Patty Kazmaier Award

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The USA Hockey Foundation announced that Sophie Jaques (Toronto, Ontario/Ohio State University), Alina Mueller (Winterthur, Switzerland/Northeastern University) and Danielle Serdachny (Edmonton, Alberta/Colgate University) have been named the top-three finalists for the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.

The 2023 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner will be announced during a live show on Saturday, March 18 at 11:30 a.m. CT at the AMSOIL Arena Ticket Lobby. The show will also be broadcast live on NHL Network.

Fans are encouraged to attend the live show, as part of Saturday at the Women’s Frozen Four. Doors open at 11 a.m. CT. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served. After the show, fans will have the opportunity to get autographs from Olympic Gold Medalists, Hilary Knight, Maddie Rooney and AJ Mleczko. For more information on the announcement, click HERE.

Tied for 13th in the NCAA and leads defenders with 46 points (22G, 24A) in 38 games … Tied for second in the NCAA and leads defenders in power-play goals with eight … Tied for seventh in the NCAA and leads defenders in goals … Tied for 14th in the NCAA and third amongst defenders in assists … Named WCHA Player of the Year ... Named WCHA Defender of the Year … Named First Team All-WCHA … Named WCHA Defender of the Month on three occasions (Oct., Nov., Feb.) … Named WCHA Defender of the Week on six occasions (Oct. 10, Oct. 17, Oct. 31., Nov. 21, Nov. 28, Jan. 16) … Named a WCHA Scholar Athlete … Named to the WCHA All-Academic Team … Volunteers with the 2nd & 7 Foundation reading to second graders … Serves as vice president of SHEROs, an organization providing a safe space for female student-athletes to promote diversity in sports.

Ranks fourth in the NCAA and leads the HEA with 58 points (26G, 32A) in 36 games … Tied for first in the NCAA in game winning goals with nine … Ranks third in the NCAA and leads the HEA in goals … Ranks fifth in the NCAA in points per game with 1.61 … Tied for seventh in the NCAA in assists …  Named HEA Player of the Year … Named to HEA Women’s All-Hockey East First Team … Named HEA Player of the Month once (Feb.) … Named HEA Player of the Week on three occasions (Nov. 14, Dec. 5, Jan. 30) … Serves as team captain … Volunteers at Northeastern’s movement neuroscience lab … Volunteers as a youth hockey coach.

Leads the NCAA with 70 points (25G, 45A) in 39 games … Leads the NCAA in assists and points per game with 1.79 … Tied for third in the NCAA in game winning goals with six … Tied for fourth in the NCAA and leads the ECAC in goals … Named HCA Women's Player of the Month once (Oct.) … Named ECAC Player of the Year … Named ECAC Forward of the Year … First Team All-ECAC ... Named ECAC Forward of the Month once (Oct.) … Named ECAC Forward of the Week on two occasions (Jan. 10, Feb. 14) … Winner of the ECAC 2023 Wayne Dean Sportsmanship Award … Serves as team captain … Named to Team Canada’s 2022-23 Rivalry Series roster ... Co-founder of Rising Raiders, a youth mentorship program for N.Y.-based girls hockey players … Helped organize an inclusive learn to skate program for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities … Volunteers as a recess buddy at local elementary school … Volunteers as a kindergarten class reading partner at local elementary school … Helped organize one-on-one free youth skating lessons … Participated in the Skate with the Raiders community event … Participated in community leaf raking … Participated in complimentary holiday gift-wrapping.

SELECTION PROCESS
The selection process commenced earlier this month when NCAA Division I women's ice hockey coaches were asked to nominate players for the award. Players who were nominated by multiple coaches were then placed on an official ballot, which was returned to the coaches to vote for the ten finalists. 

The three finalists, including the recipient of this season's Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, is chosen by a 13-person selection committee made up of NCAA Division I women's ice hockey coaches, representatives of print and broadcast media, and an at-large member and representative of USA Hockey, the national governing body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States.