(04/16/2021) She won a gold medal with the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team and a state championship as a junior in 2020, but the biggest honor of her career came at the conclusion of her senior year in 2021.

Andover High School senior Peyton Hemp was recently named the Ms. Hockey Award recipient, given annually to the top female hockey player in the state. She will now have her name etched into Minnesota hockey history alongside the likes of Winny Brodt, Krissy Wendell and Gigi Marvin, to name a few.

“It is a huge honor and privilege (to be named Ms. Hockey),” Hemp said. “It has been my dream since I was young, so it is such an honor to be able to bring this coveted award back to the community. Looking through the list of names [of past Ms. Hockey award winners] the majority of them were my idols growing up, so to be able to be a part of that [list] is super special and I’m just so happy I’ve had the opportunity to play hockey in Minnesota, where hockey, especially women’s hockey, is the best.”

Hemp was named Ms. Hockey at a ceremony held at the Coon Rapids Ice Center Saturday, April 10. Minnetonka High School senior Brynn DuLac was named goalie of the year alongside Hemp.

She helped her team to a 22-1 record this season, leading the Huskies back to the Minnesota State High School League Class AA state championship for the second straight season. Hemp finished the year with 34 goals and a single season record 46 assists her senior year. Her 80 points on the season is also a single season record at Andover.

A four-time all-conference selection, Hemp has been named all-state twice in her career, with a third honor likely on the way. This year, she became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 253 career points.

“I have a lot of pride to be from Andover and to have played with my best friends since I was 10-years old,” Hemp said. “My whole career has been a dream come true, we have had a lot of success in the Andover community. I am so grateful for being a part of it.”

Over the last four years, Hemp and the Huskies have compiled a record of 82-13, including four straight trips to the state tournament and two championship appearances. The Huskies won their first state championship in 2020.

Five players from this year’s roster are headed to play NCAA Division I hockey next year, including Hemp who will lace up her skates for the University of Minnesota next season.

“There’s not only so much talent on this team at Andover High School, but we are so close and have so much chemistry together and are all truly friends,” Hemp said. “So I think that is what made us really special this last year, and the last four years, we are such a tight-knit group, so it’s really awesome both on and off the ice. It's been a dream come true.”

Looking ahead to trading her black and gold for the maroon and gold, Hemp, who grew up a Gopher hockey fan will see a dream come true.

Another dream come true for Hemp came her junior season when she represented the United States at the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship playing for the U.S. Under-18 Women’s National Team. She had to miss part of the season with her teammates in Andover, but Hemp had the experience of a lifetime playing in the red, white and blue.

She helped her team win a gold medal after a 2-1 overtime win over Canada in the championship game before returning home to help lead the Huskies to a state title run.

“It was such an honor,” Hemp said. “That was honestly all a blur and I couldn’t even believe I was on the team, let alone winning gold. It was such an amazing experience to play with the best-of-the best against the best-of-the-best. All around it was just so awesome, and I was happy to be a part of it.”

Now that her high school career has come to a close, Hemp has finally let all of the accomplishments over the past few years sink in.

A gold medal, a state championship, and now, Ms. Hockey.