Alev Kelter of Eagle River not only struck gold again with Team USA on Saturday, she was named the top defenseman in the world's most elite hockey tournament for teenage girls.

Kelter and Team USA captured their second straight gold medal in the International Ice Hockey Federation's World Women's U-18 Championship with a 3-2 overtime defeat of Canada in Fussen, Germany.

After the Americans beat the Canadians again -- Team USA turned back Canada, 5-2, in last year's inaugural U-18 world championship -- officials named Kelter the best blueliner in the eight-team tournament.

Kelter, 17 and the captain of the U.S. team, earned that honor by virtue of five goals and eight points in five games. That made her the tournament's leading goal scorer among defensemen and tied her for most points by a defenseman. Kelter also tied for the overall tournament lead in plus-minus with her plus-17 rating.

Team USA celebrated after Kendall Coyne collected a Megan Bozak pass and scored on a power-play breakaway 6 minutes, 27 seconds into overtime. The Americans rebounded after squandering a 2-0 lead.

Most of the Kelter clan was on hand to watch -- the family made a vacation out of traveling to the tournament. Watching Alev earn her second gold medal were her twin sister, Derya, parents Leyla and Scott, and younger brother Evren.

Kelter did not furnish a point Saturday and went minus-1 with two shots on goal. She was whistled for body checking -- that's illegal in the women's game -- and also received a misconduct. Still, she was on the ice when Coyne bagged her game-winning strike.

Alev is also an accomplished soccer player, and has represented the U.S. in international soccer. She and Derya, who play hockey for the Chugiak High boys team and the North Stars U-19 girls competition team, are headed to the University of Wisconsin in the fall to play both hockey and soccer.

They'll play hockey for the Badgers under head coach Mark Johnson, the 1980 Olympic "Miracle On Ice'' hero and NHL skater who coached the Americans to the gold medal Saturday.

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.