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Zumwinkle Named Patty Kaz Top-Three Finalist
3/18/2021 12:25:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Grace Zumwinkle is Minnesota's first top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award since Hannah Brandt in 2015.
MINNEAPOLIS -- University of Minnesota senior forward and team co-captain Grace Zumwinkle has been selected as a top-three finalist for the 2021 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the USA Hockey Foundation announced Thursday. Zumwinkle joins Northeastern goaltender Aerin Frankel and Wisconsin forward Daryl Watts to make up the top three finalists for the honor presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey.
Zumwinkle is Minnesota's first top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award since Hannah Brandt in 2015. Including Zumwinkle, Minnesota has now had 34 honorees among the finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, dating back to its inception in 1998. Two Gophers have won the prestigious award: Krissy Wendell in 2005 and Amanda Kessel in 2013.
"Grace is a top flight player in college hockey," head coach Brad Frost said. "She is a threat every time she steps on the ice, and this season she led the country in goals during the regular season. Grace has scored big goals for us against high-level opponents all throughout her career. Her size, strength, and goal-scoring ability make her elite. Off the ice, Grace is an incredible person and a dedicated student, and she has a passion for service."
The 24th winner of the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be revealed on Saturday, March 27, as part of a special broadcast on NHL Network. Jackie Redmond will serve as host and all 10 award finalists will be featured.
Zumwinkle is a right-handed forward from Excelsior, Minn., and a Finance major in the prestigious Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. In this year's abbreviated season, Zumwinkle led the Gophers in scoring with 24 points and 17 goals in 20 games. She led the nation with 16 goals and 103 shots on goal in 19 regular-season games this year. Her four game-winning goals and one hat trick topped the WCHA for the regular season as well. Possessing one of NCAA hockey's most lethal slapshots, Zumwinkle accounted for over 26% of Minnesota's 65 total goals scored this season.
The Excelsior, Minn., native earned two WCHA Forward of the Week awards (Nov. 23 and Feb. 23) and two WCHA Forward of the Month awards (November 2020 and February 2021) this season, bringing her career totals to nine WCHA weekly accolades and six WCHA monthly awards. She was named to the 2021 All-WCHA First Team, earning her fourth All-WCHA nod of her career.
Zumwinkle, a 2022 Team USA Olympic hopeful, finished her senior season with 148 career points (84g-64a) in 133 career games. She ranks 10th in program history with 84 career goals, trailing ninth-ranked Gigi Marvin, who recorded 87 career goals for the Maroon & Gold. Zumwinkle's 618 shots on goal are fifth among all-time Gophers. Her 148 career points land her 20th in Minnesota history as well.
For her leadership on and off the ice, Zumwinkle's teammates voted her a co-captain this season. A three-time WCHA All-Academic Team and Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Zumwinkle has minors in Business Analytics and Strategic Management along with her Finance major. Zumwinkle intends to pursue a career in investment banking or private equity.
Along with her success on the ice and in the classroom, Zumwinkle has volunteered with Feed My Starving Children, Special Olympics Minnesota, St. Hubert Catholic Church, Hockey Limited, the University of Minnesota and Hope Kids' Hope Day Festival, Skate with the Gophers, coaching youth hockey, and other volunteer appearances through the Golden Gopher Fund and Gopher Athletics. She is a four-year recipient of the Hricko-Hjelm Scholarship as well.
The selection process for this year's Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner commenced late February 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 sent back to the coaches to vote for the top-10 finalists. The independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, tabulated the ballots.
The three finalists, including the recipient of the 2021 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, were then chosen by a 13-person selection committee made up of NCAA Division I women's ice hockey coaches, representatives of print and broadcast media, an at-large member and representative of USA Hockey, the national governing body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States.
About the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award
An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is annually presented to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. Selection criteria includes outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement.
About Patty Kazmaier
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, who was a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League defenseman at Princeton University from 1981-86. An accomplished athlete who helped lead the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship in three consecutive seasons (1981-84), Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died Feb. 15, 1990, at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.
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Zumwinkle is Minnesota's first top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award since Hannah Brandt in 2015. Including Zumwinkle, Minnesota has now had 34 honorees among the finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, dating back to its inception in 1998. Two Gophers have won the prestigious award: Krissy Wendell in 2005 and Amanda Kessel in 2013.
"Grace is a top flight player in college hockey," head coach Brad Frost said. "She is a threat every time she steps on the ice, and this season she led the country in goals during the regular season. Grace has scored big goals for us against high-level opponents all throughout her career. Her size, strength, and goal-scoring ability make her elite. Off the ice, Grace is an incredible person and a dedicated student, and she has a passion for service."
The 24th winner of the prestigious Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be revealed on Saturday, March 27, as part of a special broadcast on NHL Network. Jackie Redmond will serve as host and all 10 award finalists will be featured.
Zumwinkle is a right-handed forward from Excelsior, Minn., and a Finance major in the prestigious Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. In this year's abbreviated season, Zumwinkle led the Gophers in scoring with 24 points and 17 goals in 20 games. She led the nation with 16 goals and 103 shots on goal in 19 regular-season games this year. Her four game-winning goals and one hat trick topped the WCHA for the regular season as well. Possessing one of NCAA hockey's most lethal slapshots, Zumwinkle accounted for over 26% of Minnesota's 65 total goals scored this season.
The Excelsior, Minn., native earned two WCHA Forward of the Week awards (Nov. 23 and Feb. 23) and two WCHA Forward of the Month awards (November 2020 and February 2021) this season, bringing her career totals to nine WCHA weekly accolades and six WCHA monthly awards. She was named to the 2021 All-WCHA First Team, earning her fourth All-WCHA nod of her career.
Zumwinkle, a 2022 Team USA Olympic hopeful, finished her senior season with 148 career points (84g-64a) in 133 career games. She ranks 10th in program history with 84 career goals, trailing ninth-ranked Gigi Marvin, who recorded 87 career goals for the Maroon & Gold. Zumwinkle's 618 shots on goal are fifth among all-time Gophers. Her 148 career points land her 20th in Minnesota history as well.
For her leadership on and off the ice, Zumwinkle's teammates voted her a co-captain this season. A three-time WCHA All-Academic Team and Academic All-Big Ten honoree, Zumwinkle has minors in Business Analytics and Strategic Management along with her Finance major. Zumwinkle intends to pursue a career in investment banking or private equity.
Along with her success on the ice and in the classroom, Zumwinkle has volunteered with Feed My Starving Children, Special Olympics Minnesota, St. Hubert Catholic Church, Hockey Limited, the University of Minnesota and Hope Kids' Hope Day Festival, Skate with the Gophers, coaching youth hockey, and other volunteer appearances through the Golden Gopher Fund and Gopher Athletics. She is a four-year recipient of the Hricko-Hjelm Scholarship as well.
The selection process for this year's Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner commenced late February 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 sent back to the coaches to vote for the top-10 finalists. The independent accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, tabulated the ballots.
The three finalists, including the recipient of the 2021 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, were then chosen by a 13-person selection committee made up of NCAA Division I women's ice hockey coaches, representatives of print and broadcast media, an at-large member and representative of USA Hockey, the national governing body for the sport of ice hockey in the United States.
About the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award
An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is annually presented to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. Selection criteria includes outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement.
About Patty Kazmaier
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, who was a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League defenseman at Princeton University from 1981-86. An accomplished athlete who helped lead the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship in three consecutive seasons (1981-84), Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died Feb. 15, 1990, at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.
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