Former Blake High School standout Izzy Daniel (Minneapolis, MN/Cornell University), Casey O'Brien (Milton, Massachusetts/University of Wisconsin) Kirsten Sims (Plymouth, Mich./University of Wisconsin) has been named among the top three finalists for the 2024 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, announced today by the United States Hockey Foundation.
Daniel played high school hockey at Blake University and graduated in 2019. She finished her high school career with her 150 points in 98 games.
The 2024 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner will be announced as part of NHL Network's Live Show on Saturday, March 23rd at 12:30 PM ET at the Whitmore Center Arena on the campus of the University of New Hampshire. Ru.
The live show is free and open to the public and will take place as part of Saturday's Women's Frozen Four. Doors open at 12pm ET. After the show, fans will have the opportunity to receive autographs from Olympic gold medalist Casey Bellamy and first-time recipient of the Patti Kazmaier Memorial Award, Brandi Fischer.
Note: For the first time since 2004 (Angela Ruggiero, Chanda Gan, and Jenny Potter) and the fourth time overall (2004, 2000, 1999, 1998), the top three finalists are all American. . . All three finalists are forwards…The University of Wisconsin's two top-three finalists marks the first time a school has had multiple top-three finalists since the University of Minnesota had all three finalists in 2013. This will be the first time we have held one.
Top 3 Finalists for the 2024 Patti Kazmaier Memorial Award
Izzy Daniel • Senior • Forward • Cornell University • Minneapolis, MN 
Named ECAC Player of the Year and Player of the Year… Earned All-ECAC First Team honors… Ranked second in the NCAA and led the ECAC in assists per game with 1.09… Third in the NCAA Ranked and leads the ECAC in points per game with 1.72…Tied for 7th in the NCAA with 55 points (20G, 35A) in 32 games…6th in the NCAA in assists…9th in the NCAA with 0.62 goals per game…ECAC of the Week Selected as a Forward three times (October 17th, October 24th, November 14th)… Named HCA National Forward of the Month for November… Helps raise money for the Do It For Daron campaign Raised mental health awareness by… Volunteering to feed hungry children… Participating in the Army Family Adoption Program in relief efforts… Volunteering with toys for toddlers… Volunteering as a Cub Club big sister
Casey O'Brien • Senior • Forward • University of Wisconsin • Milton, Massachusetts 
Earned First Team All-WCHA honors…2nd in NCAA with 69 points (22G, 47A) in 38 games…Leaded in NCAA with 47 assists…Leaded NCAA in assists per game (1.24)…2nd in NCAA per game Points scored (1.82)…Tied for 8th in the NCAA with 22 goals…Fifth in the NCAA and 2nd in the WCHA with 466 faceoff wins…Selected WCHA Forward of the Month for January…WCHA for January Selected as Forward of the Week twice (January 15th and January 22nd)… Selected to the WCHA All-Tournament Team… Volunteered at local schools to promote sports education… Volunteered at local elementary schools and engaged students in literacy activities…visited patients at American Family Children's Hospital…attended a Badger football game…volunteered at the Badger Thanksgiving Food Drive…supported Special Olympics volunteers and coaches.
Kirsten Sims • Sophomore • Forward • University of Wisconsin • Plymouth, Michigan
Named WCHA Player of the Year and Player of the Year… Named All-WCHA First Team… Leads NCAA with 71 points (32G, 39A) in 36 games… Leads NCAA with 1.97 points per game… Tied for second in NCAA 7 game-winning goals… 2nd in the NCAA with 32 goals… 2nd in the NCAA in assists with 39… 3rd in the NCAA in assists per game (1.08)… 2nd in the NCAA in goals per game (0.89) )… Selected to the WCHA All-Tournament Team… Selected as the WCHA Athlete of the Week on December 11th… Volunteered and helped teach at the Special Olympics… Teaching skating to elementary school students… Volunteered at the Badger Thanksgiving Food Drive… Visit local elementary schools and engage students in literacy promotion activities
About the Patti Kazmaier Memorial Award
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, a United States Hockey Foundation award, is presented annually to the top NCAA Division I women's ice hockey player. Selection criteria include excellent individual and team skills, sportsmanship, clutch performance, personal character, competitiveness and love of hockey. Academic performance and civic participation will also be considered. Click here for a complete list of previous winners.
About Patti Kazmaier
The Patti Kazmaier Memorial Award is named in honor of the late Patti Kazmaier, a four-year varsity letter winner and Ivy League defensive player at Princeton University from 1981 to 1986. Patti Kazmeyer Sand, an outstanding athlete who led the Tigers to Ivy League Championships in three consecutive seasons (1981-1984), passed away on February 15, 1990 after a long battle with a rare blood disease. He died at the age of 28.
