The 10 finalists for the 2025 Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the top player in NCAA women’s hockey, were announced on Thursday.
The top-ranked Wisconsin Badgers have four finalists: forwards Kirsten Simms, Laila Edwards and Casey O’Brien and defender Caroline Harvey. It’s the first time in more than a decade that a single program has four players in the top 10.
Joy Dunne (Ohio State), Tessa Janecke (Penn State), Kristýna Kaltounková (Colgate), Abbey Murphy (Minnesota) and Issy Wunder (Princeton) round out the forward group. Haley Winn (Clarkson) is the only other defender.
The top 10 was voted on by NCAA women’s hockey coaches. The top three finalists are expected to be announced on Wednesday, March 12, and will be selected by a 13-person committee made up of coaches, print and broadcast media and a representative from USA Hockey.
The 2025 Patty Kazmaier Award winner will be announced on Saturday, March 22, during the NCAA Frozen Four weekend.
Here’s more on the top 10.
Joy Dunne, Sophomore, Ohio State
Dunne, 19, was the National Rookie of the Year and scored the game-winning goal in the NCAA Championship against Wisconsin last season. She leads the No. 2 Buckeyes in scoring with 52 points in 36 games, and is among the top scorers in the NCAA.
The 5-foot-11 American…
