Wisconsin’s Casey O’Brien wins 2025 Patty Kazmaier Award

One of the best players from the best team in college hockey has been named the strongest player this season.

On Saturday, the USA Hockey Foundation announced that fifth-year forward Casey O’Brien from the University of Wisconsin has been named the 28th winner of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.

She becomes the sixth Badger to win the Patty Kaz, which ties Harvard for the most players to take home the award. Montreal Victoire goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens was the last player from Wisconsin to earn the Patty Kazmaier Award back in 2017.

It was a relatively easy choice. O’Brien has been far and away one of the most dynamic players in the nation. The fifth-year star leads the nation in assists (62) and points (88), scoring 26 goals in 40 games. She leads teammate Laila Edwards by 19 points in the national points race. It marks the second year in a row that O’Brien has scored over 70 points and third time she’s hit at least 50.

“To stand here as a representative of our team,” O’Brien said during the award ceremony. “And our season is humbling and the ultimate honor.”

The Milton, Massachusetts native’s teammates, Edwards and defender Caroline Harvey, were also finalists for the Patty Kaz. O’Brien was sure to call them out and give them credit for their individual play this year.

“Layla, KK, you’re literally all world players, as your seasons have shown once again, to be named alongside you is itself an award.”

It was the second time in the award’s history that the three finalists were from the same team. In 2013, University of Minnesota stars Amanda Kessel, Megan Bozek and Noora Raty were nominated, with Kessel taking home the trophy.

O’Brien also gave credit to the coaching staff, headed by AHCA Coach of the Year and 1980 Olympic gold medalist, Mark Johnson.

“Thank you Mark, Dan [Koch], Jackie [Crum] and [Mark Greenhalgh]. Thank you for assembling this ridiculous roster and including me in it. Thank you for encouraging us to play freely and creatively with the focus on what’s most important: the team.”

O’Brien first met Johnson at his summer camp after O’Brien’s seventh-grade year.

While they will certainly celebrate the accomplishment, Harvey, O’Brien and Edwards now have to turn their attention to Sunday, when they get a rematch with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the national championship game, as the Badgers seek a record eighth NCAA title.

“I hope everybody’s able to enjoy what’s going to happen tomorrow,” O’Brien said. “A bunch of the best players in the world, giving everything of themselves for their shared aspirations. It’ll be another great day for hockey. Thank you, and on Wisconsin.”

The AHCA All-American Teams were also revealed on Saturday, featuring the three Patty Kaz finalists:

First-Team All-Americans

Eve Gascon (So., G, Minnesota Duluth)
Caroline Harvey (Jr., D, Wisconsin)@*
Haley Winn (Sr., D, Clarkson)+
Laila Edwards (Jr., F, Wisconsin)
Casey O’Brien (Gr., F, Wisconsin)*
Kirsten Simms (Jr., F, Wisconsin)*

Second-Team All-Americans

Annelies Bergmann (So., G, Cornell)
Nicole Gosling (Gr., D, Clarkson)*
Emma Peschel (Jr., D, Ohio State)
Tessa Janecke (Jr., F, Penn State)+
Kristyna Kaltounkova (Gr., F, Colgate)

* First Team in 2024
+ Second Team in 2024
@ Second Team in 2023

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