SYRACUSE, NY – Potsdam senior forward Kaylee Merrill (Wasilla, AK/Anchorage North Stars) has been selected the 2023 Northeast Women's Hockey League's Player of the Year.
The award was announced by the league on Friday, March 3, from its conference office in Syracuse, N.Y. The honor is voted upon by the head coaches of the NEWHL.
This marks the first time in the five-year history of the league that a player from a team other than Plattsburgh has garnered the conference's top honors.
The Cardinals' Annie Katonka captured the award in 2020 and 2022, while Melissa Sheeran was selected as the Player of the Year in 2018 during the NEWHL's inaugural season. In 2019 the honor belonged to Courtney Moriarty. The NEWHL did not compete in 2020-21.
Merrill - who jumped to the All-NEWHL First Team this season after earning Second Team accolades in 2022 - is still among the leaders in multiple offensive categories despite the Bears not making the playoffs this season.
The veteran team leader tops the NEWHL in goals scored (27) and points (39), and she ranks second in game-winning goals with six. Her total of 12 assists is tied for 16th in the league, while her +15 rating is tied for 19th.