Cornell's Johnston and Fortino Named Finalists For Patty Kazmaier Award

Courtesy of Cornell Athletic Communications

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell junior Rebecca Johnston and sophomore Laura Fortino have been named as two of the 10 finalists for the 2011 Patty Kazmaier Award, presented by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, USA Hockey announced on Thursday morning. The pair have been selected from the 26 nominees, and the list of 10 finalists will be cut to three on March 10, with the award being presented during the Frozen Four weekend in Erie, Pa.

Johnston ranks 16th in the nation in scoring, averaging 1.59 points per game, and is ninth in the country with 0.86 goals per game and 26th with 0.72 assists per game. Her two short-handed goals tie her for sixth in the nation, with her five game-winners rankinig tied for ninth. Johnston has 13 multi-point games and has scored at least one point in 23 of the 31 games this season. A first-team All-ECAC Hockey selection, Johnston ranks third in ECAC Hockey with a +40 rating and is second in the league with 17 goals in league play.

Fortino, the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2011, is the only defenseman named among the 10 finalists. She leads all defensemen nationally with 36 points (eight goals, 28 assists) and is 26th overall, averaging 1.24 points per game. Fortino is part of the top defensive pairing for nation's top scoring defense, allowing just 31 goals in 31 games. Fortino also plays a huge role in the Big Red's special teams units, quarterbacking the nation's second-ranked power play (25.7 percent conversion rate) and serving on the national best penalty-killing unit (94.1 percent). She is second in the nation among defensemen with a +41 rating on the season.

An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is annually presented to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. Selection criteria includes outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement. The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is supported, in part, by a grant from the NHL Foundation.

2011 Patty Kazmaier Award Presented by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Top 10 Finalists