University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Murphy Named Patty Kazmaier Top-Three Finalist
3/11/2026 11:03:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – University of Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy has been named a top-three finalist for the 2026 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the USA Hockey Foundation announced Wednesday. It marks the first time in her career she has advanced to the final three.
Murphy becomes the 13th Gopher in program history to earn top-three finalist recognition for the prestigious award. Minnesota has produced three Patty Kazmaier winners: Krissy Wendell (2005), Amanda Kessel (2013) and Taylor Heise (2022).
The Evergreen Park, Ill., native recently earned WCHA Forward of the Year honors following a historic senior campaign. A two-time Gopher captain and two-time Olympian, Murphy set a career high with 38 goals in just 30 games this season. She leads the nation in goals per game (1.27) and points per game (2.13) while ranking eighth nationally in assists per game (0.87). Murphy also leads the WCHA with seven power-play goals and five hat tricks.
During the opening round of the WCHA Playoffs, Murphy etched her name in the Minnesota record book as the program's all-time leading goal scorer, netting the 140th and 141st goals of her career. Earlier this season, she broke the program record for career game-winning goals (26) and tied the single-game points record with seven against Sacred Heart.
Murphy was named to the All-WCHA First Team and has earned WCHA Forward of the Week honors five times this season (Sept. 29, Oct. 6, Jan. 5, Jan. 12 and Jan. 19). She was also selected WCHA Forward of the Month twice (September, January) and received Hockey Commissioners Association Forward of the Month recognition for September/October and January.
The graduate senior joins fellow WCHA standout Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin) and Penn State's Tessa Janecke among the top-three finalists for the 2025–26 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women's hockey.
The winner of the 2026 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award will be announced Saturday, March 21 during a live ceremony at the HUB-Robeson Center on the campus of Penn State University. The event will begin at 12:30 p.m. ET and air live on NHL Network as part of the NCAA Women's Frozen Four festivities.
About the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award
An award 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 includes outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Academic achievement and civic involvement are also considered.
About Patty Kazmaier
The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, a four-year varsity letterwinner and All-Ivy League defenseman at Princeton University from 1981–86. Kazmaier helped lead the Tigers to three consecutive Ivy League championships from 1981–84. She passed away on Feb. 15, 1990, at the age of 28 following a battle with a rare blood disease.