2025 Top 25 under 25: Kirsten Simms (16), Jennifer Gardiner (15)

16: Kirsten Simms

by LJ Bachenheimer

Three words: “Who wants it?” Just one red-gloved hand shoots up, and it belongs to Kirsten Simms. 

In one of the most iconic moments of the 2024-25 NCAA women’s hockey season, the 21-year-old Wisconsin forward secured the national championship for her team by tying the game with a penalty shot at 18.9 seconds left on the clock, then netting the game-winner in overtime. It took only two goals to etch Kirsten Simms’ name in the Wisconsin history books, but it’s far from the whole story of her impressive 2024-25 season.

Simms scored 72 points (25 goals, 47 assists) in 41 games, coming second in the NCAA for both points and assists, with only Wisconsin linemate Casey O’Brien ahead of her. With five four-point games throughout the season and seven game-winning goals, Simms could score in bursts or precisely when she needed to. Beyond the scoresheet, Simms has a high hockey IQ that was increasingly applied to roles outside of goal-scoring last season, from executing the perfect pass to adding pressure in a defensive situation. Her production dipped slightly between her sophomore and junior seasons, but that serves as a reflection of the fact that there’s more to Simms’ game than just her goals. 

Simms’ impressive performances past and present have earned her quite a trophy case. For her Frozen Four heroics, she was named the 2025 Most Outstanding Player. She was also a 2025 Patty Kazmeier Top-Ten honoree, a First Team All-American and All-WCHA Player, and a finalist for WCHA Forward of the Year. She won that award the previous season, as well as being WCHA Player of the Year and a Top-Three Patty Kaz finalist in 2023-24. Coming off her impressive sophomore NCAA season, Simms made her senior national team debut at the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championships, then rejoined Team USA for Worlds in 2025. 

The future is certainly bright for Kirsten Simms. She’s back at Wisconsin for her senior season on a Badgers team that looks as strong as ever and certainly wants to defend their national championship. The bigger question is whether a trip to Italy for the 2026 Olympics is in the cards. Team USA’s forward depth is notoriously congested, and while Simms has gotten some time with the national team at the last two Worlds, her impact was restricted by limited usage. However, even if it’s not this Olympic cycle, Simms is likely to be one of the young players to build up Team USA in the years to come.

Too High or Too Low? I think Simms is ranked a little too low. In last year’s T25U25, she was also ranked 16th, but her 2024-25 season was better than the previous season and should have earned her at least a few more spots. Her Frozen Four performance alone should be worth at least a top-fifteen placement. But at only 21, with another year left in the NCAA and more national team play potentially on the horizon, Kirsten Simms has time to boost her ranking for future years.

15: Jennifer Gardiner

by Maya Smith

After an impressive college career, Jenn Gardiner didn't take long to find her stride with the Montréal Victoire, earning her spot number 15 on our Top 25 under 25 list for 2025.

Last season

Jennifer Gardiner kicked off her PWHL career as one of the league's top rookies, putting up 18 points in 30 games. She had the honour of playing on one of the best lines in the league, on the wing of Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey.

Her 18 points were second-best among rookies, as were her 13 assists. Her assist total was the second highest among Victoire players, only beaten out by Erin Ambrose.

She earned herself a rookie of the year nomination, losing out to one of the best to ever do it, Sarah Fillier.

In the playoffs, while it was another bad year for the Victoire, Gardiner led her team in assists and points, with three in four games. Despite the early exit, her play was definitely a bright spot for the team.

Plus, her play in Montréal earned her a chance to play for Team Canada in the Rivalry Series and then again at the World Championships, while also getting an invite to the Olympic camp.

Playing for Team Canada at the World Championships, Gardiner put up 10 points across seven games, and her six goals were the most of the tournament.

We've seen many NCAA players struggle in their first year in the league, but Gardiner got off to a great start. Now, she'll face her biggest challenge yet: joining a brand new team, without her superstar linemates, Poulin and Stacey.

Career

After putting up 80 points in 30 games for the U18 AAA Greater Vancouver Comets and winning a U18 gold with Team Canada, Gardiner spent five years at Ohio State. Her 15 points in her freshman year put her at the top of all of her freshman teammates, and she never looked back. By the next season, she was producing at over a point per game and was the Buckeyes' leading goal scorer. In her junior year, she helped the team win its first NCAA championship and then its second in her final year with the team.

She left Ohio State with 171 points to her name, only the third player in Ohio State history to put up over 100 assists.

This impressive career led to her being drafted 11th overall in the 2024 PWHL Entry Draft by the Montréal Victoire.

Future

After being left unprotected by the Victoire, Gardiner signed with PWHL Vancouver during the exclusive signing window, giving her the chance to return to her hometown. While it means she's leaving her linemates behind in Montréal, there is no shortage of talent on the league's newest Canadian team to play alongside her.

But we'll definitely end up seeing if Gardiner's production came from playing with two of the greatest in the league, or if she truly has the power to stand alone and produce. My vote? She absolutely can.

Looking ahead to the 2026 Olympics, we may see Gardiner suit up for Team Canada again. As one of the highlights in a disappointing World Championship finish, I'd really like to see her get the chance to prove herself on the biggest stage.

Too high or too low?

Gardiner's rookie season was very impressive, but a lot of her success was clouded by playing with two of the greatest in the game. It's hard to rank her against current NCAA players, many of whom are coming up soon in this ranking list. But among PWHL rookies, I think her spot on the list makes sense. She had a very strong rookie campaign, and I'm excited to see her move up this list as she becomes one of the star players in this league and gets to play in front of her friends and family for PWHL Vancouver.