Canadian Olympic women's hockey gold medallist Marie-Philip Poulin poses with her gold medal as she is welcomed by family when arriving from the Sochi Olympics Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at the Jean-Lesage airport in Quebec City.Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press
Canada's golden goalscorer Marie-Philip Poulin is a finalist for the award that goes to the top female hockey player in NCAA Division I hockey.
The 23-year-old Boston University forward joins Minnesota's Hannah Brandt and Boston College's Alex Carpenter as the three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier award.
The winner will be announced March 21 at the Women's Frozen Four tournament at the University of Minnesota.
Poulin, from Beauceville, Que., scored the equalizer with a minute remaining and the overtime goal in a 3-2 win over the United States in last year's Olympic women's hockey final.
She also scored both of Canada's goals in a 2-0 win over the U.S. to win Olympic gold in 2010.
Poulin, a senior and the Terriers captain, ranks among the top 10 in the NCAA in points, goals, assists, points per game and faceoff percentage.
Clarkson University's Jamie Lee Rattray, of Kanata, Ont., was the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner last year. Vicki Bendus of Wasaga Beach, Ont. (2010), Sarah Vaillancourt of Sherbrooke, Que., (2008), Sara Bauer of St. Catharines, Ont. (2006) and Winnipeg's Jennifer Botterill (2001, 2003) are the other Canadian winners of the award.