Harvey, O’Brien, Simms, Edwards named Patty Kazmaier finalists
March 06, 2025 | Women's Hockey
Four Badgers named top-ten finalists for prestigious honor
MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin women's hockey's Caroline Harvey, Casey O'Brien, Kirsten Simms and Laila Edwards were named top-10 finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, USA Hockey announced on Thursday.
Harvey, O'Brien and Simms were named top-10 finalists for the second-straight year while Edwards was named a finalist for the first time in her career. UW's four top-10 finalists were the most of any school in the country and are a program record.
Harvey has put together a historic season for a blueliner. Her 55 points from 15 goals and 40 assists are the most in a single season from any blueliner in school history. Just a junior, Harvey has recorded 129 career points, just two points away from breaking the school record for career points from a defender.
The Wisconsin captain's 55 points this season are the most of any NCAA defender and rank fifth overall in the NCAA.. Harvey's 40 assists are the most of any defender and third most of any player in the nation.
O'Brien is coming off a record-breaking season where she set various school records. The Milton, Massachusetts, native set the school record for both career points with 265 and career assists with 170. The forward also set a new school record for assists in a season with 55 and counting. Her five-point period on Feb. 1, 2025, against Bemidji State was the most of any Badger in a period in school history.
This season, O'Brien leads the nation with 79 points and 55 assists. Her two short-handed goals are tied for fifth best in the NCAA. The center's 460 faceoff wins are second best in conference and fourth best in the country. O'Brien's 0.67 goals per game rank seventh best in the nation.
Simms' 42 assists this season are second-best in the NCAA trailing only fellow linemate O'Brien. The Plymouth, Michigan, native's 64 points this season are tied for the second-most in the country alongside fellow Badger Edwards. Simms' five game-winning goals rank eighth in the nation.
The junior just eclipsed 100 career assists which is the fifth-most of active players and her 1.47 points per game average across her career is second-best in active NCAA players behind only O'Brien's 1.50. Her 16 game-winning goals are tied for the ninth-most of any active player.
Edwards earned her first top-10 finalists honor for the award after a stellar junior year showing. The junior leads the NCAA with 30 goals this season, becoming just the seventh Badger in school history to score 30 goals in a single season. The forward's 34 assists rank fourth in the country behind three other Badgers. Her 1.78 points per game this season are tied with Simms for the second most in the country. Edwards' six power-play goals are tied for the 10th most in the NCAA and two short-handed goals are tied for fifth in the country.
The Cleveland Heights, Ohio, native's 1.25 points per game through her career thus far are the ninth-most of any active skater. Likewise, her 0.70 career assists per game are ninth best of all active skaters.
UW takes on Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 1 p.m. in the semifinal round of the 2025 WCHA Final Faceoff. Fans can watch in the Madison area on The CW or can listen to the game on 1070 The Game.
