MADISON, Wis. – For the first time since 2007, three members of the Wisconsin women's hockey team have been named first-team All-Americans in the same season as the trio of
Caroline Harvey,
Casey O'Brien and
Kirsten Simms each picked up the honors, the American Hockey Coaches Association announced on Saturday.
O'Brien and Simms each found spots on the 2023-24 CCM/AHCA Women's Division I All-American First Team as forwards, while Harvey joined the two on the top team as a defender. UW ties with Clarkson for its three honorees, but Wisconsin is the only school to have three members on the top team.
This marks just the second time in program history that three Badgers have earned first-team All-American honors in the same season, as Sara Bauer, Meaghan Mikkelson and Jessie Vetter did so in 2007.
Wisconsin's Daryl Watts was the last to receive first-team All-American honors, as the senior earned a spot on the team in 2022 after picking up the honors in 2021 as well.
Harvey is the first Badger defender to earn first-team All-American honors since Grace Bowlby collected first-team accolades in 2021.
A top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, O'Brien leads the country with 50 assists this season and ranks second in points with 73. The forward tallied two helpers in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinal game, allowing her to set a new program-best for single-season assists with 50. She has enjoyed a stellar 2024 as she has 47 points in 22 games, helping lead UW to a 21-1 record. The forward has posted an impressive +54 plus/minus rating throughout her senior campaign, which ranks eighth in school history, helping her earn First-Team WCHA honors.
The WCHA Player of the Year and top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, Simms leads the country in scoring with 75 points, which ranks seventh in school history. Her 33 goals tie for the NCAA lead, while her 42 assists rank second in the country only to linemate O'Brien. A native of Plymouth, Michigan, Simms has a 1.97 points per game average that also paces the country and ranks in the top-10 in program history. The sophomore has enjoyed multi-point efforts in 24 of the 38 games she has suited up for Wisconsin and has been clutch with eight game-winning goals. Her eight game winners not only lead the WCHA but rank second in the country.
A native of Salem, New Hampshire, Harvey has enjoyed a successful sophomore campaign, as the WCHA Defender of the Year has posted 35 points on 30 assists and five goals. Despite missing nine games to injury, the 2022 Olympian has put up a +55 plus/minus rating in just 31 games. Harvey broke the school record for the best plus/minus rating in a single game with a +9 plus/minus mark against Lindenwood, and she became just the fifth Badger defender in school history to be named a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.
The Badgers will look to secure their eighth national title on Sunday where they will face WCHA rival and top-ranked Ohio State in the NCAA Frozen Four championship game. Puck drop on Sunday at the Whittemore Center Arena is set for 3 p.m. CT, and the game airs on ESPNU. Fans can also listen to the game on 1070 The Game.
