The NCAA has announced that defenseman Sophie Jaques and forwards Alina Müller and Danielle Serdachny have been named finalists for the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.
The trophy is awarded to the top female player in NCAA Division I women’s hockey, similar to the Hobey Baker for men’s hockey. Many past and present players of the game have won the Patty Kamaier, such as Daryl Watts, Ann-Renee Desbiens, Kendall Coyne, Alex Carpenter, Brianna Decker, Jennifer Botterill and more. Taylor Heise of the University of Minnesota won the award in 2022.
Jaques, 22 with Ohio State, leads all defensemen with 46 points in 38 games. This is her fifth season with the school and her second year as a Patty Kazmaier finalist. Before beginning her five-year career in the NCAA, Jaques spent three seasons with the Toronto Eros of the PWHL, where she established herself as one of the best two-way defensemen in the league.
Müller, 24, leads the HEA with 26 goals and 58 points in just 36 games. Known for her ability to step up in big moments, the Northeastern University senior has scored nine game-winning goals this season. Müller was a finalist for the award in the five seasons she played in the NCAA, recording 252 points in 157 games during that span – good for 17th all-time and first among Europeans. The Swiss-born striker is considered one of Europe’s best players at international level, scoring 12 goals and 23 points in 19 Olympics. Müller earned top forward honors at the 2018 tournament in a year that saw her lead in goals (seven) and points (10).
Serdachny, 21, is the youngest of the group. The Colgate University star leads the entire NCAA with 70 points in just 39 games. The Edmonton, Alta. native has 176 points in 139 career games, but her fourth season — and her first as Colgate captain — has lifted her to new heights. Serdachny was a big part of the Canadian U-18 squad that won gold at the 2019 tournament, his only time representing Canada on the international stage.
The award will be announced live on NHL Network at 12:30 p.m. ET on March 18 as part of the NCAA’s Frozen Four weekend action in Minnesota.
