2026 Patty Kazmaier Award Set for Announcement on March 21 During Women’s Frozen Four
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2026 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be awarded to the leading player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey during a live broadcast on the NHL Network as part of the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four.
The event, which is included in Saturday’s schedule at the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four, will occur on Saturday (March 21) at Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center at Penn State University. Doors will open at 12 p.m. ET, and the 30-minute program, hosted by Lauren Gardner from NHL Network, will commence at 12:30 p.m. Fans are invited to attend the ceremony at no cost.
After the presentation, attendees will have the chance to meet 1998 Olympic gold medalist and ESPN analyst AJ Mleczko and take photographs with her Olympic medals.
The NHL, NCAA, PWHL, and Premier Ice Prospects are collaborating partners for the 2026 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. For additional details about the event, click HERE.
2026 PATTY KAZMAIER MEMORIAL AWARD SHOW
The award presentation for the 2026 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award to the leading player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey for the 2025-26 season will occur on Saturday (March 21) at the HUB-Robeson Center on the University of Minnesota campus. The ceremony, part of Saturday’s events at the NCAA Women's Frozen Four, will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET, with doors opening at 12:00 p.m. The three finalists – including Caroline Harvey (Salem, N.H./University of Wisconsin), Tessa Janecke (Orangeville, Ill./Penn State University), and Abbey Murphy (Evergreen Park, Ill./University of Minnesota) – will be present for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Show, where one will be named the 29th recipient of this esteemed accolade.
Previous award winners will also be in attendance, along with teams competing in the 2026 NCAA Women’s Frozen Four.
2026 Event Information 
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ABOUT THE PATTY KAZMAIER MEMORIAL AWARD
An accolade of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. Selection criteria encompass exceptional individual and team abilities, sportsmanship, performance under pressure, personal integrity, competitiveness, and a passion for hockey. Academic success and community involvement are also taken into account. The award was first given in 1998. For a complete list of past recipients, click HERE.
ABOUT PATTY KAZMAIER
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is named to honor the late Patty Kazmaier, who was a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League defenseman at Princeton University from 1981-86. A distinguished athlete, she played a key role in leading the Tigers to three consecutive Ivy League Championships (1981-84). Patty Kazmaier-Sandt passed away on Feb. 15, 1990, at the age of 28 after a prolonged battle with a rare blood disease.
