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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Nicole Kelly Named Hockey East's Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month
1/4/2021 3:21:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
Freshman Forward is First UNH Wildcat to Receive Accolade Since December 2015
WAKEFIELD, Mass. – Freshman forward Nicole Kelly (Brantford, Ontario) of the University of New Hampshire women's hockey team was named Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Month for November/December 2020 by Hockey East on Monday.
Kelly recorded two goals and seven assists for nine points in 10 games the months of November and December. She ended the 2020 calendar year as the national leader in points by a rookie and ranked #11 among rookies in points per game.
She has received two Hockey East weekly awards: Pro Ambitions Rookie of the Week (Dec. 7) and Hockey East Player of the Week (Dec. 28).
Kelly is UNH's leader in assists and shots (45), and she is tied for the team lead in points. She tallied an assist in her collegiate debut Nov. 20 against Boston College and recorded her first career multiple-point game with two assists in UNH's 4-3 win against No. 8 Boston University (Dec. 5).
Kelly scored her first collegiate goal Dec. 23 vs. Holy Cross and finished with two goals in the 6-2 win to match her personal best of two points.
Kelly ended December on a four-game point streak in which she tallied five points (two goals, three assists). Overall, she recorded a point in 7 of 10 games.
Prior to Kelly, the last UNH Wildcat named Hockey East Rookie of the Month was goaltender Kyra Smith for the month of December 2015.
New Hampshire (3-7-0 overall, 3-7-0 Hockey East) is scheduled to return to action Jan. 8 at Northeastern University; start time on NESN is 4:30 p.m. The teams face off again Jan. 9 (6 p.m.) at UNH's Whittemore Center.
