With the NCAA well underway, the cream is beginning to rise to the top, and the Patty Kazmaier Award picture is beginning to take shape.
With the NCAA well underway, the cream is beginning to rise to the top, and the Patty Kazmaier Award picture is beginning to take shape.
With over a month gone in the NCAA women's hockey season, the top performers are starting to rise to the top. Ultimately, one of those performers will be awarded the Patty Kazmaier Award, given annually to the NCAA's top player.
Last season, that honor went to Ohio State's Sophie Jaques, who recently signed a three-year contract with PWHL Boston. In fact, each of the past 10 Patty Kazmaier Award winners will play in the PWHL this season including Jamie Lee Rattray, Ann-Renee Desbiens, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Taylor Heise, Alex Carpenter, Daryl Watts, Loren Gabel, Elizabeth Giguere, Aerin Frankel, and Jaques.
Here's a look at ten early season contenders for the Patty Kazmaier Award, and a watch list.
Izzy Daniel, Cornell - Few in NCAA hockey have produced as consistently as Cornell's Izzy Daniel. This year she's leading the nation in scoring with 31 points in 13 games. She's doing it in a deep ECAC league this season, and has hit the scoresheet in all 13 games Cornell has played, including multi-point games in 12 of 13 contests.
Britta Curl, Wisconsin - While her name is here now, Curl is likely not a leading contender on this list for a few reasons. She has 28 points in 14 games, but her production has largely come in blowout wins against weak programs. In fact, 12 of those points came in three games where Wisconsin outscored Lindenwood, Boston College, and Bemidji State 37-3. In Ohio State's sweep of Wisconsin, Curl was held off the scoresheet, but did take a five-minute kneeing penalty that led to a pair of Ohio State powerplay goals. Could she win? Absolutely, but Curl will need to step up against the big programs, and avoid penalties like she took in a crucial game.
Kristýna Kaltounková, Colgate - While Danielle Serdachny gets a lot of the attention at Colgate (more on her later), Kaltounková is stepping forward as the best pure goal scorer in the NCAA. She's a bull at the net, and will absolutely thrive in a pro setting. In the NCAA she's a difference maker who is hard to stop.
Julia Gosling, St. Lawrence - Few play the power forward game of Gosling, and few have the singular impact on their team she's had with St. Lawrence. Scoring 24 points in 13 games in the ECAC, Gosling's game has always been strong, but she's on her own level this year.
Gwyneth Philips, Northeastern - Last year, Philips was a Top Ten finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award, giving her an edge on the competition here. What's been fascinating to watch with Philips, is that she doesn't have the help in front of her she had last season. Northeastern is struggling to score, and struggling to win, but not due to Philips' play which has been spectacular. She's posted a 1.20 GAA and .949 save percentage, along with four shutouts. Not bad for a goalie on an unranked 8-8-0 team.
Abbey Murphy, Minnesota - It's rare for a player outside of their final season of eligibility to win the Patty Kazmaier, but that doesn't mean Abbey Murphy isn't among the top contenders. She's a fierce competitor who has the most penalty minutes among any player in the NCAA's top 20 in scoring. It's a point that could hurt her, while her actual point totals of 12 goals and 19 points in 11 games will help.
Jennifer Gardiner, Ohio State - If there was an early season favorite or the award, it could be Jennifer Gardiner, who was a Top Ten finalist last season. Gardiner currently sits 20th in NCAA scoring with 18 points in 12 games, but that's as the leading scorer on the top ranked team in the nation. She demoralized Wisconsin in their two game sweep, and has come up clutch for Ohio State in their biggest weekends of the year, including six points in two wins over Minnesota, and four points in two wins over Wisconsin.
Hannah Bilka, Ohio State - Much like Gardiner, the fact Bilka's 16 points in 12 games doesn't equate to the totals of others, does not diminish Bilka's impact. She's a game changer, and on a line with Gardiner, forms 2/3 of the most formidable duo in college hockey. Ohio State is winning as a team, evidenced by the absence of Kiara Zanon from this list, and Bilka is central to that team performance.
Danielle Serdachny, Colgate - The lone Top Three finalist remaining from last season, Serdachny is the reigning NCAA scoring champion, and sat fifth with 27 points in 14 games this season. She's the set up woman on a lethal Colgate offense, and will be looked at as a Patty Kazmaier finalist again this year.
Kirsten Simms, Wisconsin - Simms has everything going for her this year, as one of the most electric players in NCAA hockey. She wows with her puck wizardry and skating skills. Similar to Curl however, much of Simms' scoring has come against weaker opponents. Either way, the numbers will draw attention.
Watch List: Haley Winn (Clarkson), Sydney Morrow (Colgate), Nicole Gosling (Clarkson), Cayla Barnes (Ohio State), Emma Peschel (Ohio State), Kiara Zanon (Ohio State), Casey O'Brien (Wisconsin), Lacey Eden (Wisconsin), Natalie Mylnkova (Vermont), Michelle Pasiechnyk (Clarkson), Kayle Osborne (Colgate)