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Lee Stecklein

Lee Stecklein
Stecklein with PWHL Minnesota in 2024
Born (1994-04-23) April 23, 1994 (age 30)
Roseville, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
PWHL team
Former teams		 Minnesota Frost
Minnesota Whitecaps
National team  United States
Playing career 2012–present
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Pyeongchang Team
Silver medal – second place 2014 Sochi Team
Silver medal – second place 2022 Beijing Team
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2013 Canada
Gold medal – first place 2015 Sweden
Gold medal – first place 2016 Canada
Gold medal – first place 2017 United States
Gold medal – first place 2019 Finland
Gold medal – first place 2023 Canada
Silver medal – second place 2021 Canada
Silver medal – second place 2022 Denmark

Lee Ethel Stecklein (born April 23, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Minnesota Frost of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) and a former member of the United States women's national ice hockey team. Stecklein first represented the United States at the 2011 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship, and went on to play at the Winter Olympics in 2014, 2018 and 2022. She played college ice hockey at Minnesota. Stecklein is the only player to win both the NCAA national championship and the IIHF World Women's Championship three times.[1]

Stecklein played in the National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) with the Minnesota Whitecaps before joining the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), helping to advocate for the creation of a unified women's league. After the formation of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) in 2023, Stecklein was one of the first players to sign with Minnesota.

Playing career

Stecklein playing for Team USA in 2017.

NCAA

Stecklein played in all 41 games of her freshman season (2012–13) at Minnesota, tallying three goals and nine assists.[2] Stecklein went on to help the team win national titles in 2013, 2015, and 2016. She was named team co-captain for her junior year and team captain for her senior year.[3]

NWHL

Stecklein was selected second overall by the Buffalo Beauts in the 2016 NWHL Draft.[4] However, due to the consolidation of the national team ahead of the 2018 Olympics, Stecklein was not expected to join the team for several seasons.[4] Stecklein's NWHL plans changed when the Minnesota Whitecaps were added to the league as an expansion team ahead of the 2018–19 season. On June 20, 2018, Stecklein signed with the Whitecaps.[5] In her lone season with the team, Stecklein helped the team win the Isobel Cup, scoring the overtime winner in the championship game against the Beauts.[6] Earlier in the season, Stecklein was named one of the team captains for the 4th NWHL All-Star Game.[7]

PWHPA and the PWHL

In 2019, following the abrupt collapse of the Canadian Women's Hockey League, Stecklein joined more than 200 other prominent women's players in founding the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA), which vowed to boycott the NWHL with the goal of establishing a unified and financially stable professional league.[8] Stecklein released a statement saying that it was not possible to make a "sustainable living in the current state of the professional game", and specifically noted the low salaries and lack of health insurance policies.[9]

In 2023, the PWHPA and its partners announced the launch of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL).[10] On September 6, 2023, Stecklein was one of the first three players to sign with PWHL Minnesota, alongside national teammates Kendall Coyne Schofield and Kelly Pannek.[11][12] Ahead of the team's inaugural season, Stecklein was named an assistant captain.[13] Stecklein was also voted as Minnesota's player representative for the PWHL Players Association, the league's labour union.[14]

Stecklein scored her first goal with Minnesota on January 14, 2024, against New York.[15]

International play

Stecklein made her senior national team debut at the 2013 4 Nations Cup and, later in that season, won a gold medal at the 2013 IIHF Women's World Championship.[16][17] She represented Team USA at the IIHF Women's World Championship in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2022, and the 2014, 2018, and 2022 Winter Olympics. In total, Stecklein won six World Championships and one Olympic gold medal. She was named the World Championship's best defender in 2021.[18]

In 2023, Stecklein stepped away from the national team. She has been referred to as one of the programs best defenders of all-time.[18]

Personal life

Stecklein is from Roseville, Minnesota and attended Roseville Area High School.[2]

She graduated from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota with a BBA in entrepreneurial management in 2017. She was hired as a digital content specialist with Clif Bar in 2018.[19]

