2025 Patty Kazmeier Award Top 10 Finalists Revealed

On Thursday, the USA Hockey Foundation announced the top ten finalists for the 2025 Patty Kazmeier Memorial Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey.

The group of finalists includes eight forwards and two defenders, with players from the WCHA, ECAC, and AHA. Wisconsin has four players in the top 10, marking the first time since 2013 that a single school has had that many finalists. The other schools represented are Clarkson, Colgate, Ohio State, Penn State, Princeton, and Minnesota, each with one player. 

The field of ten possible award winners will be whittled down next week, with the top three finalists to be announced on Wed., March 12. The 28th Patty Kazmeier Award winner will be announced on Sat., March 22 during the Frozen Four in Minneapolis. 

Last year’s award went to Izzy Daniel of Cornell, who now plays for the Toronto Sceptres in the PWHL. 

The 2025 finalists, as well as some of their achievements, can be found below. 

Joy Dunne (F, So.) - Ohio State

Joy Dunne made waves in 2023-24, earning 2024 Rookie of the Year and scoring the national championship-winning goal for Ohio State. She continued to make a mark in 2024-25, as the first-time finalist set a new career-high point total with 52, good enough to lead the Buckeyes and place sixth nationally. Dunne was named to the All-WCHA Second Team and WCHA All-Academic Team and received Scholar-Athlete honors. She has played with Team USA and was recently named to the team for the IIHF Women’s World Championship. Off the ice, Dunne volunteers with the Dream Center of Columbus and is pen pals with a local second-grade class. 

Laila Edwards (F, Jr.) - Wisconsin

Laila Edwards has already racked up plenty of awards this season, including All-WCHA First Team, WCHA All-Academic Team, a finalist for WCHA Forward of the Year, and being selected for the 2025 Forbes North America 30 Athletes Under 30. She leads the NCAA in goals scored with 30, and ranks second in the country for goals per game. Edwards is becoming a Team USA regular after becoming the first Black player on the US national team, and will also be on the roster for Worlds. She volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House of Dane County and American Family Children’s Hospital.  

Caroline Harvey (D, Jr.) - Wisconsin

The Wisconsin captain is a two-time Patty Kaz finalist after being in the top three last year. Caroline Harvey leads the NCAA in points by a defender with 55, setting a school record for the Badgers. She’s the best defender in the nation in points, goals, and assists per game. Harvey has already earned honors on the All-WCHA First Team, WCHA All-Academic Team, and a WCHA Defender of the Year title. With Team USA, Harvey has represented her country in four World Championships, as well as at the 2022 Winter Olympics. 

Tessa Janecke (F, Jr.) - Penn State

Tessa Janecke is Penn State’s captain and leading scorer, topping team statistics in points (52), goals (24) and assists (28), as well as leading the AHA in points and goals. Her career points total of 152 makes her the all-time leader in Penn State ice hockey, men’s and women’s, and she’s only a junior. This is Janecke’s second time as a top-ten finalist. She is also the 2025 AHA Forward of the Year and Player of the Year and was named to the All-AHA First Team. She has played with Team USA at two World Championships and will be on the roster for the 2025 Worlds. Janecke is a member of Penn State’s Nittany Committee and volunteers for Night to Shine, Put People First, and THON.

Kristýna Kaltounková (F, Gr.) - Colgate

Kristýna Kaltounková is the first Czech Patty Kaz finalist. The Colgate mainstay leads all active NCAA players in career goals with 111, the only active athlete with over 100 goals. She set school records in career goals, game-winning goals, and power play goals. In addition to her scoring prowess, Kaltounková is known for her physical style of play. A member of the Czech National Team, her most recent international experience was at the 2024 Women’s Euro Hockey Tour. Kaltounková was named to the All-ECAC First Team. She volunteers at the Cornerstone Community Church, is a member of the Rising Raiders youth mentorship program, and provides one-on-one coaching to local youth hockey players. 

Abbey Murphy (F, Sr.) - Minnesota

Abbey Murphy is a two-time Patty Kaz top-ten finalist and the Gophers’ leading scorer as well as team captain. Her 29 goals put her second in the nation, but she leads in game-winning goals with 7, and her career goals percentage puts her first among active players. Murphy was named to the All-WCHA Second Team and the WCHA All-Academic Team. With the US national team, Murphy has played in three World Championships, with a fourth coming this April, as well as the 2022 Winter Olympics. Off the ice, she volunteers at Masonic Children’s Hospital, helped raise funds for Christmas Without Cancer, and works with young athletes through the “Rink Roots” program.

Casey O’Brien (F, Gr.) - Wisconsin

Casey O’Brien led the nation in points and assists, with 79 and 55, respectively. Her 265 career points as of March 1 set a Wisconsin record, breaking the one previously held by Hilary Knight. A 2024 Patty Kaz top-three finalist, the Wisconsin captain has already earned honors as on the All-WCHA First Team and WCHA All-Academic team. She is the 2024-2025 WCHA Forward of the Year and Player of the Year. Off the ice, O’Brien has volunteered at the American Family Children’s Hospital, the Ronald McDonald House, and Augie’s Lunches with Love.

Kirsten Simms (F, Jr.) - Wisconsin

Kirsten Simms is the kind of player you want on your line, with the second-most points (64) and assists (42) in the NCAA, behind only teammates and fellow finalists O’Brien and Edwards, respectively. Her career average is 1.47 points per game is second among active players. Simms is a second-time top-ten Patty Kaz finalist, but she is already on the All-WCHa First Team and a finalist for WCHA Forward of the Year. In April, she will join Team USA at Worlds. Simms volunteers with the Ronald McDonald House of Dane County and the American Family Children’s Hospital.

Haley Winn (D, Sr.) - Clarkson

Haley Winn leads the ECAC and is second in the nation in points per game by a defender. She leads Clarkson in points and assists with 45 and 31, respectively, and tops the ECAC in blocked shots with 57. A first-time Patty Kaz finalist, Winn was named to the All-ECAC First Team as the only unanimous decision in 2025. She has joined the US national team for the 2023 and 2024 World Championships and is on the roster again for 2025. Off the ice, Winn volunteers with visiting local schools and youth practices, and helps with community clean up.

Issy Wunder (F, Jr.) - Princeton

Issy Wunder tallied 50 points this season, and she ranks first in the ECAC and fifth in the country in points per game. She is Princeton’s leading scorer, and her 26 goals put her fourth in the nation. Wunder is a first-time finalist for the Patty Kazmeier Award but has plenty of achievements. She was recognized as Ivy League Player of the Year and was named to the All-Ivy and All-ECAC First Teams. Wunder volunteers for Reading for the Tigers and Coaching Barbies at Baker and mentors young hockey players in Toronto.