The IIHF Female Player of the Year award is given out annually by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), in recognition of the ice hockey player who "best exemplifies exceptional skill, determination, team success, and sporting character on and off the ice during the preceding season."[1] It is selected by a panel of media and IIHF representatives drawn from among the member states of the International Ice Hockey Federation.[2]
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Annually to the player who "best exemplifies exceptional skill, determination, team success, and sporting character on and off the ice during the preceding season." |
| History | |
| First award | 2023 |
| First winner | Hilary Knight |
| Most recent | Natalie Spooner (2024) |
To be eligible, a player must have competed in at least one of three IIHF tournaments (the Winter Olympics, IIHF World Women's Championship, or IIHF World Women's U18 Championship) as well as in a national domestic league "of the highest caliber for that country," with "the combined performances of which were deemed superior to all other players."[1]
It was first awarded in 2023, along with its counterpart, the IIHF Male Player of the Year.[3] Hilary Knight, of the United States national team and the PWHPA's Team Sonnet, was the inaugural recipient.[4]
Winners
edit| Year | Winner | National team | Club | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hilary Knight |  United States
|
Team Sonnet (PWHPA) | [1] |
| 2024 | Natalie Spooner |  Canada
|
PWHL Toronto (PWHL) | [5] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Podnieks, Andrew (1 June 2023). "Hilary Knight wins the inaugural IIHF Female Player of the Year Award". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Canada's Connor Bedard honored as IIHF's first male player of the year". Sportsnet. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Podnieks, Andrew (19 June 2023). "Bedard named IIHF Male Player of the Year". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Wyshynski, Greg (1 June 2023). "USA's Hilary Knight is 1st IIHF Female Player of the Year". ESPN. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Podnieks, Andrew (18 June 2024). "Spooner runs away with Player of the Year honours". International Ice Hockey Federation. Retrieved 18 June 2024.