2019 | Minnesota | GIRLS

Duluth Northern Stars | Northern Stars | GIRLS

Cassie McClure exemplifies all of the values represented by this award. She is someone who had to overcome an extreme amount of adversity at a young age. Cassie was diagnosed with POTS disease, a disease that causes exhaustion and fatigue. Cassie was diagnosed when she was in 9th grade and had to step away from hockey, she thought for good. Starting her sophomore year she did not even try out for the team. A week into the season, she wanted to try to come back whatever capacity that was. She started on JV playing maybe one to two shifts a period, to playing full Varsity games by the end of the year. Her junior year, she worked up to playing in every single Varsity game. She was a leader both her junior and senior years off the ice as a captain and on the ice leading her team in points. Her love of the game rubs off on her teammates and her coaching staff as you can truly feel her passion and love for the game everyday. The coaching staff this year was unanimous on who we thought was a good fit for this award as Cassie is a great role model for all players through her commitment, coachability, and teamwork displayed through her time with the Northern Stars.