Together, the finalists would be a formidable starting lineup with Cameranesi, Flug and Schipper at forward and Haley and Morin on the blue line. Each of the finalists have committed to a WCHA school next season, including four future Golden Gophers.

The five honorees scored an average of 24 goals and 29 assists this season in the regular season and have helped their respective teams to top 15 rankings. The finalists have been bound to the textbooks for the past several years as they check in with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.62.

The Ms. Hockey Award is presented to the top senior girls’ high school hockey player in Minnesota. The winner will be announced at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet on Sunday, Feb. 24, at 11:30 a.m., at the RiverCentre in St. Paul.

Alphabetically, here is a look at the five finalists for the 2013 Minnesota Ms. Hockey Award (regular season statistics):

Dani Cameranesi, Blake

Considered one of the top players in the nation in her age group, Dani Cameranesi has led the Bears to the No. 2 ranking in Class A with scoring totals of 52-34--86 in 23 games this season, good for second in the state.

Cameranesi tallied at least one point in every game this season, and owns 20 multi-point and 17 multi-goal games on the year. She has notched 12 hat tricks and nine games with five or more points. Cameranesi has not been held without a point since Feb. 4, 2012.

The captain of the silver medal-winning U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team at the IIHF World U18 Championship, Cameranesi has helped Blake to an 18-5-3 overall record and within one win from earning its first trip to the state tournament since 2009. A two-year team captain and the school’s all-time points leader, she has been named to the all-state team in three consecutive seasons.

Following high school, Cameranesi will continue her hockey career at the University of Minnesota.

“Dani is the most impactful player I have coached in my 15 years of coaching at all levels from youth to college hockey,” Blake head coach Shawn Reid said. “No player is as dominant as she has been every game this year. Every game she is surrounded by two or three opponents and yet she is able to maneuver around them with her speed, skill and strength to score goals or set up teammates.”

The owner a 3.3 GPA with a rigorous college-preparatory course load, Cameranesi has volunteered with Feed My Starving Children, Mary’s Place and Toys for Tots. She has also served as a team leader at her church’s Vacation Bible School.

“Dani is the quintessential leader on and off the ice in practices and games,” Reid said. “She is the consummate team player and is an incredible role model for our younger players. Dani is the kind of person and player that every coach wants others to emulate.”

Kate Flug, Roseville Area

One of the state’s elite forwards, Kate Flug will look to become the fifth Roseville Raider to be named Ms. Hockey. Flug leads Roseville and is ranked 28th in the state in scoring this season with totals of 31-25--56 in 27 games. She has been held without a point in only four games, and owns 16 multi-point and 10 multi-goal games on the year. Flug has notched one hat trick and has posted six four-point games during the season.

The member of two state tournament teams, Flug has helped the Raiders to a 19-7-1 overall record and within one game of advancing to their third state tournament in the last four years. Flug is the team captain this season and has been named all-state once and all-conference twice.

Following high school, Flug will continue her hockey career at the University of Minnesota.

“Kate is an extremely skilled hockey player. Her stickhandling ability could arguably be the best ever to wear the Roseville jersey,” Roseville head coach Vic Brodt said. “Inspite of attracting the opponent’s defensive attention, Kate finds ways to create space with her skating and stickhandling ability, allowing her to gain scoring opportunities. She is a great leader for the Raiders and is a major reason for past and present success of her teams.”

Along with being an excellent hockey player, Flug is also a top-notch student. She holds a 3.84 GPA and has been a member of the “A” honor roll several times. She has volunteered to help kids with disabilities in the community learn to skate with the DAPE program and has helped package meals at Feed My Starving Children.

“It is obvious to the casual hockey fan that Kate is a great hockey player. What may not be as obvious is that she is a great teammate and person,” Brodt said. “Her success on the ice has not changed Kate. She continues to be a humble and caring person who is a great representative to Minnesota girls high school hockey.”

Paige Haley, Red Wing

One of the state’s elite defenseman, Paige Haley has captained the Wingers to the No. 3 ranking in Class A to go along with a 24-2-0 overall record. The state’s top scoring blueliner for the third straight season, Haley owns totals of 19-45--64 and has Red Wing one win away from advancing to the state tournament for the third consecutive year.

The team’s second-leading scorer, Haley has posted 21 multi-point games, including an eight-point game (2-6--8) in the season opener against Rochester Mayo. She has been held scoreless only once in 26 games this season. Haley is Red Wing’s all-time leading scorer as a defenseman and all-timer leader in assists. She is a two-time all-state and three-time all-conference honoree.

Following high school, Haley will continue her hockey career at the University of Minnesota.

“Paige has left an incredible legacy for Red Wing Girls Hockey,” Red Wing head  coach (and Paige’s father) Scott Haley said. “She has been a key catalyst in leading her team to three state tournaments and a record-setting current season.”

