PATON NAMED HOCKEY EAST PLAYER OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY

WAKEFIELD, Mass. -- Kelly Paton (Woodstock, Ontario), a senior forward and captain of the fifth-ranked University of New Hampshire women's ice hockey team, was named Player of the Month for February by Hockey East on Tuesday. Paton has received the award a league-high three times this season; she was previously feted in October and November.

Paton recorded five goals and nine assists for 14 points in seven February games to average 1.29 assists per game and 2.00 points per game. Those statistics included two power-play goals and a game-winning goal in the regular-season finale at Boston College that lifted UNH into a tie for second place and gave the Wildcats the second seed in the league tournament. In that final game of the regular season, she matched her career highs in both assists (three) and points (four). Paton also had a +4 rating and a .200 shooting percentage. She recorded a point in every February game with three multiple-point efforts.

Paton leads the team in points (51), goals (19) and plus/minus (+19) and is tied for the lead in game-winning goals with four. She is also second in assists (32) and tied for second in power-play goals (six). Furthermore, Paton ranks second in shots (118) and fourth in shooting percentage (.182). With those numbers, Paton ranks fifth in the nation in points per game, fourth in assists per game and 17th in goals per game; she is also among the national leaders in game-winning goals (15th) and power-play goals (16th).

In 139 career games, she has compiled 62 goals and 100 assists for 162 points to rank fifth in assists, 11th in points and 18th in goals on UNH's all-time leaderboards.

UNH (19-7-5) is the second seed of the 8th Annual Women's Hockey East Championship tournament and will face off against third-seeded Boston University (15-8-12) in a March 6 semifinal game at Providence College's Schneider Arena. Game time is 3 p.m. The winner advances to the March 7 (12:30 p.m.) title game to battle for the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.