Illinois native Kendall Coyne was named the winner of the 2016 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey, the USA Hockey Federation announced Saturday.
Boston College forward Alex Carpenter and Wisconsin goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens were the other two finalists, respectively.
Coyne, from Palos Heights, led the nation in goals with 50 — including five hat tricks and five shorthanded goals — and ranked second in the country with 84 points, captaining Northeastern University to its first NCAA tournament appearance. She also set a record in league play this year by scoring 30 goals and 55 points, which earned her the Hockey East Player of the Year award earlier this month.
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Coyne, who was named a first-team All-American for the first time in her career, became the school's all-time career leader in goals (140) and points (248).
During the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, she helped Team USA capture a silver medal by leading her country with six points (two goals and four assists) in the tournament. She's expected to play for the U.S. Olympic team in 2018.
Coyne will also compete in the upcoming 2016 Women's World Championships, beginning on March 28.