Kelly Babstock
Kelly Babstock (born August 4, 1992) is a Canadian-American ice hockey player who currently plays with the Toronto Six of the NWHL. She has Ojibwe roots and is originally from Little Current on Manitoulin Island, part of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory.[1] Babstock played collegiate ice hockey with the Quinnipiac Bobcats and remains the top point scorer in the program’s history.[2][3] In the NWHL, she played with the Connecticut Whale from 2015–2018 and with the Buffalo Beauts during the 2018–19 season. In the Whale's inaugural game on October 15, 2015, she became the first Canadian-born player to score a goal in a NWHL regular season game.
Kelly Babstock | |||
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Kelly Babstock playing for the Connecticut Whale in 2017 | |||
Born |
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | August 4, 1992||
Position | Forward | ||
NWHL team Former teams |
Toronto Six | ||
Playing career | 2010–present |
Playing career
Before NCAA
Babstock attended Port Credit Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario. On her high school hockey team, she was the leading scorer for three years and men's field lacrosse leading scorer for one year.
Babstock's junior career was played with the Toronto Jr. Aeros of the Provincial Women's Hockey League (PWHL). She helped the team win the gold medal and League Cup during the 2009–10 season, registering 25 goals and 35 assists (60 points) during the regular season, and nine goals and four assists (13 points) during playoffs.[4]
NCAA
Kelly Babstock was a member of the Quinnipiac Bobcats women's ice hockey team from 2010–2014. She made her mark on college hockey in her freshman season, recording 59 points in 37 games. Over four seasons with Quinnipiac, Babstock registered a total of 95 goals and 108 assists, for a total of 203 points.[5]
On November 12 and 13, 2010, Kelly Babstock made Quinnipiac hockey history as she accounted for six of the seven goals scored over the weekend. Babstock registered back to back hat tricks against ECAC opponents (No. 10 ranked Harvard and Dartmouth). In addition, she is the first skater in Quinnipiac history to record two hat tricks in one season. As of November 14, Babstock led the team and the entire NCAA in goals (13) and points (27).[6]
Versus the Brown Bears on Friday, December 3, 2010, Kelly Babstock became Quinnipiac's all-time leader in goals scored in a season by netting her 16th goal of the season. Babstock's nation leading sixth game-winning goal against Yale on Saturday, Dec. 4 was part of a Bobcats 3-1 win.[7]
With a second period goal versus the Colgate Raiders on November 19, 2011, Kelly Babstock of the Quinnipiac Bobcats became the program's all-time leading scorer.[8] In just her second season, Babstock surpassed Vicki Graham, who finished with 73 career points, after the 2006-07 season. Babstock reached the milestone in her 50th career game.[9]
Kelly Babstock led all skaters in points at the 2011 Nutmeg Classic with four (one goal, three assists). With the two assists in the championship game, Babstock earned the 39th and 40th assists of her career, surpassing Caitlin Peters as the all-time assist leader in Bobcats history. Breann Frykas scored the game-winning goal as the Bobcats bested the Robert Morris Colonials by a 3-2 tally. In honor of her stellar performance, Babstock was named 2013 Nutmeg Classic MVP.[10]
After four outstanding years with the Quinnipaic Women's Hockey Team, Babstock joined the Quinnipiac women's lacrosse team as a senior. She played in ten games (four starts), and finished the season with 21 points (14 goals, seven assists). With this record at the end of the season, she was ranked 2nd on the team in points. She was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team in 2014.[11]
NWHL
Competing in the Connecticut Whale's inaugural game on October 11, 2015, Babstock scored a goal in the third period of a 4-1 win against the New York Riveters. Assisted by Kelli Stack, Babstock became the first Canadian-born player to score a goal in NWHL regular season play. Babstock was selected as a “media pick” to play in the 2017 NWHL All-Star Game as a media pick.[12] Playing for Team Steadman, Babstock scored a goal at the 2nd NWHL All-Star Game,[13] the only Canadian to do so. She also participated in the 2018 NWHL All-Star Game.[14]
In June 2018, Babstock signed with the Buffalo Beauts.[15]
Babstock was affiliated with the Tri-State chapter of the PWHPA during the 2019–20 season but was not selected for any of the organization’s showcases or events.
