With team crown comes rookie's honors for U's Potomak

DURHAM, N.H. – Sarah Potomak might have several big moments ahead for the Gophers, but it will be tough topping her first trip to the Women's Frozen Four.

The freshman from Aldergrove, British Columbia, was named the tournament's most outstanding player Sunday, capping a memorable stay in New Hampshire.

It started at Thursday's pre-tournament banquet, when Potomak was named the national rookie of the year.

In Friday's NCAA semifinals, Potomak scored the overtime game-winner against Wisconsin, stealing the puck, striding toward the net, shifting to her backhand and beating All-America goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens.

Thirteen seconds into Sunday's championship game, Potomak got a pass in the slot from Hannah Brandt and quickly beat Boston College goalie Katie Burt. Potomak also assisted on the second goal, by Amanda Kessel.

After the 3-1 Gophers win and the NCAA title celebration, a national hockey writer asked Potomak how it feels being an 18-year-old superstar. Potomak thought about the team's seniors, namely Kessel, Brandt and goaltender Amanda Leveille.

"I wouldn't consider myself a superstar," said Potomak, who had 15 goals and 39 assists this season. "It's pretty easy when you're playing with Kess and Brandt. And when you have Lev in net, you have so much confidence out there."

"I chose University of Minnesota because I believed I could win a national championship with this team," she said. "And it's just an incredible honor. Playing with all these girls, I'm literally just speechless. There are no words to describe it."

Leveille took it hard as a sophomore in 2014, when she gave up five goals in the Gophers' 5-4 upset loss to Clarkson in the NCAA title game.

Leveille wound up going 6-0 in her next six NCAA tournament games, allowing just eight goals combined. She also helped the Gophers defeat Harvard 4-1 in last year's championship game in Minneapolis.

"There's no doubt, in order to get here, you need incredible goaltending," coach Brad Frost said. "And hopefully now, people will give Leveille the credit she deserves because she's a ridiculously talented goaltender."

The ever-humble Leveille finished with two national titles, just like her Gophers goaltending predecessor, Noora Raty.

Gophers junior defenseman Lee Stecklein is heading to Seattle, where she'll join the U.S. national team for the world championships, which run March 28 to April 4 in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Stecklein, who played for the 2014 U.S. Olympic team, was named to the Frozen Four's all-tournament team, along with Potomak, Leveille and Kessel.

Stecklein cut her finger in the championship celebration, requiring two stitches. Asked if that will set her back at practice with the national team, she smiled and said, "No, I'll be fine."

"It's pretty funny — a cele injury," Stecklein said. "I made it through the game unscathed. But I guess I'll take this, if we win a national championship. "