Brianna Decker

Brianna Decker (born May 13, 1991) is an American women's ice hockey player for the Calgary Inferno of the Canadian Women's Hockey League. She is a member of the United States women's national ice hockey team. She was awarded the 2012 Patty Kazmaier Award while playing for the University of Wisconsin, recognizing the best female ice hockey player in NCAA Division I play.[1] With the Boston Pride, Decker would score the first hat trick in NWHL history on October 25, 2015.

Brianna Decker
Brianna Decker for the Wisconsin Badgers in 2013
Born (1991-05-13) May 13, 1991
Dousman, Wisconsin, U.S.
Height 5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Weight 148 lb (67 kg; 10 st 8 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Right
CWHL team
Former teams		 Calgary Inferno
National team  United States
Playing career 2009–present
Medal record
Olympic Games
2018 PyeongchangTeam
2014 SochiTeam
World Championships
2011 Switzerland
2013 Canada
2015 Sweden
2016 Canada
2017 United States
2019 Finland
2012 United States

Playing career

NCAA

In her freshman season (2009–10) with the Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey program, Decker scored the Badgers' first goal of the season in a game against North Dakota (October 3). During the season, she accumulated seven multi-point games and four multi-goal games. She was third in team scoring despite missing almost half of the first part of the season. On September 25, 2011, Decker scored her third career hat trick in a 13–0 defeat of the Lindenwood Lady Lions ice hockey program.[2] Her 12-game winning goals during the 2010–11 season are a program record. She holds the Badgers longest scoring streak at 32 games (February 11, 2011 to January 6, 2012). During the streak she accumulated 77 points (33 goals, 44 assists). In her junior season, Decker won the 2012 Patty Kazmaier Award.[3]

Brianna Decker playing for Team USA in 2017

USA Hockey

She won gold at the 2009 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship. On January 28, 2011, it was announced that Decker was named to the preliminary roster for the US Women's National Team. From April 4 to 12, 2011, she was one of 30 players that took part in a selection / training camp and was named to the final roster that participated at the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championship. At the 2011 IIHF Women's World Championship, Brianna Decker was among the tournament's top five scorers. Decker's 11 points (four goals, seven assists) placed her second.[4]

In 2017, Decker was a member of the winning US team for the 2017 IIHF Women's World Championship, receiving two assists in the final against Canada.[5]

Professional

CWHL

Making her debut for the Boston Blades on January 17, 2015, Decker accumulated seven points (three goals, four assists) in an 11–3 win against the Brampton Thunder.[6] Decker would finish the season leading all American-born players in scoring, while ranking second overall in the scoring race for the Angela James Bowl with 32 points. In addition, she tied with Blades teammate Tara Watchorn as the league leaders in plus/minus rating with a +25. During the 2015 Clarkson Cup playoffs, Decker led all players in scoring, while registering two goals in the championship game, a 3–2 overtime win over the Montreal Stars.

NWHL

Signing as a free agent with the Boston Pride of the National Women's Hockey League, Decker made league history on October 25, 2015. During a 5–3 road win against the Buffalo Beauts, Decker would score the first hat trick in league history. All three goals were scored against Beauts goaltender Brianne McLaughlin.

Decker was awarded Most Valuable Player consecutively by the NWHL for her performance in the 2015–16 season and 2016–17 season.[7]

Return to CWHL

On July 24, 2018, Decker and fellow Team USA gold medalist Kacey Bellamy signed as free agents with the Calgary Inferno.[8] Decker would score the game-winning goal versus Les Canadiennes de Montreal in the 2019 Clarkson Cup finals, with Bellamy gaining the assist. Of note, Decker would also be recognized as the MVP of the 2019 Clarkson Cup playoffs.

NHL

On January 25, 2019, Decker participated in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition, in which she demonstrated the premier passing drill event. Her demo time of 1:06 was faster than all eight men who competed in the event. The $25,000 prize money went to Leon Draisaitl, who finished at 1:09. Ice hockey equipment manufacturer CCM announced that it would pay Decker $25,000 for achieving the fastest time.[9]

PWHPA

Decker participated in the #ForTheGame movement in connection with the PWHPA, beginning May 2019.[10] She played for Team Johnston in PWHPA's Dream Gap exhibition tour.[11]

Career statistics

NCAA
SeasonGPGAPtsShotsShot %PIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
2009–1027151227134.11220+10413
2010–1141344680207.16418+667312
Total 68 49 58 107 341 38 11 4 15

WCHA
SeasonGPGAPtsShotsShot %PIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
2009–1022121123110.10918+9313
2010–1128232851138.16714+4531
Total 50 35 39 74 248 32 6 2

CWHL
= Indicates team leader
= Indicates team leader
SeasonGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
2014–151216163210+25102

NWHL
SeasonGPGAPtsShotsShot %PIM+/-PPGSHG
2015–1620192039130.14622045
2016–1721172239122.13916+2041
Total 41 36 42 78 252 38 8 6

Awards and honors

NCAA
  • Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner (2012)[12]
  • RBK Hockey/AHCA Division I second-team All-American (2010–11)[13]
  • All-WCHA First Team (2010–11)
  • WCHA Final Face-off Most Valuable Player (2010–11)
  • All-WCHA Rookie Team (2009–10)
  • three-time WCHA Rookie of the Week (2009–10)
  • WCHA Preseason Rookie of the Year (2009–10)[14]
  • Badgers Rookie of the Year (2009–10)
  • All-WCHA Academic Team (2010–11)
  • WCHA Rookie of the Week (Week of October 5, 2009)[15]
  • 2012 Wisconsin Offensive Player of the Year Award[16]

CWHL
  • CWHL co-leader, Plus-Minus rating +25 (2014–15)
  • CWHL Scoring Leader among American-born players (2014–15)
  • 2015 CWHL Rookie of the Year Award Winner
  • 2019 Clarkson Cup Playoff MVP

IIHF
  • Inductee into the 2014 Winter Olympics for the US team

NWHL
  • Isobel Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player Award (2016)
  • NWHL Most Valuable Player Award (2016)

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. USAHockey.com (March 17, 2012). "Brianna Decker Wins 2012 Kazmaier Award". Patty Kazmaier Award. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 27, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Radcliffe, JR (April 12, 2017). "Brianna Decker part of huge moment on, off ice for U.S. Women's Hockey". Lake Country Now. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  6. http://cwhl_site.stats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=2497940
  7. Balf, Celia (March 14, 2017). "NWHL Awards recognizes the top players this season". Excelle Sports. Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  8. Tammy Schwass. "Inferno continue to bolster roster adding gold medalists Brianna Decker and Kacey Bellamy". SB Nation: The Ice Garden. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  9. "Brianna Decker to be paid $25K by CCM for skills competition". ESPN. January 26, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.
  10. "Brianna Decker on Twitter". January 11, 2019.
  11. "Dream Gap Tour Preview: Unifor Women's Hockey Showcase". The Ice Garden. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  12. "UW's Decker wins Kazmaier Award". NCAA.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  13. "American Hockey Coaches Association". ahcahockey.com.
  14. "WCHA PRESS RELEASES". Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  15. http://www.wcha.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/100709aaa.html%5B%5D
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 3, 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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