Amanda Kessel's NCAA career ends due to concussion

The University of Minnesota women’s hockey team will begin the defense of their 2015 national title in late September, but again will not feature one of the program’s and USA Hockey’s biggest stars.

Amanda Kessel, who led the Gophers all three seasons she played, will miss her second consecutive season due to a concussion suffered before the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Gopher coach Brad Frost confirmed the news to Brad Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald.

Playing in the 2014 Games and then missing all of last season caused Kessel to use up her redshirt availability. Her decision to not play her senior season means her collegiate career is over. The focus continues to be on her health.

Kessel last played for the Gophers during the 2012-13 season where they won the second of back-to-back national titles and the forward was named winner of the Patty Kazmaier Award as top player in the country. That year, Kessel recorded 46 goals and 101 points as Minnesota went undefeated with a 41-0 record.

According to Frost, Kessel did not attend school last season, but may do so this season.

Kessel led Team USA in Sochi with six points in five games, helping the team win a silver medal. But since the Games concussion symptoms lingered, leading her to decide to sit out her final two years with the Gophers.

"It's just not worth it for her and her health," Frost said.

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy

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