A National Honor Society member, Haley owns a 3.6 GPA and is a four-time RWHS Student of the Month nominee. In addition to hockey, she lettered in cross country, soccer and track during her high school career. Haley has volunteered her time with Special Olympics and has been helped coach youth hockey players in the Red Wing Youth Hockey Association.

“Though the wins and the individual achievements are great, it is Paige’s dedication to her school, community and Red Wing Hockey that makes her unique and special,” Scott Haley said. “Paige has consistently demonstrated with hard work and selflessness that good things happen and she has laid the building blocks for her younger teammates and girls in the community to follow her lead.”

Sidney Morin, Minnetonka

The career leading scorer for defensemen at Minnetonka, Sidney Morin has helped the Skippers to the No. 2 ranking in Class AA and just four wins away from becoming the first girls’ team to win three straight state championships. In 22 games this season she has totals of 4-22--26 and +29 for 23-4-0 Minnetonka.

Morin has points in 15 of her 22 games this season, including six multi-point contests. She is a three-time all-conference honoree and was named to the all-state and all-state tournament team last season.

Like Cameranesi, Morin was a member of the silver medal-winning U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team at the IIHF World U18 Championship.

Following high school, Morin will continue her hockey career at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

“Sidney is the alpha of our team,” Minnetonka head coach Eric Johnson said. “She is the most influential player on the ice and in the locker room. Sid has a confident demeanor that her teammates respond to and gravitate toward. She has been a huge force in our team’s success over the past few seasons.”

Away from hockey, Morin owns a 3.5 GPA  and volunteers her time with the Dinomights Inner City Youth Hockey Program. She has also served as a Big Sister with Minnetonka youth hockey teams.

“Sid has volunteered over 100 hours working with Minnetonka youth hockey players year-round,” Johnson said. “She is kind, caring and outgoing with these young players and generous with her time. Sid is a great example of a player that its committed to her community. She has carried herself professionally and positively on and off the ice.” 

Kate Schipper, Breck

Largely credited as a major reason for Breck’s success the past several seasons, Kate Schipper leads the Mustangs in scoring this season with totals of 25-29--54 in 24 games. A team captain, Schipper has helped Breck to a 15-11-1 overall record and the No. 5 ranking in Class A. She has notched a point in all but three games this season, posting 14 multi-point and six multi-goal contests.

A member of first-, second- and third-place state tournament teams, Schipper is a two-time all-conference honoree and was named to the all-state and all-state tournament team last season.

Like Cameranesi and Morin, Schipper was a member of the silver medal-winning U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team at the IIHF World U18 Championship.

Following high school, Schipper will continue her hockey career at the University of Minnesota.

“Not only is Kate a great hockey player, she is a great kid,” Breck head coach Chris Peterson said. “Explosive skating and exceptional stick skills make her a threat every time she is on the ice. In addition to her on-ice contribution, Kate has developed into a great leader and captain for our team. She has been such a great role model for our younger players and will be certainly be missed upon her graduation this spring.”

Off the ice, Schipper is accomplished in many different areas, from the classroom, the community and other sports. In school, she owns a 3.88 GPA. In the community, Schipper has volunteered for part of one day every week during the school year at different organizations, including Head Start, Project H.O.M.E., and Special Olympics. She also was an elite fastpitch softball player before turning her focus to hockey

“Kate is a perfect example of the great personal qualities than can be developed by playing hockey,” Peterson said. “She has learned how to be a good teammate and reliable leader, how to deal with painful losses and also celebrate big wins with humility. Growing up in Bloomington, I always heard legendary coach Tom Saterdalen say ‘Good things happen to good people.’ Well, proof of that statement is Kate Schipper.” 
 

In addition to announcing Ms. Hockey, the winner of the 2013 Senior Goalie of the Year Award will be named at the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the St. Paul RiverCentre. Both awards are sponsored by Let’s Play Hockey, the Minnesota Wild and Shock Doctor.

Additionally, all-state and all-academic awards will be presented by the Minnesota Girls’ Hockey Coaches Association. Tickets for the Ms. Hockey Awards Banquet may be ordered by calling 612-729-0023.

In addition to on-ice talent, criteria for the Ms. Hockey Award includes academics, community/extracurricular activities, citizenship and coachability.

Past winners: 2012 Hannah Brandt (Hill-Murray), 2011 Karley Sylvester (Warroad), 2010 Bethany Brausen (Roseville), 2009 Becky Kortum (Hopkins), 2008 Sarah Erickson (Bemidji), 2007 Katharine Chute (Blake), 2006 Allie Thunstrom (North St. Paul), 2005 Gigi Marvin (Warroad), 2004 Erica McKenzie (Hastings), 2003 Andrea Nichols (Hibbing/Chisholm), 2002 Ashley Albrecht (South St. Paul), 2001 Renee Curtin (Roseville), 2000 Krissy Wendell (Park Center), 1999 Ronda Curtin (Roseville), 1998 Laura Slominski (Burnsville), 1997 Annamarie Holmes (Apple Valley), 1996 Winny Brodt (Roseville).