TORONTO, Ontario, Canada – Jennifer Botterill officially became a Hall of Famer after being inducted last night in a ceremony at Brookfield Place in Toronto. The former Crimson star was inducted alongside seven others in the eight-member class of 2025. Botterill joined her former teammate, Angela Ruggiero, in the Hall, making Harvard one of only two NCAA women's hockey programs to be represented by two student-athletes at the Hockey Hall of Fame.
In her speech at the induction ceremony, Botterill talked about her first time seeing Harvard and how formative the years with the Crimson were to her successful career.
"I remember calling my parents from Harvard Square after my first official visit to the school and telling them that I think I could be very happy here and I remember my teammates at Harvard making sure that happened." said Botterill in her speech. "Those were very important years for my development as a player and as a person."
A member of the Harvard Class of 2002, and a 2003 graduate of the University, Botterill stands as one of the best players to wear a Harvard women's ice hockey sweater and one of the best the women's game has ever seen. A Winnipeg native, Botterill is still the Harvard women's hockey career points and goals leader, registering 340 and 157, respectively. Her assist total of 183 is the second-most all-time in program history.
A 2007 inductee to the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, Botterill adds this recognition to a long list of achievements she earned during her 14-year college and professional hockey career. A three-time Olympic Gold medalist and a five-time IIHF World Championship Gold medalist with Team Canada, Botterill has long been known as one of the best players in women's ice hockey history.
Botterill skated with the Crimson from 1998-2003, taking a one-year break in 2002 to help Team Canada win gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. A four-time All-American and a two-time Patty Kazmaier Award (Player of the Year) winner, Botterill stands as the only player to win the prestigious award twice. One of the most prolific goal scorers in college hockey history, Botterill helped guide the Crimson to the 1999 AWCHA National Championship, scoring the game-winning goal in the championship game against New Hampshire.
Botterill continued to leave her mark on the game after hanging up her skates in 2011, now working as a motivational speaker and a studio analyst on Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada and as an analyst/commentator for NHL on TNT broadcasts.
