Saturday, March 22, 2025

Wisconsin Captain O’Brien Claims Patty Kazmaier Award

Fifth-Year Forward Has Racked Up NCAA-Best 88 Points

Wisconsin Captain O’Brien Claims Patty Kazmaier Award
O’Brien leads the NCAA with a school-record 88 points (Photo: Wisconsin Athletics).

MINNEAPOLIS—University of Wisconsin graduate forward Casey O’Brien has been named the 2025 recipient of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women’s hockey.

The announcement was made live on NHL Network on Saturday from the NCAA Frozen Four.

O’Brien, a native of Milton, Mass., leads the NCAA with a school-record 88 points in 40 games, including a nation’s-best 62 assists. She has 26 goals for the top-ranked Badgers while winning 62 percent of her faceoffs with a plus-66 rating.

O’Brien and the Badgers will play in tomorrow’s NCAA Frozen Four championship game against WCHA rival Ohio State for the third consecutive season.

The 2024-25 CCM Hockey/AHCA Division I Women’s All-America Teams were also unveiled Saturday, with Wisconsin placing four players on the first team (full list below).

Earlier this week, Wisconsin sophomore Ava McNaughton was named Women’s College Hockey Goalie of the Year, and Minnesota Duluth freshman forward Caitlin Kraemer received the Julie Chu Rookie of the Year Award.

McNaughton has backstopped Badgers to the national title game, leading the country in wins (35) and goals against average (1.20), while ranking second in save percentage (.946) and third in shutouts (eight).

Kraemer leads the nation’s rookies in goals (18) and faceoff wins (455) and finished her freshman campaign with 31 points in 39 games. She scored a team-leading seven of her 18 goals on the power play.

Sunday’s NCAA championship game can be seen on ESPNU and ESPN+ in the United States and on TSN+ in Canada. The puck drops at 3 p.m. CT.

2024-25 CCM Hockey/AHCA Division I Women’s All-American Teams

First Team
Position Name Yr. Team Hometown
Goalie Ève Gascon So. Minnesota Duluth Mascouche, Quebec
Defense Caroline Harvey Jr. Wisconsin Salem, N.H.
Defense Haley Winn Sr. Clarkson Rochester, N.Y.
Forward Laila Edwards Jr. Wisconsin Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Forward Casey O’Brien Gr. Wisconsin Milton, Mass.
Forward Kirsten Simms Jr. Wisconsin Plymouth, Mich.

Second Team
Position Name Yr. Team Hometown
Goalie Annelies Bergmann So. Cornell Detroit, Mich.
Defense Nicole Gosling Gr. Clarkson London, Ontario
Defense Emma Peschel Jr. Ohio State Edina, Minn.
Forward Tessa Janecke Jr. Penn State Orangeville, Ill.
Forward Abbey Murphy Sr. Minnesota Evergreen Park, Ill.
Forward Kristýna Kaltounková Jr. Wisconsin Plymouth, Mich.