Biography:
Jennifer Botterill, OM (born May 1, 1979) is a Canadian former women’s hockey player and current hockey broadcast television analyst who played for Harvard University, the Canadian national team, the Mississauga Chiefs, and the Toronto Aeros. She entered the ice hockey world after starting in the sport of ringette.
Botterill was born to Doreen McCannell and Cal Botterill. Her mother, Doreen, competed in the 1964 and 1968 Winter Olympics for Canada in speed skating. Her father, Cal, is a sports psychologist who has advised NHL teams and works with Canadian Olympic athletes. Botterill’s brother, Jason Botterill, played hockey and managed the Buffalo Sabres. In high school, she attended the National Sport School in Canada.
Botterill graduated from Harvard University in 2003 with a B.A. in Psychology (with Honors). During her time at Harvard, she played for the Harvard Crimson women’s ice hockey program from 1998 to 2003. Harvard and several media outlets recognize Botterill as U.S. college ice hockey’s career scoring leader, with 149 goals, 170 assists, and 319 points. Although the NCAA does not officially recognize her record due to women’s hockey not being an NCAA-sanctioned sport in her first two college seasons, Botterill’s achievements are still widely acknowledged.
Known for her impressive scoring ability, Botterill scored at least one point in 112 of her 113 career college games, including a remarkable streak of 80 consecutive games with a point. She was the first player to win the Patty Kazmaier Award twice as the top player in U.S. women’s college hockey. Botterill even set an NCAA record, since tied, for most points in one game with 10, which she accomplished on January 28, 2003, against Boston College.
After her collegiate career, Botterill went on to play in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League for the Mississauga Chiefs and Toronto Furies. In 2007–08, she won the Angela James Bowl after capturing the league scoring title with 61 points. Botterill was voted the CWHL Top Forward and also named a CWHL Central All-Star. Furthermore, she received the CWHL Top Scorer of the Month honors in February. In 2008-09, Botterill was recognized as a CWHL First Team All-Star.
In addition to her successful playing career, Botterill has made significant contributions to women’s hockey as a whole. She assisted on the game-winning goal in her final international game, helping Canada secure a 2–0 victory over the United States for the gold medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Her performances on and off the ice have had a lasting impact on the sport, inspiring countless young girls to pursue their dreams in hockey.
Currently, Botterill serves as a studio analyst for Sportsnet and Hockey Night in Canada telecasts in Canada. She is also a color commentator and studio analyst for TNT in the United States. Beyond her broadcasting career, Botterill is involved in coaching at the Toronto Hockey School Journey To Excel. Her passion for the game continues to shine through as she shares her expertise and insights with the next generation of hockey players.
Awards:
– Patty Kazmaier Award (Top Player in U.S. Women’s College Hockey) – 2-time winner
– CWHL Angela James Bowl (League Scoring Champion)
– CWHL Top Forward
– CWHL Central All-Star
– CWHL Top Scorer of the Month (February)
– CWHL First Team All-Star