Desbiens, Pankowski earn spots on Patty Kazmaier Top-10 list
February 25, 2016 | Women's Hockey
Badgers’ record-setting goaltender, leading scorer earn prestigious honor
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin women's hockey goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens and forward Annie Pankowski were named top-10 finalists for the 2016 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the highest individual honor in women's college hockey, USA Hockey announced Thursday.
It marks the first time that Desbiens and Pankowski earned spots on the top-10 list during their Wisconsin careers.
"For both of them, they have had great seasons," UW head coach Mark Johnson said. "Ann-Renee has done some things that no other goalie at the Division I level has done. It's nice to see her get recognized for her efforts as well as Annie. She led us in scoring last year and built on her success last year and has put together a great season this year.
"It's fun to see players work hard, have good seasons and get recognized for their efforts in such a prestigious way."
A La Malbaie, Quebec, native, Desbiens is having an historic season guarding the Badgers' net with 16 shutouts in 32 starts. Her 16 shutouts are tied for the second-most in NCAA history, and the junior is one blank slate away from matching the NCAA single-season record.
In addition, Desbiens leads the NCAA with a .956 save percentage and 0.82 goals-against average. Both marks would be NCAA records if the season ended today. She also has played a big role in the Badgers' NCAA-leading scoring defense, which allows 0.76 goals per game, and UW's NCAA-best penalty kill which sports a .940 conversion rate.
Earlier this season, Desbiens set an NCAA record with a scoreless streak of 543 minutes, 33 seconds, and had eight-straight shutouts for UW.
Desbiens has 33 career shutouts, the third-most in NCAA history and sports a career .949 save percentage and a 1.01 goals-against average.
An accounting major, Desbiens' boasts a 3.351 grade-point average and has volunteered this season at the American Family Children's Hospital.
As for Pankowski, the 2014-15 USCHO.Com Rookie of the Year has enjoyed an even better sophomore season with a team-leading 52 points and 32 assists. Her 52 points are the seventh-most points in the nation this season and rank third in the WCHA.
Pankowski became the 12th UW player to tally 50 points in a season, and now is five points away from becoming the 20th player in program history to record 100 career points.
The Laguna Hills, California, native has been consistent for UW with a point in 30 of the team's 34 games this season, while recording multiple points in 15 contests. Pankowski began the season with a 21-game point streak, the fifth-longest streak in program history.
A recent selection to the U.S. World Championships roster, she has been a threat on the Badgers' power play, recording 17 power-play points, the fourth-most power-play points in the country.
One of two sophomores on the top-10 list, Pankowski's 95 career points in her first two seasons in Madison are tied for the fourth-most in program history, as only Meghan Hunter, Hilary Knight and Brianna Decker scored more points during their freshmen and sophomore seasons than Pankowski.
A zoology major, Pankowski earned WCHA Scholar-Athlete honors last week and sports a 3.857 GPA.
Pankowski has volunteered this season at the American Family Children's Hospital, Toys for Tots and at the Goodman Community Center Food Pantry, in addition to skating with the Madison Timber Wolves, an area hockey team for children and adults with special needs. She also has been a part of UW's "Flat Bucky" program, where she is partnered with an elementary school classroom who follows her posts of Flat Bucky on Instagram in situations that demonstrate good values as a student-athlete.
Wisconsin's all-time top-10 finalists include Brittany Ammerman (2014), Sara Bauer (2006, 2007), Decker (2012, 2013), Meghan Duggan (2011), Molly Engstrom (2005), Hunter (2001), Knight (2009, 2011, 2012), Erika Lawler (2009), Carla McLeod (2005), Meaghan Mikkelson (2007), Bobbi-Jo Slusar (2006), and Jessie Vetter (2009).
Bauer won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 2006, Vetter in 2009, Duggan in 2011 and Decker in 2012.
An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. Other selection criteria include 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.
It marks the first time that Desbiens and Pankowski earned spots on the top-10 list during their Wisconsin careers.
"For both of them, they have had great seasons," UW head coach Mark Johnson said. "Ann-Renee has done some things that no other goalie at the Division I level has done. It's nice to see her get recognized for her efforts as well as Annie. She led us in scoring last year and built on her success last year and has put together a great season this year.
"It's fun to see players work hard, have good seasons and get recognized for their efforts in such a prestigious way."
A La Malbaie, Quebec, native, Desbiens is having an historic season guarding the Badgers' net with 16 shutouts in 32 starts. Her 16 shutouts are tied for the second-most in NCAA history, and the junior is one blank slate away from matching the NCAA single-season record.
In addition, Desbiens leads the NCAA with a .956 save percentage and 0.82 goals-against average. Both marks would be NCAA records if the season ended today. She also has played a big role in the Badgers' NCAA-leading scoring defense, which allows 0.76 goals per game, and UW's NCAA-best penalty kill which sports a .940 conversion rate.
Earlier this season, Desbiens set an NCAA record with a scoreless streak of 543 minutes, 33 seconds, and had eight-straight shutouts for UW.
Desbiens has 33 career shutouts, the third-most in NCAA history and sports a career .949 save percentage and a 1.01 goals-against average.
An accounting major, Desbiens' boasts a 3.351 grade-point average and has volunteered this season at the American Family Children's Hospital.
As for Pankowski, the 2014-15 USCHO.Com Rookie of the Year has enjoyed an even better sophomore season with a team-leading 52 points and 32 assists. Her 52 points are the seventh-most points in the nation this season and rank third in the WCHA.
Pankowski became the 12th UW player to tally 50 points in a season, and now is five points away from becoming the 20th player in program history to record 100 career points.
The Laguna Hills, California, native has been consistent for UW with a point in 30 of the team's 34 games this season, while recording multiple points in 15 contests. Pankowski began the season with a 21-game point streak, the fifth-longest streak in program history.
A recent selection to the U.S. World Championships roster, she has been a threat on the Badgers' power play, recording 17 power-play points, the fourth-most power-play points in the country.
One of two sophomores on the top-10 list, Pankowski's 95 career points in her first two seasons in Madison are tied for the fourth-most in program history, as only Meghan Hunter, Hilary Knight and Brianna Decker scored more points during their freshmen and sophomore seasons than Pankowski.
A zoology major, Pankowski earned WCHA Scholar-Athlete honors last week and sports a 3.857 GPA.
Pankowski has volunteered this season at the American Family Children's Hospital, Toys for Tots and at the Goodman Community Center Food Pantry, in addition to skating with the Madison Timber Wolves, an area hockey team for children and adults with special needs. She also has been a part of UW's "Flat Bucky" program, where she is partnered with an elementary school classroom who follows her posts of Flat Bucky on Instagram in situations that demonstrate good values as a student-athlete.
Wisconsin's all-time top-10 finalists include Brittany Ammerman (2014), Sara Bauer (2006, 2007), Decker (2012, 2013), Meghan Duggan (2011), Molly Engstrom (2005), Hunter (2001), Knight (2009, 2011, 2012), Erika Lawler (2009), Carla McLeod (2005), Meaghan Mikkelson (2007), Bobbi-Jo Slusar (2006), and Jessie Vetter (2009).
Bauer won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award in 2006, Vetter in 2009, Duggan in 2011 and Decker in 2012.
An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. Other selection criteria include 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.
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