A staple on the U.S. Women’s National Team, Hilary Knight has ranked among the world’s most dominant hockey players for much of the past decade. In 2016, Knight competed in her eighth International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship, pacing all tournament skaters with seven goals and nine points to lead the U.S. Women’s National Team to its third consecutive gold medal. For her performance, Knight was named most valuable player of the tournament and Best Forward as chosen by the directorate. Additionally, she was selected to the media all-star team and was named one of the top three U.S. players as chosen by the coaches. Prior to her standout world championship performance, Knight collected six points (3-3), including the game-winning overtime goal in the championship game, to help the U.S. claim the 2015 Four Nations Cup in Sundsvall, Sweden. In 132 career games with the United States, Knight has tallied 154 points, including 88 goal and 66 assists, to help the U.S. win two Olympic silver medals (2010, 2014), six IIHF Women’s World Championship gold medals (2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016) and two IIHF Women’s World Championship silver medals (2007, 2012). Knight played the 2015-16 season with the Boston Pride, where she led the league with 15 goals and 18 assists in 17 games to help the Pride claim the first-ever Isobel Cup as part of the inaugural season of the National Women’s Hockey League. Knight joined the Pride after three seasons with the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League where she became the first U.S.-born player to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2012-13. Knight’s professional career began after skating four seasons for the University of Wisconsin, where she notched 262 points, including 143 goals and 119 assists, in 161 games for the Badgers.

The Bob Johnson Award, presented by Nike, recognizes excellence in international hockey competition during a specific season of play.