MERIT FEMALE PLAYER OF THE MONTHSTEPHANIE JACOB2023-24 SEASON STATSWINNIPEG ICE (MFHL U18 AAA)28 GAMES37 GOALS50 POINTS9 FORWARD // SHOOTS LEFT // 5’8”BORN: SEPT. 23, 2006 // WINNIPEG, MAN.2023-24 TEAM: WINNIPEG ICE (MFHL U18 AAA)Winnipeg Ice head coach Eugene Kaminsky is ready “to defend this statement with anyone.” And considering the start that Stephanie Jacob has jumped off to this season, it actually might be hard to argue with him. “I know people will have differing opinions,” Kaminsky said, “but I believe Steph is the best player in our league right now.” According to Kaminsky, “no player I’ve ever coached has the knack for scoring goals that Steph does,” and it’s showing early in the 2023-24 campaign. Jacob, who grew up in East St. Paul and is likely going to accept a scholarship offer to either Bemidji State University or the University of Maine this fall, is averaging better than 1.5 points per game during her three seasons of AAA hockey. If she’s not the best, she’s close.Photos by Scott Stroh