On May 2, 2020, Babstock announced her return to the NWHL, signing with the Canadian expansion team, the Toronto Six, for the 2020–21 NWHL season.[16] She joined four former PWHPA players already signed with the Six, including former Connecticut Whale teammates Shiann Darkangelo and Emma Greco. On returning to the NWHL after a year with the PWHPA, she said, “I realized the [PWH]PA’s goals didn’t match mine and the NWHL’s matches with my goals. So I’m excited to play hockey again,”[17]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
2007–08 | Mississauga Jr. Chiefs | PWHL | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
Toronto Jr. Aeros | PWHL | 29 | 14 | 18 | 32 | 49 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | |||
2008–09 | Toronto Jr. Aeros | PWHL | 33 | 25 | 34 | 59 | 88 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 14 | ||
2009–10 | Toronto Jr. Aeros | PWHL | 33 | 25 | 35 | 60 | 42 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 6 | ||
2010–11 | Quinnipiac Bobcats | NCAA | 37 | 30 | 28 | 58 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2011–12 | Quinnipiac Bobcats | NCAA | 37 | 18 | 22 | 40 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2012–13 | Quinnipiac Bobcats | NCAA | 36 | 28 | 27 | 55 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2013–14 | Quinnipiac Bobcats | NCAA | 38 | 19 | 30 | 49 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2015–16 | Connecticut Whale | NWHL | 18 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | ||
2016–17 | Connecticut Whale | NWHL | 17 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
2017–18 | Connecticut Whale | NWHL | 14 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2018–19 | Buffalo Beauts | NWHL | 16 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
2019–20 | Tri-State | PWHPA | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2020–21 | Toronto Six | NWHL | ||||||||||||
NCAA totals | 148 | 95 | 107 | 202 | 136 | — | – | – | – | – | ||||
NWHL totals | 65 | 27 | 33 | 60 | 94 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 10 |
Source: eliteprospects.com
Awards and honours
Collegiate
Award | Year | |
---|---|---|
CCM/AHCA All-American Women's University Division - Second Team |
2013–14 | [18] |
ECAC Hockey All-Conference
All-Rookie Team |
2010–11 | [19] |
ECAC Hockey All-Conference
First Team |
2010–11
2012–13 2013–14 | |
ECAC Hockey All-Conference
Second Team |
2011–12 | |
ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Year | 2010–11 | [20] |
ECAC Hockey Player of the Year | 2010–11 | [21] |
ECAC Hockey All-Decade
Second Team |
2020 | [22] |
New England Women's Division I All-Star | 2010–11
2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 |
[23] |
Patty Kazmaier Award Nominee | 2011 | [27] |
Patty Kazmaier Award Top-10 Finalist | 2014 | [28] |
Quinnipiac Women’s Ice Hockey
Rookie of the Year |
2010–11 | [29] |
Quinnipiac Women’s Ice Hockey
Most Valuable Player |
2010–11
2011–12 |
[30] |
Quinnipiac Female Athlete of the Year | 2011
2014 |
[4] |
Sports Illustrated’s Faces in the Crowd | January 17, 2011 | [31] |
Weekly/monthly collegiate honours and awards
- ECAC Hockey Player of the Month (2)
- Quinnipiac University Athlete of the Month (4)
- ECAC Hockey Player of the Week (10)
- ECAC Hockey Rookie of the Week (5)
- 2010–11: October 5, November 16, November 30, December 7, February 15[35]
Professional
Award | Date | |
---|---|---|
NWHL All-Star | 2017
2018 |
[12] |
NWHL Player of the Week | November 20, 2017 | [40] |
Other
- Aboriginal Role Model of the Year, 2011[1]
- Little Native Hockey League Hall of Fame – Alumni, 2016[41]
Personal life
Babstock's mother, Donna, is Ojibwe from the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and her father, David, is from Newfoundland. She is the third eldest of six siblings; one older and two younger sisters and two brothers. Her older brother, Jeff Shattler, plays with the Saskatchewan Rush of the National Lacrosse League and serves as Director of Player Development for the Fighting Sioux lacrosse program of Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation.
A Canadian citizen by birth, Babcock gained American dual-citizenship in 2019. She began pursuing American citizenship in her junior year of university, motivated by a desire to establish her post-collegiate life in the United States. Her Canadian-born Native American status made it realtively easy to gain a green card and she became an American citizen in a naturalization ceremony held at KeyBank Center on January 29, 2019. Of gaining American citizenship, she said, “It’s a big deal, you know? You’re Native American, and you have these rights [codified under US immigration law as a result of the Jay Treaty], and I just took advantage of them.”[42]
References
- D'Arcangelo, Lyndsey (2018-10-18). "As the NWHL's only Native player, Beauts newcomer Kelly Babstock is on a mission to open the door for others". The Athletic. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Kelly Babstock - Women's Ice Hockey". Quinnipiac University Athletics. 2013. Retrieved 2020-05-23.
