DURHAM, N.H. — Izzy Daniel won the 2024 Patty Kazmaier Award on Saturday – given to the top women’s college hockey player in the nation – becoming the first player from Cornell to claim the honor.
Daniel – who was named the ECAC and Ivy League Player of the Year – beat out Wisconsin Badgers forwards Casey O’Brien and Kirsten Simms, who led the NCAA in scoring this season.
Daniel finished the regular season tied as the third-highest scoring player in women’s ice hockey with 53 points and ranked second with 1.83 points per game. However, the Big Red captain was critically important to her team’s success this season. Daniel outscored her next-closest teammate by 25 points and either scored, or assisted, on 10 game-winning goals this season.
Paced by Daniel, No. 6 Cornell won the Ivy League title and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years.
“(She) epitomizes everything the Patty Kazmaier Award is about,” said Cornell coach Doug Derraugh last week. “Making the team and everyone around you better, production in the clutch, sportsmanship, and academics.”
Daniel, 23, was invited to Team USA’s evaluation camp ahead of the 2024 women’s world championships in Utica, N.Y., and is expected to be a top pick in the 2024 PWHL Draft, should she decide to go pro.
The top 10 finalists for the award were: Forwards Daniel, O’Brien, Simms, Sarah Fillier, Tessa Janecke, Abbey Murphy, Abby Hustler, and Danielle Serdachny; defender Caroline Harvey; and goalie Gwyneth Philips.
The selection process for the Patty Kazmaier began in February when NCAA Division I coaches were asked to nominate players for the award. Players who were nominated by multiple coaches were placed on an official ballot, which was returned to the coaches to vote for the ten finalists. The three finalists, and the winner of the award, were chosen by a 13-person selection committee made up of coaches, print and broadcast media, and a representative from USA Hockey.
(Photo of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award: Justin Berl / Getty Images)
