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Katie has been an amazing asset to our team this past season.  She not only was one of our leading point-holders but she is overall a great player, playing many different roles on the ice.

She knows the game of hockey inside and out, and has the ability to play any position necessary.  She is extremely dedicated and it shows every time she is on the ice.

She is a very versatile player that works hard every time she's on the ice, that is willing to do anything to help our team.

Learning hockey for the first time then jumping right into games against seasoned vets, Nicole is the quinessential image of a New Star.  From learning how to stop in September to nearly scoring goals / playing solid positional hockey in February, she has fearlessly become a true hockey player.  We're so proud of her.

Beyond her quick learning talent, Nicole is a welcoming and fun teammate who keeps a good attitude and goes with the flow.  When 1/2 of our team quit in January, Nicole was the only new player to return and help her teammates.  We're so glad she did.

Amie Stephens should be the rookie of the year because of her selfless and brave decision to not only play the sport of ice hockey for the first time, but jump in as a goalie. Amie learned through trial and error as well as getting drilled at practice. She tried to pick up what she could from our starting goalie. Amie was faced with the challenge of netminding in her first two games on the road versus Cal U and Slippery Rock. Amie faced 46 shots in her first two games and recorded 29 saves.  She accomplished more than anyone expected in those 2 games. Maryland was a strong contender in both of the games and she braved every second of them with a positive outlook doing anything she could to keep the puck out of the net.

Even when Amie did not see the ice she always cheered on her teammates and helped in anyway she could.  During warm ups, Amie watched our opponent’s goalie to see if she could find any weaknesses or strengths to relay to the team before the first period began. She was always trying to help the team even if she wasn’t on the ice. Amie deserves rookie of the year because as a 19 year old freshman, she showed tremendous drive, heart, and selflessness that not many experienced hockey players typically show.  

On a team manned by 13 true rookies, and led by 5 experienced hockey players, it’s not easy to find a no-kidding Rookie of the Year.  Nonetheless, we have a nomination.  Freshman (Plebe really) Kalena (kay-LEENA) Hammond is a true rookie. I’m not sure she had ever seen a rink before coming to Navy, and being coerced to get up at 0450 (ten to five in morning) to try a sport she had never watched. At 5’2”, and 110 lbs., Kalena looks like a Pee Wee player. She could not name or identify the equipment needed to get on the ice. She had to be shown how to put on the gear, how to wear it, and then slowly over weeks, how to use it!

Kaylena worked hard. She NEVER missed a 5:30 practice.  She showed up every day, and chipped away slowly with tiny hammer strokes at the giant newbie rock that blocked her path to hockey prowess.  Weeks became months, and repeated nagging and coercing and cajoling to “bend your knees; shift your weight; keep both hands on the stick; find open ice; etc.” Kaylena started to emerge as a real hockey player.

About January of her first season, we noticed that she was beating most of the players in foot races!  She may not have known what to do with the puck, but she often was the first one to it!  She started passing and shooting (sort of), and even dragged two of her Plebe classmates out onto the ice with her.

She saw ice time in almost every single game---not really because we needed her---but because she earned the right through her priceless work ethic!  She did not play against SRU and Virginia because they were too close. But she never complained.

Finally, in our last official season game vs. American U, we put her out on a forward line with 2 other newbies.  And in a 90-second shift, we saw cross-ice passing, and head-manning the puck, and one time shots----genuine jewels in our meager treasure trove of Navy hockey skills!  We were laughing with surprised delight because we rarely saw those basic skills from our veteran players---and never on a single shift!!   All those pearls came from that line of newbies who were fightin’ like hell despite themselves.  And Kaylena finally got a goal---a perfect goal because she was in the exact right position, found the puck, and put it away with a one-timer----as she had feebly practiced and dorked up a 1000 times before in so many Oh-Dark-Thirty practices!

Of course we gave her the puck!  She’s had a dramatic first season, and will shed the moniker “newbie” soon.  She’ll probably alwaysl be as big as a fifth grader, but she’s grown large in our view this season!

Jen Morgan came to us from the College of Charleston and she made an immediate impact on our top line.  She is the consummate hockey player.  She is a tenacious forechecker that often leads to takeaways or forces opponent turnovers in the OZ.  She is also a ferocious backchecker who isn’t afraid to mix it up and takes care of business in our end.  She is fearless when crashing the net and her knack for offensive production was obvious with her 29 point season (16G, 13A).  She can be comfortably dropped in at any position, but especially thrived in high-pressure face-off situations and on special teams.  We look forward to her return next year as the captain of our team.