University of Minnesota Athletics
Patty Kazmaier Award
Krissy Wendell2005
Amanda Kessel2013
Taylor Heise2022
In 1998, the USA Hockey Foundation created a new, national-level award designed to recognize the accomplishments of the most outstanding player in women's intercollegiate ice hockey each season. The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is presented by the Foundation to the player who represents the highest standards of personal and team excellence.
The recipient of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is chosen by an 11-member selection committee comprised of women's college ice hockey coaches, representatives of the print and broadcast media, and a representative of USA Hockey. Candidates for the award must compete on a women's intercollegiate varsity ice hockey team at an NCAA-member institution. Other selection criteria include outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the "clutch," personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is given to academic achievement and civic involvement as well.
Each year, ten candidates for the award are announced in the second half of the regular season with the finalist field narrowed down to three finalists in March. The award was custom-designed and crafted for the USA Hockey Foundation by Tiffany & Co.
An accomplished athlete who excelled in ice hockey, field hockey and lacrosse, Patty Kazmaier was a four-year varsity letter-winner for the Princeton University women's ice hockey team from 1981 through 1986. She helped lead Princeton to the Ivy League Championship in three consecutive seasons (1981-82 through 1983-84) while anchoring the team's defense.
Kazmaier earned All-Ivy League Honorable Mention honors as a freshman and was named to the All-Ivy League Second Team in both her sophomore and junior seasons. Following a leave of absence from Princeton in 1984-85, Kazmaier was named to the All-Ivy League First Team and the All-Eastern College Athletic Conference First Team as a senior in 1985-86. She was also honored as the Ivy League Most Valuable Player. Kazmaier graduated from Princeton in 1986 with a bachelor's degree in religion.
Following a long struggle with a rare blood disease, Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died on Feb. 15, 1990 at the age of 28.
Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Winners
2005 - Krissy Wendell
2013 - Amanda Kessel
2022 - Taylor Heise
Patty Kazmaier Finalists
1998 - Nadine Muzerall (Top 11)
2000 - Winny Brodt (Top Ten)
2001 - Courtney Kennedy (Top Three), Nadine Muzerall (Top Ten)
2002 - Ronda Curtin (Top Three), Laura Slominski (Top Ten)
2003 - Natalie Darwitz, Krissy Wendell (Top Ten)
2004 - Natalie Darwitz, Krissy Wendell (Top Ten)
2005 - Natalie Darwitz, Krissy Wendell (Top Three)
2008 - Gigi Marvin (Top Ten)
2009 - Gigi Marvin, Monique Lamoureux (Top Ten)
2010 - Noora Räty (Top Three)
2011 - Noora Räty (Top Ten)
2012 - Amanda Kessel (Top Ten)
2013 - Megan Bozek, Amanda Kessel, Noora Räty (Top Three), Hannah Brandt (Top Ten)
2014 - Hannah Brandt (Top Three), Rachael Bona (Top Ten)
2015 - Hannah Brandt (Top Three), Dani Cameranesi (Top Ten), Rachel Ramsey (Top Ten)
2016 - Hannah Brandt (Top Ten), Dani Cameranesi (Top Ten)
2017 - Kelly Pannek (Top Ten), Sarah Potomak (Top Ten)
2018 - Sydney Baldwin (Top Ten)
2019 - Nicole Schammel (Top Ten)
2021 - Grace Zumwinkle (Top Three)
2022 - Taylor Heise (Top Three)
2023 - Taylor Heise (Top Ten), Grace Zumwinkle (Top Ten)
2024 - Abbey Murphy (Top Ten)
2025 - Abbey Murphy (Top Ten)