DULUTH, Minn. – Sophie Jaques of Toronto won the Patty Kazmaier Award for the top NCAA Division 1 women’s hockey player.
Jaques is the first player from Ohio State to earn the honor and only the second defenseman since its inception in 1998.
She helped the Buckeyes to a 33-5-2 record and a berth in Sunday’s NCAA national championship game against Wisconsin.
Jaques led all NCAA defensemen in points (48), goals (24), power-play goals (9) and points per game (1.23) in 40 games.
Edmonton forward Danielle Serdachny of Colgate University and Swiss forward Alina Mueller of Northeastern were the finalists for the award announced Saturday in Duluth, Minnesota, at the Women’s Frozen Four.
Jaques, on the Buckeyes’ top defensive pairing, helped Ohio State hold opponents to 1.75 goals per game.
Jaques has also blocked 55 shots this season.
The 22-year-old is pursuing a master’s degree in civil engineering at Ohio State.
The award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, who played for Princeton from 1981 to 1986.
She died at age 28 of a blood disease.
Jaques was one of Kazmaier’s three finalists last year.
“Receiving this award is something I never even imagined possible,” Jaques said in a statement from Ohio State.
“I am grateful to be the recipient of an award that bears the name of the incredible athlete, scholar and human being, Patty Kazmaier.
“Although this is an individual award, I have been supported by a whole team of people throughout this season and my career at Ohio State, and I owe it all to my coaches and teammates at over the past five years.”
Previous Canadian winners of the 25th Anniversary Award were Jennifer Botterill (2001, 2003), Sara Bauer (2006), Sarah Vaillancourt (2008), Vicky Bendus (2010), Jamie Lee Rattray (2014), Ann-Renee Desbiens (2017) , Daryl Watts (2018), Loren Gabel (2019) and Elizabeth Giguère (2020).
The winner is chosen by a 13-member panel comprised of Division 1 women’s hockey coaches, media and a member of USA Hockey.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on March 18, 2023.
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