The last calendar year has been draped in gold and adorned with myriad hockey hardware for Anchorage's Zoe Hickel.
Team USA, which included Hickel, 23, for the second straight year repeated as women's world champions with Monday night's 1-0 overtime defeat of rival Canada in Kamloops, British Columbia.
The Americans, who beat the Canadians 3-1 in their tournament opener, repeated the feat behind Alex Carpenter's rebound goal at 12 minutes, 30 seconds of extra time, and Alex Rigsby's sublime 32 saves.
Hickel, a winger, did not play in Monday's title tilt, but she played in all four of the Americans' previous tournament games.
Hickel won gold with Team USA at the world championships last April 4, and Monday – April 4 -- completed a calendar year in which she won two world championships and a National Women's Hockey League title.
Hickel was a late addition to Team USA this go-round – the Americans won all five of their games and outscored opponents 23-2.
Earlier this year, Hickel and teammate Jordan Smelker of Anchorage won the NWHL's inaugural Isobel Cup with the Boston Pride.
Hickel was a rookie with the Pride after starring at Minnesota-Duluth, where she wrapped up a strong four-year career last spring with career highs in goals and points – 19-13—32 totals in 36 games – to lead the Bulldogs in scoring.