U's Kessel, Housley among USA Hockey award winners

Six people with Minnesota ties, including Gophers forward Amanda Kessel and South St. Paul native Phil Housley, are among the annual award winners announced Wednesday by USA Hockey.

Kessel was named women's player of the year after leading the undefeated Gophers to an NCAA title and helping the U.S. women's team win the world championship. Housley won the Distinguished Achievement Award in recognition of his 21 seasons as an NHL player and his accomplishments as a player and coach for U.S. national teams.

Other winners include Quinnipiac goaltender Eric Hartzell of White Bear Lake (college player of the year); Gophers recruit Taylor Cammarata of Plymouth, who led the U.S. Hockey League in scoring (junior player of the year), and Charlie Lindgren of Lakeville, a St. Cloud State recruit who led the USHL in victories (goalie of the year).

Women's hockey pioneer Sue Ring-Jarvi of Anoka was named the adult ironman of the year. She helped start girls' hockey high school programs in the state and still plays on a women's team herself.

Rachel Blount

Logan Shore made it easy to determine Minnesota's baseball Gatorade Player of the Year. The Coon Rapids pitcher and position player put up elite numbers on both defense and offense.

Shore was 4-0 on the mound with a 0.27 ERA. He struck out 32 batters and gave up just 14 hits and four walks. At the plate, he hit .429 and had 12 RBI.

The 2012 Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year led the Cardinals to a 13-3 regular-season record and into the Class 3A, Section 5 winners' bracket final scheduled for Friday at Midway Stadium.

He has signed with the University of Florida.

Shore also is projected as an early pick in Major League Baseball's amateur draft in June.

JASON GONZALEZ

• Gophers sophomore third baseman Kaitlyn Richardson of Phoenix, Ariz., was named to the All-America third team by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She hit .430 and had 43 RBI in 55 games.