January 13, 2011

HAMDEN, Conn. - Quinnipiac women's ice hockey freshman forward Kelly Babstock (Mississauga, Ontario) is featured in the January 17, 2011 edition of Sports Illustrated. The first-year phenom has been named as one of the six "Faces In The Crowd" as selected each week by Sports Illustrated. The weekly magazine highlights athletes from all sports and athletic levels for their accomplishments on the field. Each week, six new athletes are chosen to appear in the feature.

The freshman standout continued her impressive play this past weekend by netting her third-career hat trick in a 3-2 overtime victory against ECAC Hockey opponent Clarkson on Saturday afternoon. Babstock accounted for three goals and an assist over the weekend, to lead the Bobcats (15-7-1, 8-6-0 ECAC Hockey) in a weekend sweep of St. Lawrence and Clarkson.

The Sports Illustrated feature is now the eighth time this season that Babstock has been recognized for her on-ice accomplishments. She is a four-time ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week and a one-time Player of the Week recipient. Babstock has also been named Quinnipiac Female Athlete of the Month for the months of November and December. Babstock is the second Quinnipiac student-athlete to be named to the magazine's weekly feature after former men's soccer all-American Graciano Brito was named to "Faces In The Crowd" on Oct. 31, 2007.

Babstock, who scored the game-winning goal at the 3:25 mark into the first overtime period against Clarkson, has registered a league-high 20 goals and 20 assists on the season. She also ranks first among all NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey freshman in goals, assists and points and is tied for first in the country with seven game-winning goals.

The freshman ranks in the top five nationally in all three offensive statistical categories. She ranks tied for fourth and fifth in goals and assists, respectively, while she retains sole possession of fifth place in total points. Her 1.74 points per game rank her second among all freshman skaters and 11^th in NCAA Division I Women's Ice Hockey overall.

Babstock and the Bobcats return to the ice on Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. when they face non-conference opponent New Hampshire at the TD Bank Sports Center.

Please click on the above link to view the online portion of "Faces in the Crowd", edited by Alexandra Fenwick.