3rd NWHL All-Star Game facts for kids

The 3rd NWHL All-Star Game was a special hockey event. It happened on February 11, 2018, at TRIA Rink in Saint Paul, Minnesota. An All-Star Game brings together the best players from a league. They form new teams just for fun and to show off their skills. A skills competition was also held the day before, on February 10, 2018.

Two amazing players, Brittany Ott from the Boston Pride and Amanda Leveille from the Buffalo Beauts, were the team captains. Amanda Leveille made history! She was the first Canadian player to be a captain in an NWHL All-Star Game. The teams also had great coaches. Winny Brodt, a legend from the Minnesota Whitecaps, coached Team Leveille. Winter Games gold medalist Tricia Dunn coached Team Ott.

The game was played in two periods, each lasting 25 minutes. Since the game was in Minnesota, each team had one player from the Minnesota Whitecaps. Kate Schipper played for Team Leveille. Sadie Lundquist played for Team Ott. Important officials were also there. Jordan Kraabel was the referee. Mike Trumble and Ian Schachte were the linesmen.

Meet the All-Star Teams

The best players from the NWHL were chosen for this special game. They were divided into two teams, Team Leveille and Team Ott. Each team had goalies, defense players, and forwards.

Team Leveille Player Team Pos. Nat. Appearance Amanda Leveille Buffalo Beauts Goaltender 1 Katie Fitzgerald Metropolitan Riveters Goaltender 2 Sarah Edney Buffalo Beauts Defense 1 Lexi Bender Boston Pride Defense 1 Lisa Chesson Buffalo Beauts Defense 1 Jordyn Burns Buffalo Beauts Defense 1 Kelsey Koelzer Metropolitan Riveters Defense 1 Kate Schipper Minnesota Whitecaps Forward 1 Kelly Babstock Connecticut Whale Forward 2 Rebecca Russo Metropolitan Riveters Forward 2 Rebecca Vint Buffalo Beauts Forward 1 Kristin Lewicki Buffalo Beauts Forward 1 Sam Faber Connecticut Whale Forward 1 Meagan Mangene Boston Pride Forward 1

Team Ott Player Team Pos. Nat. Appearance Brittany Ott Boston Pride Goaltender 3 Sydney Rossman Connecticut Whale Goaltender 1 Alyssa Gagliardi Boston Pride Defense 2 Amanda Boulier Connecticut Whale Defense 1 Jenny Ryan Metropolitan Riveters Defense 1 Courtney Burke Metropolitan Riveters Defense 2 Michelle Picard Metropolitan Riveters Defense 1 Alexa Gruschow Metropolitan Riveters Forward 1 Jordan Smelker Boston Pride Forward 1 Jillian Dempsey Boston Pride Forward 1 Hayley Scamurra Buffalo Beauts Forward 1 Emily Field Boston Pride Forward 2 Sadie Lundquist Minnesota Whitecaps Forward 1 Corinne Buie Buffalo Beauts Forward 2

Game Highlights

Team Ott won the game with a score of 8–6! Hayley Scamurra from Team Ott had an amazing game. She scored three goals, which is called a hat trick. She also helped with another goal.

But Kelsey Koelzer from Team Leveille set a new All-Star Game record! She scored four goals all by herself. Both Kelsey Koelzer and Hayley Scamurra were playing in their very first All-Star Game.

Other players who scored for Team Ott included Alexa Gruschow, Corinne Buie, Jordan Smelker, and Amanda Boulier. Smelker and Boulier also helped their teammates score. Team Ott took more shots on goal, with 41 shots compared to Team Leveille's 28.

Skills Challenge Fun

The day before the game, the players competed in a Skills Challenge. Team Leveille won this challenge, beating Team Ott 4–3. The winner was decided in a special skate-off between the two captains.

Here are some of the exciting events and winners:

• Fastest Skater: Kristin Lewicki from Team Leveille was the fastest, finishing in 13.41 seconds.
• Hardest Shot: Kelsey Koelzer from Team Leveille had the hardest shot, reaching 81 miles per hour!
• Dunkin Donuts Shooting Accuracy: Corinne Buie from Team Ott won this, hitting targets in just 12.6 seconds.
• Fastest Goalie Challenge: Team Leveille's goalies, Amanda Leveille and Katie Fitzgerald, won this challenge.
• Howie's Hockey Breakaway Contest: Team Ott won this fun event. Players like Courtney Burke, Sadie Lundquist, and Jenny Ryan showed off their breakaway skills.