NEW CASTLE, N.H. — Kendall Coyne capped off her final year at Northeastern by winning the Patty Kazmaier Award Saturday at a ceremony honoring the top player in NCAA Division 1 women’s hockey.
The Chicago native was selected from a final group of three that also included Boston College’s Alex Carpenter, last year’s winner, and Wisconsin goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens.
“It’s a surreal moment,’’ said Coyne, Northeastern’s captain. “I mean, it’s hard to accept an individual award because there is so much support staff behind the award and it’s tough when my teammates aren’t here, but I know they’re back home and they’re obviously all so proud, so it’s pretty special.’’
Northeastern’s three alternate captains did surprise her by making the trip to congratulate her in person. The entire team was not here at the Frozen Four, having lost in the quarterfinals to BC, but the quest to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history was accomplished, in large part because of Coyne.
“I’m glad she got it, she deserved it,’’ said Northeastern coach Dave Flint. “She had a year that we might not see again.’’
Coyne, a native of Palos Heights, Ill., collected 50 goals (most in the nation) and 34 assists in 37 games this season, including a nation-leading five shorthanded goals.
Coyne, who was also named Hockey East Player of the Year, became the all-time leader in points in Hockey East games with 167, surpassing the previous record by 39. She also set the league mark for career goals with 91, single-season points with 55, single-season goals with 30, points per game with 2.39, and goals per game with 1.30.
She rearranged the Northeastern record book, becoming the program’s all-time leader in career points with 249, career goals with 141, and single-season points with 84.
In her five years at Northeastern — with a year off to train for the 2014 Sochi Olympics — Coyne raised the Huskies’ profile.
“Ever since she came back from the Olympics,’’ said Flint, “she’s really matured as a player, and as a person.’’
In her first year back, Northeastern had a lot of young players, and it fell to Coyne to carry the team. Then this season, the Huskies were more experienced, and she found chemistry with linemates Denisa Krizova and Hayley Scamurra. From the start of the season, from the first-day barbecue at Flint’s house, it was Coyne’s goal to get Northeastern to the NCAAs. There is a lot of energy in her 5-foot-2-inch frame, and she focused it all on pushing her team.
“She had a goal and she wanted to get the team the goal,’’ said Flint. “That’s just how competitive she is. A lot of things fell into place.’’
Coyne said it will be hard to leave Northeastern, but “going out with a special group of players makes it a lot easier because I’ll always remember this team. Out of the four years I was here this was definitely the most special.’’
The transition to the real world also is eased by Coyne’s schedule: She’s off Sunday to Seattle to train with the US national team for the World Championships, which begin March 28.
