High school girls hockey: Crystal Lake South's Russ named Illinois Girls Hockey Player of the Year

CRYSTAL LAKE – Katelynn Russ has put up huge numbers this season as a member of the Upper Fox Valley Girls Hockey Club.

The 17-year-old Crystal Lake South senior has tallied 88 points (57 goals, 31 assists) in only 23 contests, but she’ll be the first to admit that scoring is not the most important aspect of her game.

“Most of all, it’s not about me,” Russ said. “‘Spread the love’ as we say, I like to get some of the newer girls points. I don’t show up here hoping to have the top stats. It’s about coming here to have fun and help other girls out.”

For her on-ice accomplishments and selflessness as a teammate, Russ was recently named the Illinois Girls Hockey Player of the Year by the Amateur Hockey Association Illinois (AHAI). She will be recognized this weekend during the Illinois State High School Boys Championships at the United Center in Chicago.

“[I feel] more like humble because there are a lot of girls in the league and a lot of good girls I’ve got to play against, and even some of my teammates I play with,” Russ said. “Just the thought of being considered one of the top players is an honor. I was just speechless when I found out about it.”

Her coach, Patrick O’Brien, shared similar sentiments. During his three years behind the bench, he watched Russ grow into her role not just as a hockey player, but also as a positive influence for those around her.

“We don’t have captains, we don’t put a captain’s ‘C’ on anybody’s chest,” O’Brien said. “But I believe as a team, that leaders develop themselves through action, through performance, through compassion, and Katelynn is absolutely a leader, if not the leader on our team because she cares about everybody’s performance, not only her own.”

Helping guide the team to an 18-4-1 record and an appearance in this weekend’s Chicago Metro Division title game, Russ credited the team’s previous upperclassmen leadership for setting an example for her to follow.

“Since my freshman year, I developed into more of a leader,” Russ said. “I always take it upon myself to take the younger players under my wings.”

Russ, who also plays for the Chicago Young Americans travel program, will continue her playing career next year at Division-I Union College in New York, where she plans on studying Biomedical Engineering.

But before any of this happens, she’ll have the opportunity to stand in front of hundreds of fans to accept the state’s greatest girls’ hockey honor. It’s a feeling that hasn’t even struck yet.

“It’s gonna be surreal. I don’t think it’s hit me that I’ve won this award and what it truly means,” Russ said. “But, I think when I get out there [on the ice] and see all the people, I think it’ll finally hit me. I’m just so humbled by the experience.”