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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Senior forward Julie Chu - a two-time Olympic medalist and member of the U.S. national women's ice hockey team since 2000 - added another distinction to her resume Saturday as she was chosen as the winner of the 2007 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the nation's top collegiate player.
The award, given annually by the USA Hockey Foundation
since 1998, was presented at a brunch ceremony at the Hilton Lake Placid in
Lake Placid, N.Y. Chu was chosen for this year's award from a group of three
finalists that included 2006 winner Sara Bauer of Wisconsin and Mercyhurst
freshman Meghan Agosta. It is chosen by a 13-member selection committee that
includes coaches, media members and a representative from USA Hockey.
Chu becomes the fourth different Harvard player to win
the award, while her selection marks the fifth time in the 10-year history
of the honor that it has gone to a Crimson player. A.J. Mleczko '97-99 was
the winner in 1999, Jennifer Botterill '02-03 won in 2001 and 2003, and
Angela Ruggiero '02-04 won in 2004.
"In my 13 years of coaching at Harvard, no one has distinguished herself more than Julie," said Harvard head coach Katey Stone. "Her commitment to her teammates, coaches and school far exceeds that of any of her predecessors. She is a gifted athlete and a true humanitarian."
Chu, who was a top-10 finalist for the 2005 Kazmaier Award, was the Ivy League player of the year and a unanimous first team All-ECAC Hockey League pick as a senior as she finished the year ranked first nationally in points per game (2.20), assists (48) and assists per game (1.60). She had at least one point in 27 of the 30 games in which she played, and she finished her playing career at Harvard with a school-record 196 career assists.
Chu will graduate in third place on Harvard's career scoring chart with 88 goals and 196 assists for 284 points in 129 games. Her point total ranks first in NCAA history, while she is a three-time All-America selection - including a first-team pick this season. Chu has been named to the All-ECACHL first team three times in her four-year career.
Away from the ice, Chu volunteers at the UniLu homeless shelter and is a member of Harvard's student-athlete advisory committee. She is active with Athletes in Action and the Women's Sports Foundation. She is a psychology concentrator at Harvard.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award
Winners
1998 Brandy Fisher , New Hampshire
1999 A.J. Mleczko, Harvard, former Polar Bear.
2000 Ali Brewer, Brown
2001 Jennifer Botterill, Harvard
2002 Brooke Whitney, Northeastern
2003 Jennifer Botterill, Harvard
2004 Angela Ruggiero, Harvard, Former Polar Bear.
2005 Krissy Wendell, Minnesota
2006 Sara Bauer, Wisconsin
2007
Julie Chu, Harvard, former Polar Bear.