- "Women's Ice Hockey Individual Career Records". Quinnipiac University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- "2013-14 Women's Ice Hockey: Kelly Babstock, #8". Quinnipiac University Athletics. 2013. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Career Statistics: Kelly Babstock". US College Hockey Online (USCHO). Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Nanji, Babstock & Jamieson Earn ECAC Hockey MLX Skates Weekly Honors". ECAC Hockey. 2010-11-16. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "ECAC Hockey Women's Weekly Awards" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. 2010-12-07. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "ECAC Hockey Women's Weekly Awards" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. 2011-11-22. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Kelly Babstock Named ECAC Hockey Player Of The Week". Quinnipiac Bobcats. 2011-11-22. Archived from the original on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
- "Women's Ice Hockey Repeats As Nutmeg Classic Tournament Champions, Downs Robert Morris, 3-2". Quinnipiac Bobcats. 2011-11-26. Archived from the original on 2012-05-13. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
- "2015 Women's Lacrosse: Kelly Babstock". Quinnipiac University Athletics. Retrieved 2017-03-26.
- Linehan, Meg (6 January 2017). "Whale's Babstock, Riveters' Johnston added to NWHL All-Star Game". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
- "NWHL Stars Shine Bright in Pittsburgh". NWHL. 2017-02-13. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
- "Media Guide for the 2018 NWHL All-Star Game". NWHL.zone. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- Ayala, Erica (2018-06-17). "Kelly Babstock is taking her talents to Buffalo". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- Chidley-Hill, John (2020-05-02). "Veteran forward Kelly Babstock returns home, joining Toronto's NWHL team". CBC Sports. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- Jay, Michelle (2020-05-02). "Kelly Babstock signs with NWHL's Toronto team". The Ice Garden. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "2013–14 All-Americans". American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA). Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "ECAC Hockey History: Annual Awards & All Conference" (PDF). ECAC Hockey.
- "Babstock Named Rookie of the Year". ECAC Hockey. 2011-02-28. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "League's Player of the Year Awarded to Babstock". ECAC Hockey. 2011-03-02. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "ECAC Hockey Announces Women's Second-Team All-Decade". ECAC Hockey. 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Three Women's Hockey Players Selected As New England All-Stars". Boston College Athletics. 2011-03-30. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "2012-13 Quinnipiac Women's Ice Hockey Media Guide". Issuu. Quinnipiac University Athletics. 2012-11-25. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Kelly Babstock and Regan Boulton Named to 2012-13 New England Women's Ice Hockey All-Star Team". Quinnipiac University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Babstock Tabbed 2014 Quinnipiac Female Athlete of the Year". ECAC Hockey. 2014-05-04. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Kelly Babstock Named Finalist For ECAC Hockey Rookie Of The Year". Quinnipiac University Athletics. 2011-02-24. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Top-10 Finalists Named for 2014 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award". pattykaz.com. USA Hockey. 2014-02-27. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Quinnipiac Women's Ice Hockey's Kelly Babstock Named Rookie Of The Year & Most Valuable Player At Annual Banquet". Quinnipiac University Athletics. 2011-04-27. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "2010-11 Quinnipiac Athletics Awards Program". Issuu. Quinnipiac University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- Fenwick, Alexandra (2011-01-17). "Faces in the Crowd". vault.si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Babstock, Saulnier & Howe Name[d] Fischer-Hockey Monthly Winners". ECAC Hockey. 2011-12-02. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "2012-13 Hogan Hockey/ECAC Hockey Women's Monthly Awards" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. 2012-11-01. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Kelly Babstock and James Johnson Named Quinnipiac November Athletes of the Month". Quinnipiac University Athletics. 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "2010–11 MLX Skates Players of Week". ECAC Hockey. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "2011–12 Players of Week". ECAC Hockey. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "2012–13 Players of the Week". ECAC Hockey. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "Babstock, Woods & Slebodnick Earn Weekly Awards". ECAC Hockey. 2013-10-22. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "2013–14 ECAC Hockey Women's Weekly Awards" (PDF). ECAC Hockey. December 2013. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
- "NWHL Player of the Week: Kelly Babstock". NWHL. 2017-11-20. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- "Hall of Fame". Little Native Hockey League. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- Wolf, Jason (2019-02-22). "Proud of her Canadian roots, Beauts' Kelly Babstock becomes U.S. citizen". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
- Kelly Babstock (Connecticut Whale 2017-2018) at NWHL
- Kelly Babstock (Buffalo Beauts 2018-2019) at NWHL
- Kelly Babstock on Twitter