PATON REPEATS AS PLAYER OF THE MONTH IN WOMEN'S HOCKEY EAST

WAKEFIELD, Mass. – Kelly Paton (Woodstock, Ontario), a senior forward and captain on the third-ranked University of New Hampshire women’s ice hockey team, was named Hockey East Player of Month for November, the league announced Tuesday. She was also the recipient of the award for October.

It marked the second Hockey East award in as many days for Paton, who was feted as Pure Hockey Player of the Week on Monday. Paton also received that award Nov. 23 and Nov. 2.

Paton recorded seven goals and six assists for 13 points in six November games; those numbers calculate to 1.17 goals per game, 1.00 assists per game and 2.17 points per game. Paton’s other numbers included two game-winning goals, a power-play goal, a shorthanded goal, a +6 rating and a .212 shooting percentage.

In four league games, she tallied nine points (4g, 5a). She had five points (2g, 3a) in three games vs. nationally-ranked teams.

Paton recorded her second career hat trick and also matched her personal best of four points vs. Rensselaer on Nov. 21. She factored directly into 65% of the team’s goals in November with 13 points on 20 goals, and that included a stretch of a goal or assist on each of the last six goals of the month.

In Hockey East’s eight-year history, Paton is the third player to win back-to-back Player of the Month awards. Former teammate Sam Faber became the first to accomplish the feat (Nov. & Dec. ’07) and Boston College’s Kelli Stack did so last year (Oct. & Nov. ’08).

Dating back to last season, a UNH student-athlete has won each of the last five Hockey East Player of the Month awards – Paton has been honored a total of three times, including January 2009. Jenn Wakefield was selected in December 2008 and February 2009.

In 15 games this season, Paton has 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points to rank No. 3 in the nation in points per game (1.87), fifth in assists per game (1.13) and eighth in goals per game (0.73); she is also tied for third in game-winning goals (three) and 15th in power-play goals (three). Paton leads UNH in goals, game-winning goals, points and shooting percentage (.183) and she is second in assists, power-play goals and plus/minus (+10). Paton also leads Hockey East in points and points per game, goals and goals per game and power-play points (14); she ranks second in assists and assists per game.

UNH (10-1-4 overall, 5-0-1-0 Hockey East) has the nation’s longest active unbeaten streak of eight games (5-0-3). The Wildcats return to action Dec. 5 at home against longtime rival Providence College. Game time at the Whittemore Center is 2 p.m.

The UNH athletic department's annual "Toys for Tots" campaign will be held at the Dec. 5 game. Marines will be on hand to collect the new, unwrapped toys. Tickets for the game are available at the Whittemore Center box office, by clicking here and through TicketMaster.