Stecklein with the Whitecaps in 2019.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Roseville Raiders MNHS 27 8 5 13 4 — — — — —
2010–11 Roseville Raiders MNHS 22 11 13 24 12 3 2 1 3 0
2011–12 Roseville Raiders MNHS 20 12 15 27 6 6 3 4 7 4
2012–13 University of Minnesota NCAA 41 3 9 12 8 — — — — —
2014–15 University of Minnesota NCAA 40 5 22 27 4 — — — — —
2015–16 University of Minnesota NCAA 40 8 22 30 8 — — — — —
2016–17 University of Minnesota NCAA 36 4 20 24 12 — — — — —
2018–19 Minnesota Whitecaps NWHL 16 1 8 9 8 2 1 1 2 0
2019–20 Independent PWHPA — — — — — — — — — —
2020–21 Minnesota PWHPA 6 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2023–24 PWHL Minnesota PWHL 24 2 6 8 16 10 0 3 3 2
PWHPA totals 6 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
PWHL totals 24 2 6 8 16 10 0 3 3 2

Sources: [20][21]

International

Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2011 United States U18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 0 1 1 2
2012 United States U18 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 0 3 3 0
2013 United States WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 3 0 1 1 2
2014 United States OG 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 5 0 1 1 0
2015 United States WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 0 4 4 0
2016 United States WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 0 2 2 0
2017 United States WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 0 0 0 0
2018 United States OG 1st place, gold medalist(s) 5 0 0 0 0
2019 United States WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 2 2 4 4
2021 United States WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 2 5 7 0
2022 United States OG 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 1 0 1 0
2022 United States WC 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 7 1 3 4 2
2023 United States WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 0 1 1 0
Junior totals 10 0 4 4 2
Senior totals 63 6 19 25 8

Sources: [22][23][24][25]

Awards and honors

Award Year
College
NCAA Women's Ice Hockey Tournament Champion 2013, 2015, 2016
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
AHCA All-American Second Team 2014–15,[26] 2015–16[27]
All-USCHO First Team 2014–15[28]
Academic All-Big Ten 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
All-WCHA First Team 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
WCHA All-Academic Team 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
WCHA Scholar Athlete 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
All-USCHO Second Team 2015–16, 2016–17[29]
NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team 2016[30]
CoSIDA Academic All-America At-Large Second Team 2015–16,[31] 2016–17[32]
CoSIDA Academic All-District At-Large First Team 2015–16, 2016–17
AHCA All-American First Team 2016–17[33]
Big Ten Medal of Honor 2016–17[34]
Patty Berg Legacy Award October 2016[35]
NWHL
Isobel Cup Champion 2019
Isobel Cup Playoffs MVP 2019
NWHL All-Star 2018–19
International
World Championship Best Defender 2021
World Championship All-Star Team 2021

Weekly awards

WCHA Defensive Player of the Week

  • Week of October 7, 2014[36]
  • Week of January 31, 2017[37]

WCHA Rookie of the Week

  • Week of November 28, 2012[38]

