnesota Golden Gophers to an undefeated season.
Hilary
Knight
Quickly
emerging as a household name in her native United States, Hilary Knight is one
of the world’s greatest hockey players. Having finished her rookie season with
the Boston Blades, it was a year to remember. In addition to being the first
American-born player to capture the CWHL Most Valuable Player Award, she
garnered a Clarkson Cup, the first in Blades history. A few weeks later, she
followed it up with a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF Women’s World Championships
in Ottawa.
Lamoureux
Twins, Jocelyne and Monique
The
greatest pair of hockey-playing sisters in the world, they are also the first set
of twins to compete in women’s ice hockey at the Winter Games. Having claimed a
silver medal at Vancouver 2010, they are anticipating that Sochi 2014 will
supply them with an elusive gold. Along with Knight, the sensational sisters
are part of the Sochi Trading Card set issued by the Topps Company.
Meaghan
Mikkelson
One of the most
popular players on the Canadian national women’s team, Mikkelson was thrust
into the national spotlight. She was part of a series of TV advertisements with
Sport Chek, honoring athletes and their mothers. In addition, she was also
featured in Sportsnet Magazine’s Beauty of Sport edition, becoming the second
women’s hockey player (after Bonhomme) to be featured in the issue.
Zoya
Polunina
A former member of
the Russian national women’s team, Zoya Polunina competed at the 2012 IIHF
Women’s Worlds in Burlington, Vermont. One of the most popular players in her
native Russia, she has been featured in numerous magazines.
Danijela
Rundqvist
Not able to
compete for Sweden at the 2013 IIHF Women’s Worlds, her leadership and
experience were sorely missed by a Swedish team that competed in the relegation
round. Having competed professionally in Canada, Russia and Sweden, the worldly
Rundqvist is a fundamentally sound hockey player who always provides her teams
with a chance to win.
Florence
Schelling
Quite possibly the
greatest female goaltender in the world, Florence Schelling led the Swiss
contingent to a bronze medal at the 2012 IIHF Women’s Worlds in Burlington,
Vermont. Having competed in men’s hockey in her native Switzerland, she is
hoping to lead the Swiss to their first-ever podium finish at the 2014 Sochi
Winter Games.
Kelli
Stack
A former member of
the USA Hockey Bob Allen Award (recognizing the finest women’s hockey player in
the United States), Kelli Stack is one of the most accomplished players in US
hockey history. Despite injuries sidelining her from the 2013 Clarkson Cup and
2013 IIHF Women’s Worlds, she has made a full recovery. A gold medal at Sochi
2014 will be the highlight of what she hopes shall be a heroic comeback.
Alexsandra
Vafina
Part of a strong
legacy of European players who have competed with the famed Minnesota-Duluth
Bulldogs program in the NCAA, Alexsandra Vafina is a star on the rise. With her
Bulldogs coach Shannon Miller serving as a coaching consultant for the Russian
national women’s team, it paid remarkable dividends. Vafina was one of the key
players as Russia captured the bronze at the 2013 IIHF Women’s World
Championships. Playing on home ice for the Sochi Winter Games, the rest of the
world will now catch up to the budding superstar.
Photo credits:
Tessa Bonhomme, Ottawa Citizen Style
Meaghan Mikkelson, Sportsnet Beauty of Sport
Kessel, Knight and Lamoureux Twins, Harry How, Getty Images
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