American star forward Hilary Knight, who just a few months ago scored twice in 27 seconds with less than five minutes remaining in regulation to give Team USA their tenth World Championship title, was today awarded the IIHF’s inaugural Female Player Of The Year Award for the 2022-23 season.

Knight, the 33 year old star forward who took over as captain of Team USA due to Kendall Coyne’s pregnancy at this year’s World Championships in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, finished third in tournament scoring with eight goals and twelve points in seven games, with two of those goals breaking a 3-3 deadlock in the Gold Medal Game against Canada, striking twice on a two-player advantage to win America’s tenth, and her personal ninth, Gold medal. This marked the third time (2011, 2017, 2023) that Knight notched the game winning goal in a championship game, and her fifth tournament leading the tournament in goals.

2023 also saw Knight enter uncharted territory by becoming the first woman to score 100 points at the Women’s World Championships, and her ninth Gold medal tied her with Danielle Goyette for the most ever. Her thirteen total medals (nine Gold, four Silver) ties her with fellow hockey legend Hayley Wickenheiser for the most all time, a feat she is very likely to break at next year’s World Championships in Utica, New York. She also leads the tournament all-time in goals, with 61.

Knight, who also has an Olympic Gold (2018), three Olympic Silver (2010, 2014, 2022), and twelve Nations Cup medals dating back to 2006, is also a dual club champion, winning the CWHL’s Clarkson Cup in 2013 and 2015, along with the NWHL’s Isobel Cup in 2016. Knight received 40.9% of the vote to win the trophy, beating out Caroline Harvey (18.2%) of Team USA, Nela Lopušanová (13.6%) of Slovakia, Jenni Hiirikoski (11.3%) of Finland, Sarah Fillier (9.1%) of Canada, Emma Söderberg (4.5%) of Sweden, and Marie-Philip Poulin (2.3%) of Canada.

Photo Credit: 2023 Women’s World Championship – IIHF – HHOF – IOC