References

  1. ^ Aykroyd, Lucas (April 3, 2023). "From NCAA champs to Women's Worlds gold". International Ice Hockey Federation. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "2013-14 Women's Ice Hockey Roster: 2 Lee Stecklein". University of Minnesota Athletics. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  3. ^ "2016-17 Women's Ice Hockey Roster: 2 Lee Stecklein". University of Minnesota Athletics. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Cimini, Kate (June 19, 2016). "First-round picks show how NWHL GMs view their teams". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  5. ^ "Team USA Gold Medalists Hannah Brandt and Lee Stecklein Join NWHL's Minnesota Whitecaps". National Women's Hockey League (Press release). June 20, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2022 – via OurSports Central.
  6. ^ Blount, Rachel (March 18, 2019). "Minnesota Whitecaps win championship in overtime for historic close to first season". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  7. ^ "2019 NWHL All-Star Weekend Comes to Nashville!". National Women's Hockey League. November 13, 2018. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  8. ^ Kaplan, Emily (May 2, 2019). "Women's hockey stars to boycott pro leagues". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  9. ^ Johnson, Randy (May 3, 2019). "Whitecaps standouts and other Olympians won't play until demands are met". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  10. ^ Silverman, Alex (August 29, 2023). "PWHL announces plans for inaugural season". Sports Business Journal. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  11. ^ "Coyne Schofield, Pannek and Stecklein sign with Minnesota's PWHL franchise". Sportsnet. September 6, 2023. Archived from the original on November 8, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  12. ^ Rule, Heather (November 21, 2023). "'The Game Deserved This'". Minnesota Hockey Magazine. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  13. ^ "PWHL Minnesota appoints Kendall Coyne as team captain". Sportsnet. January 3, 2024. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  14. ^ Kennedy, Ian (December 20, 2023). "PWHLPA Chooses Player Representatives". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "Woods plays overtime hero as New York takes down Minnesota". Sportsnet. AP. January 14, 2024. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Lee Stecklein: USA Hockey player bio.
  17. ^ "Team USA: 2 Lee Stecklein". USA Hockey. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  18. ^ a b Kennedy, Ian (November 29, 2023). "Lee Stecklein Steps Away From USA Hockey". The Hockey News. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  19. ^ Bumbaca, Chris (February 11, 2022). "Back from the 'Clif': How US women's hockey defender went from selling granola bars to Beijing Olympics". USA Today. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  20. ^ "Lee Stecklein: Career Statistics". USCHO.com. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  21. ^ "Playing profile: Lee Stecklein". Elite Prospects. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  22. ^ Podnieks, Andrew; Nordmark, Birger, eds. (2019). "Active Skaters, Women". IIHF Guide & Record Book 2020. Toronto: Moydart. p. 662. ISBN 9780986796470.
  23. ^ "2021 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship – Player Statistics by Team: USA - United States". International Ice Hockey Federation. August 31, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  24. ^ "Beijing 2022 – Ice Hockey, Women – Player Statistics by Team: USA - United States". International Ice Hockey Federation. February 17, 2022. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  25. ^ "2022 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship – Player Statistics by Team: USA - United States". International Ice Hockey Federation. September 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  26. ^ "Four Gophers Earn All-American Status". University of Minnesota Athletics (Press release). March 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  27. ^ "2016 All-American Teams". American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  28. ^ Horgan, Candace (March 27, 2015). "Minnesota, Boston College lead All-USCHO Women's D-I teams". USCHO.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  29. ^ Horgan, Candace (March 24, 2017). "Clarkson, Wisconsin lead All-USCHO women's D-I teams". USCHO.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  30. ^ "Klobuchar Resolution Congratulating Minnesota Gophers Women's Ice Hockey Team on Winning National Championship Passes Senate". Office of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (Press release). April 14, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  31. ^ "Academic All-America® Division I At-Large Teams Selected, Led by Alabama Duo Anton McKee and Lauren Beers". CoSIDA (Press release). June 9, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  32. ^ "2016-17 Academic All-America® Division I M/W At-Large Teams Announced". CoSIDA (Press release). June 8, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  33. ^ "2017 All-American Teams". American Hockey Coaches Association. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  34. ^ "Minnesota's Stecklein and Wieland Awarded Big Ten Medal Of Honor". Big Ten Conference (Press release). May 2, 2017. Archived from the original on December 4, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
  35. ^ "Stecklein Honored at GGF Scholarship Banquet". University of Minnesota Athletics. October 29, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  36. ^ "Ohio State's Kepler, Minnesota's Stecklein and Wisconsin's Clark Named WCHA Players of the Week" (PDF). Western Collegiate Hockey Association (Press release). October 7, 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  37. ^ "UMD'S Stalder, UMN'S Stecklein AND UW'S Mauermann Named WCHA Women's Players of the Week". Western Collegiate Hockey Association. January 31, 2017. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  38. ^ "UW's Decker, UND's Lamoureux, UM's Stecklein Named WCHA Women's Players of the Week" (PDF). Western Collegiate Hockey Association. November 28, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
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