Nov. 18, 2014
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State women's hockey coach Josh Brandwene announced that the program has signed four student-athletes for the 2015-16 season. The Nittany Lions welcome Kelsey Crow (Minnetonka, Minnesota), Hannah England (Simi Valley, California), Meike Meilleur (Marquette, Manitoba) and Victoria Samuelsson (Leksand, Sweden).
"The 2015 recruiting class continues our program's tradition of signing hard-working students who possess great character and outstanding hockey talent," Brandwene said. "As a group, they add more height, strength, skill and scoring touch to our already talented line up. They will make an immediate and long term impact, and we look forward to their contributions to the Penn State community and to our program's family atmosphere."
KELSEY CROW
Defense I 5'5 I Shoots Left I Minnetonka, Minnesota I Minnetonka HS
BEFORE PENN STATE
In her senior season at Minnetonka High ... In 2013-14, dished out 16 assists and scored five goals, three of which were on the power play ... 21 points in 25 games ranked third on the team ... Played alongside current Nittany Lions Hannah Ehresmann (three seasons), and Amy Petersen and Laura Bowman (two seasons) ... The Skippers won the conference, section and state championships during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
PERSONAL
Kelsey Morgan Crow was born on Oct. 27, 1996 in Tulsa, Oklahoma ... Parents are Brad and Sharon ... Has three brothers, Jared, Nicholas and Chandler, and one sister, Kirby ... Plans to double major in biology and psychology and study neuroscience.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because I believed it offered me the best opportunity to grow both as a student and an athlete. I felt that the rigor of both the academia and upcoming hockey program would help me reach my full potential."
BRANDWENE ON CROW
"Kelsey has great footwork, takes care of the net, distributes the puck incredibly well, joins the rush and has a terrific point shot. She is the total defender package and one intense competitor."
HANNAH ENGLAND
Forward l 5'7 l Shoots Left I Simi Valley, California I Shattuck St. Mary's
BEFORE PENN STATE
Has been playing at Shattuck St. Mary's (Fairbault, Minnesota) since 2012 ... Last season, finished third on the team with 40 points when the Sabres won silver at the USA Hockey Tier I Girls U19 National Tournament... As a sophomore, recorded 60 points (35 G, 25 A) en route to a USA Hockey Tier I Girls U16 National Tournament championship ... Picked to the 2012 and 2013 USA Hockey National Development Camp All-Star Team ... Played at North American Hockey Academy her freshman year.
PERSONAL
Hannah Nicole England was born in Simi Valley, California, on Dec. 4, 1996 ... Parents are Jennifer and Kevin England ... Father Kevin played in Roller Hockey International for the Portland Rage ... Has two brothers, Sam and Miles, and a sister, Elizabeth ... Plans to major in communications and intends to pursue a career in broadcast journalism.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because I felt it was the best choice for me both athletically and academically. I am really excited to be part of a new hockey program, and feel that I can contribute to the future success of women's hockey at Penn State. I also know that the education I receive here will greatly help me with my future career goals. There is no better place for me to learn about sports broadcasting than Penn State!"
BRANDWENE ON ENGLAND
"Hannah possesses excellent speed, lateral movement, puck skills, and a nifty scoring touch. She has great offensive instincts, work ethic and athleticism."
MEIKE MEILLEUR
Forward I 5'10 I Shoots Right I Marquette, Manitoba I St. Mary's Academy Prep
BEFORE PENN STATE
2014-15 team captain in her third year for St. Mary's Academy's Prep ... Recorded 25 points in 38 games her junior season as an assistant captain ... Competed for Team Manitoba at the2013 National Women's Under-18 Championship, playing in four games to help Manitoba to a fifth-place finish ... Gold medalist with Team West Coast at the 2012 U17 Girls World Selects in Bolzano, Italy.
PERSONAL
Meike Anna Meilleur was born on Feb. 20, 1997 in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba ... Parents are Gerry and Astrid ... Has three older brothers, Mats, Lars and Jens ... Jens played four seasons for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League and now plays in DEL2, Germany's second tier of professional hockey ... Undecided on a major.
MEILLEUR ON PENN STATE
"I chose Penn State because I simply fell in love with the campus and the student-athletes seem to be treated very well. Also, Penn State has great academics and a lot of great courses to choose from."
BRANDWENE ON MEILLEUR
"Meike brings height, strength, speed and skill to our line up. She is a physical presence in the corners, a fierce competitor and incredibly tough to play against."
VICTORIA SAMUELSSON
Forward l 5'7 l Shoots Right I Leksand, Sweden I Modo Hockey Dam (Sweden)
BEFORE PENN STATE
Played for Modo Hockey Dam in Rikkserien, Sweden's top women's hockey league, for three seasons ... Scored 56 points in 80 career games, including a career-best 23 in 2012-13 ... Finished each season for Modo with a plus-minus rating of 11-or-higher ... Assisted on the game-winning goal when Modo won Sweden's women's championship in 2011-12 ... The team was the first outside of the Stockholm region to win the Swedish championship ... Assistant captain for the Swedish U18 National Team at the 2014 World Women's U18 Championship, where she recorded a goal and an assist in five games.
PERSONAL
Victoria Maria Samuelsson was born on Aug. 24, 1996 in Falun, Sweden ... Parents are Jeanette and Ulf Samuelsson ... Father Ulf played 15 seasons in the NHL and is currently an assistant coach with the New York Rangers ... Has three brothers, Adam, Henrik and Philip ... Henrik was drafted 27th overall in the 2012 NHL Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes and is now playing for the Portland Pirates ... Philip has played in the Pittsburgh Penguins' system since 2012, and is currently playing for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins ... Plans to major in business.
WHY I CHOSE PENN STATE
"The program has a great coaching staff and facilities. Penn State also has great academics that can help with my future."
BRANDWENE ON SAMUELSSON
"Victoria is a talented and consistent presence in all three zones. Her compete level, puck possession, incredibly deft passing and cannon of a shot are fun to watch."