University of Minnesota Athletics
Raty Named Patty Kazmaier Top-3 Finalist
3/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
USA Hockey has announced University of Minnesota freshman goaltender Noora Räty (Espoo, Finland) has been named a Patty Kazmaier top-three finalist, an award given out to the top Division I women’s hockey player each season. Räty is the first Golden Gopher to be named a top-three finalist since Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell were named in the top three in 2005. Wendell went on to win the award during the Gophers’ NCAA Championship run. The rookie is the fifth in school history to be named as a top-three finalist.
“I’m very honored to be considered a top three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award,” Räty said. “I definitely wouldn’t be up for this award without my wonderful team in front of me. “As a goalie, I am only as good as the team allows me to be.”
Being the only freshman named in the top 10 and the top three, Räty joins Mercyhurst’s Vicki Bendus (junior forward) and New Hampshire’s Kelly Paton (senior forward) as the top three athletes this season. Räty is only the second-ever freshman to be named a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award after Mercyhurst’s Meghan Agosta was named in 2007. The 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be presented at an award ceremony at the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center on March 20 in Minneapolis. The event is held in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Frozen Four, March 19 and 21 at Ridder Arena.
Playing in 24 games this season, Räty holds a record of 17-3-4 and leads the nation in goals against average (1.24), save percentage (.951) and is third in winning percentage (.792). At the end of January, Räty left the Gopher program to compete with Team Finland in the Winter Olympics as their starting goaltender. She returned to the team in time for the Gophers’ playoff run (2/26) after winning the bronze medal on February 25. A First Team All-WCHA honoree, All-Rookie Team and the WCHA goaltending champion, she finished the conference season with a GAA of 0.94 as well as holding a save percentage of .962 against league opponents. A four-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Week and two-time WCHA Rookie of the Week, Räty has seven shutouts on the season and allowed just one goal in 10 games. As a rookie, she set a school record for assists in a season by a goalie with three.
“Noora deserves this great honor of being named a top three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award,” head coach Brad Frost said. “She has been a rock between the pipes for us all year. “Noora has come up big for us in many games this year and is a strong, calming presence game in and game out. She represents the Gopher program with class and we are very proud of her.”
Tickets to the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award ceremony may be purchased by calling 719-538-1184, or by e-mailing or faxing a completed ticket form, which can be found at PattyKaz.com. Individual seats are $75, while tables of 10 are available for $700.
Räty and the rest of the Golden Gophers will compete against Clarkson, Saturday, 4 p.m. at Ridder Arena. The Golden Gophers and Golden Knights will compete in a one-and-done NCAA regional game on Saturday. The winner of the game advances to the NCAA Frozen Four, also held at Ridder Arena. Tickets are on sale at the Gopher ticket office at 612-624-8080 or online at gophersports.com.
Gophers as Top Three Finalists
Courtney Kennedy (2001)
Ronda Curtin (2002)
Natalie Darwitz (2005)
Krissy Wendell (2005)
Noora Räty (2010)
“I’m very honored to be considered a top three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award,” Räty said. “I definitely wouldn’t be up for this award without my wonderful team in front of me. “As a goalie, I am only as good as the team allows me to be.”
Being the only freshman named in the top 10 and the top three, Räty joins Mercyhurst’s Vicki Bendus (junior forward) and New Hampshire’s Kelly Paton (senior forward) as the top three athletes this season. Räty is only the second-ever freshman to be named a top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award after Mercyhurst’s Meghan Agosta was named in 2007. The 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be presented at an award ceremony at the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center on March 20 in Minneapolis. The event is held in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Frozen Four, March 19 and 21 at Ridder Arena.
Playing in 24 games this season, Räty holds a record of 17-3-4 and leads the nation in goals against average (1.24), save percentage (.951) and is third in winning percentage (.792). At the end of January, Räty left the Gopher program to compete with Team Finland in the Winter Olympics as their starting goaltender. She returned to the team in time for the Gophers’ playoff run (2/26) after winning the bronze medal on February 25. A First Team All-WCHA honoree, All-Rookie Team and the WCHA goaltending champion, she finished the conference season with a GAA of 0.94 as well as holding a save percentage of .962 against league opponents. A four-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Week and two-time WCHA Rookie of the Week, Räty has seven shutouts on the season and allowed just one goal in 10 games. As a rookie, she set a school record for assists in a season by a goalie with three.
“Noora deserves this great honor of being named a top three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award,” head coach Brad Frost said. “She has been a rock between the pipes for us all year. “Noora has come up big for us in many games this year and is a strong, calming presence game in and game out. She represents the Gopher program with class and we are very proud of her.”
Tickets to the 2010 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award ceremony may be purchased by calling 719-538-1184, or by e-mailing or faxing a completed ticket form, which can be found at PattyKaz.com. Individual seats are $75, while tables of 10 are available for $700.
Räty and the rest of the Golden Gophers will compete against Clarkson, Saturday, 4 p.m. at Ridder Arena. The Golden Gophers and Golden Knights will compete in a one-and-done NCAA regional game on Saturday. The winner of the game advances to the NCAA Frozen Four, also held at Ridder Arena. Tickets are on sale at the Gopher ticket office at 612-624-8080 or online at gophersports.com.
Gophers as Top Three Finalists
Courtney Kennedy (2001)
Ronda Curtin (2002)
Natalie Darwitz (2005)
Krissy Wendell (2005)
Noora Räty (2010)
Highlights: Gophers 2, UMD 3
Friday, February 20
Highlights: Gophers 2, Ohio State 4
Friday, February 13
Highlights: Gophers 1, Ohio State 2
Saturday, February 07
Highlights: Gophers 1, St. Thomas 1
Saturday, February 07