Commissioner's Corner: Colorado Selects’ Bresler gets first Pellmann Award
February 27, 2008 - By Shane Lawrence
The Midwest Elite Hockey League Girls Division handed out the First Annual Justine Pell-mann Memorial Award to Alex Bresler of the U-19 Colorado Selects during a special ceremony which took place in the midst of the organization’s 2008 playoff weekend on Feb. 9, at Great Lakes Sports City in Fraser, Michigan.
MWEHL teams from the 14 & Under, 16 & Under and 19 & Under age groupings were encouraged to nominate one girl from each of their respective rosters so that she could be considered for the award by the MWEHL Girls Division Advisory Board.
Bresler was selected from a field of more than 40 names, as she was deemed to be the player who most notably exhibits the high standards of personal, scholastic, athletic and team excellence.
But all of the aforementioned attributes were also demonstrated by Pellmann, who passed away following injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident in 2005. A member of the 2004-05 Wisconsin Wild U-19 team, she attended Waukesha West High School and was slated to play collegiate hockey at Elmira College in Elmira, New York.
“We believe that Justine exemplified the character, work ethic in the classroom and on the ice, and the overall love for the game that makes her a role model for players following her...,” Wisconsin Wild Girls Hockey Association U19 manager Tom LaCombe told Hockey Weekly via email for the Feb. 6, 2008 edition of Commissioner’s Corner. “Receiving this award on the team level or league level is indeed a significant achievement.”
Justine’s parents, Christine and Lance Pellmann, were on hand as they spoke to the players and assisted U-14/ U-16 MWEHL Girls commissioner and Belle Tire Hockey representative Debra Scott in passing out the awards. In addition to Bresler receiving the overall honor, all of the nominees received plaques to commemorate their achievements.
“I am impressed with the girls for who they are as human beings and for the work they do in the community, along with the obstacles that they have overcome,” Scott said. “It was such a nice event, and it was great to see them be recognized.”
2008 Inaugural Justine Pellmann Memorial Award Nominees
U-14 Division
Belle Tire - Lea Marie Lusk; Chicago Fury - Kristen Sutera; Chicago Mission - Kacie Pugh; Colorado Selects - Chloe “Sarge” Williams;
HoneyBaked - Audrey Noles; Little Caesars - Abby Belcrest; Madison Capitals - Kim Drake; Michigan Capitals - Kalli Bates; Mid Fairfield -Rebecca Russo; Ohio Flames - Abby Harris; Team Illinois - Madeline Tank; TPH Thunder - Shelby Saponari; Victory Honda - Alyssa Ryan West
U-16 Division
Belle Tire - Kristina Vaclavek; Chicago Fury - Brittany Schlau;
Colorado Selects - May Wilkerson; CYA - Carley King; GRAHA - Madison Smiddy; HoneyBaked - Sarah Connelly; Little Caesars - Samantha Patterson; Madison Capitals - Jami Klagos; Ohio Flames - Katie Thorne;
Team Illinois - Kellie Shutter; Texas Blaze - Ally Ensor; Victory Honda -Melissa Smith; Wisconsin Wild - Kelly O’Brien.
U-19 Division
Belle Tire - Allison Hodgkinson; Chicago Mission - Katie Daniels;
Colorado Selects - Alex Bresler; CYA - Adelle Calahan; HoneyBaked -Stacey Hochkins; Little Caesars - Ashley Cottrell; Madison Capitals -Emily Groth; Minn Thoroughbreds - Jill Vanergrift; New Jersey Rockets -Madelena Santore; Ohio Flame - Lauren Covell; Shattuck St. Mary’s -Amanda Castignette; Team Illinois - Haley Toter; Thunder Bay Queens -Stacey Kmill; Victory Honda - Katie Zimmerman; Wisconsin Wild - Anna Donlan
Briefly
Congratulations to the following teams for claiming the championship in their respective divisions at the MWEHL Girls Division playoffs, which were held in the Detroit area: 14U Little Caesars; 16U Colorado Select; 19U Shattuck - St. Mary’s.
