Harvey, O’Brien and Simms named Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-10 Finalists
March 07, 2024 | Women's Hockey
Badger trio earn spots on list for women’s hockey’s top individual honor
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's hockey trio of Caroline Harvey, Casey O'Brien and Kirsten Simms have been named top-10 finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the highest individual honor in women's collegiate hockey, the USA Hockey Foundation announced on Thursday.
This marks the second time that O'Brien has been named a top-10 finalist as she was recognized as a top-10 finalist in 2022, while it marks the first time that Harvey and Simms have earned spots on the list.
"We're proud of Caroline, Casey and Kirsten," UW head coach Mark Johnson said. "Each one of them has helped us in a lot of different areas. Casey and Kirsten have a special chemistry and it's tough to match that. So to watch them play and watch them understand each other so well and distribute the puck to each other has been really fun to watch. The big thing for me is they've been consistent in their effort from game one to game 36. Caroline, obviously playing defense, brings a special set of skills that not a lot of young hockey players, male or female have. She had to battle through a little bit of adversity but has done a great job in that and it's just extremely fun and exciting to watch."
Wisconsin's three honorees are the most of any school this season and it marks the first time since 2020 that UW has had three top-10 finalists in the same season.
The WCHA Defender of the Year, Harvey leads all league defenders with 33 points this season thanks to five goals and 28 assists despite missing nine games. Her 33 points this season are tied for the ninth most in school history by a defender. The Salem, New Hampshire, native has a +50 plus/minus rating that ranks second in the WCHA and eighth in program history. A 2022 Olympian, Harvey is only the fifth Badger defender in school history to be named a top-10 finalist, joining the likes of Molly Engstrom (2005), Carla MacLeod (2005), Meaghan Mikkelson (2007) and Bobbi-Jo Slusar (2006).
A finalist for the WCHA Forward of the Year, O'Brien ranks second in the country with 62 points and has a NCAA-leading 43 assists. The Milton, Massachusetts, native has been on a tear during the 2024 calendar year as she has posted 36 points in UW's last 18 games, leading UW to a 17-1 record during the stretch. The center is the eighth Badger to earn multiple Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-10 honors, joining the club that features Sara Bauer (2006, 2007), Brianna Decker (2012, 2013), Ann-Renee Desbiens (2016, 2017), Hilary Knight (2009, 2011, 2012), Annie Pankowski (2016, 2017, 2019), Sophie Shirley (2020, 2021) and Daryl Watts (2020, 2021, 2022).
The WCHA Forward of the Year, Simms leads the country in scoring with 67 points. Her 29 goals and 38 assists both rank second in the country as she only trails linemate O'Brien in assists. 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. She has been clutch for UW this season with eight game-winning goals, which ranks second in the country this season. The first-team All-WCHA performer is also on the verge of joining the 100 point club at UW as Simms needs only one more point to become the 33rd player in school history to join the century club.
The Badgers have had five previous winners of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, including Sara Bauer (2006), Jessie Vetter (2009), Meghan Duggan (2011), Brianna Decker (2012) and Ann-Renee Desbiens (2017). UW's five winners are the second-most of any program in the country.
Wisconsin continues its postseason journey with the 2024 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff this weekend in Minneapolis. No. 2 UW faces No. 5 Minnesota on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Ridder Arena. Fans can watch the action on TVW or listen to the game on The Game 1070 AM in the Madison area.
This marks the second time that O'Brien has been named a top-10 finalist as she was recognized as a top-10 finalist in 2022, while it marks the first time that Harvey and Simms have earned spots on the list.
"We're proud of Caroline, Casey and Kirsten," UW head coach Mark Johnson said. "Each one of them has helped us in a lot of different areas. Casey and Kirsten have a special chemistry and it's tough to match that. So to watch them play and watch them understand each other so well and distribute the puck to each other has been really fun to watch. The big thing for me is they've been consistent in their effort from game one to game 36. Caroline, obviously playing defense, brings a special set of skills that not a lot of young hockey players, male or female have. She had to battle through a little bit of adversity but has done a great job in that and it's just extremely fun and exciting to watch."
Wisconsin's three honorees are the most of any school this season and it marks the first time since 2020 that UW has had three top-10 finalists in the same season.
The WCHA Defender of the Year, Harvey leads all league defenders with 33 points this season thanks to five goals and 28 assists despite missing nine games. Her 33 points this season are tied for the ninth most in school history by a defender. The Salem, New Hampshire, native has a +50 plus/minus rating that ranks second in the WCHA and eighth in program history. A 2022 Olympian, Harvey is only the fifth Badger defender in school history to be named a top-10 finalist, joining the likes of Molly Engstrom (2005), Carla MacLeod (2005), Meaghan Mikkelson (2007) and Bobbi-Jo Slusar (2006).
A finalist for the WCHA Forward of the Year, O'Brien ranks second in the country with 62 points and has a NCAA-leading 43 assists. The Milton, Massachusetts, native has been on a tear during the 2024 calendar year as she has posted 36 points in UW's last 18 games, leading UW to a 17-1 record during the stretch. The center is the eighth Badger to earn multiple Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-10 honors, joining the club that features Sara Bauer (2006, 2007), Brianna Decker (2012, 2013), Ann-Renee Desbiens (2016, 2017), Hilary Knight (2009, 2011, 2012), Annie Pankowski (2016, 2017, 2019), Sophie Shirley (2020, 2021) and Daryl Watts (2020, 2021, 2022).
The WCHA Forward of the Year, Simms leads the country in scoring with 67 points. Her 29 goals and 38 assists both rank second in the country as she only trails linemate O'Brien in assists. 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. She has been clutch for UW this season with eight game-winning goals, which ranks second in the country this season. The first-team All-WCHA performer is also on the verge of joining the 100 point club at UW as Simms needs only one more point to become the 33rd player in school history to join the century club.
The Badgers have had five previous winners of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, including Sara Bauer (2006), Jessie Vetter (2009), Meghan Duggan (2011), Brianna Decker (2012) and Ann-Renee Desbiens (2017). UW's five winners are the second-most of any program in the country.
Wisconsin continues its postseason journey with the 2024 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff this weekend in Minneapolis. No. 2 UW faces No. 5 Minnesota on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Ridder Arena. Fans can watch the action on TVW or listen to the game on The Game 1070 AM in the Madison area.
Players Mentioned
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Forward
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