By Duncan Mackay

American ice sledge hockey player Kelsey Diclaudio has been voted IPC Athlete of the Month for November ©TwitterAmerica's Kelsey Diclaudio has been voted the Allianz International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athlete of the Month for November 2014, following her starring role during the first ever IPC Ice Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup in Canada.


The historic first International Cup, which took place between November 7 and 9 in Brampton, featured three teams: the United States, Canada and a combined European team.

The US won the tournament with a 5-1 win over Canada in the final and it was the 17-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins forward who led the way scoring four goals and adding one assist to finish the tournament with 16 goals and seven assists.

Diclaudio is the second American sledge hockey player to win the IPC's monthly award, following Declan Farmer who was voted male athlete in March following Sochi 2014. 

"This is a huge honour," said Diclaudio.

"I appreciate my fellow nominees and all my fellow Paralympic athletes around the world.

"I wouldn't be where I am today without the amazing coaches I have.

"This is a great chance to represent my country and the sport of sled hockey."

Diclaudio's exploits won her 44 per cent of the public vote during November's vote, placing her just ahead of Brazil's Ricardo Alves, player of the tournament at the IBSA five-a-side football World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Also nominated in November's poll were wheelchair tennis players Shingo Kunieda of Japan and Aniek Van Koot of the Netherlands, US para-snowboarder Mike Shea and the Belarusian wheelchair dance sport couple of Aliaksei Zukhtsikau and Veranika Kasach.

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December 2014: Six athletes named on shortlist for IPC Athlete of the Month poll
November 2014: US women win inaugural IPC Sledge Hockey Women's International Cup