MADISON, Wis. – After becoming the first player in more than a decade to tally 50 assists in a single season, Wisconsin women's hockey senior Casey O'Brien has been named the U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO) Player of the Year, the organization announced on Friday.
O'Brien is just the fifth Badger to earn the national honor and the first since Abby Roque was recognized following the 2019-20 season.
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-Three Finalist set a school record with 50 assists this season, becoming the eighth player in NCAA Division I women's hockey history to record 50 or more assists in a single season. The Milton, Massachusetts, native became the first NCAA player to accomplish the feat since Amanda Kessel did so during the 2012-13 campaign.
O'Brien ranked second in the NCAA in points with 73, trailing only linemate Kirsten Simms who led all skaters with 75 points. O'Brien enjoyed a stellar second half for the Cardinal and White, recording 47 points in UW's final 23 games to lead the team to its 10th WCHA Final Faceoff title and to its 11th appearance in the NCAA championship game.
The center ranked fourth in the country among all skaters in plus/minus with a +53 plus/minus clip and was stellar in the faceoff circle with a .592 winning percentage.
