WCHA Dominates 2004 Top 10 Patty Kazmaier Finalists
Feb. 11, 2004
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Madison, Wis. -- Five players representing three Western Collegiate Hockey Association teams are among the top 10 finalists for the 2004 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. The WCHA boasts the most players from one league among the top 10 finalists.
An annual award given by USA Hockey, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizes the accomplishments of the most outstanding player in women's collegiate ice hockey each season. This year's awards dinner is scheduled for Saturday, March 27 at the Westin Providence Hotel and held in conjunction with the 2004 NCAA Women's Frozen Four, March 26 and 28 at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island.
The University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota Duluth each placed two players among the finalists while the other WCHA player represents Minnesota State University, Mankato. Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell from Minnesota and Jenny Potter from Minnesota Duluth were named top 10 finalists for the second year in a row. The three are joined by fellow WCHA members Caroline Ouellette of Minnesota Duluth and Shari Vogt from Minnesota State.
Minnesota's Natalie Darwitz (So., F, Eagan, Minn.) has not played in a game since January 10, but has remained one of the top-10 scorers in the nation, ranking sixth in scoring with 41 points (15-26) in 16 games. She is fourth in the nation in assists (26) and has recorded 2.56 points per game. Darwitz ranks third on the Golden Gopher squad and second on the team in conference scoring with 27 points (10-17) in 12 games. She is fourth in the WCHA in scoring, first in power-play points with 15 (6-9), and power-play goals (6) and is tied for second in the conference in assists (17) and fifth in goals (10). The WCHA Player of the Week on October 28, Darwitz serves as a youth hockey coach, participates in numerous charity events and autograph sessions. She was a top 10 finalist for the 2003 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Darwitz will likely miss the remainder of this season due to torn ligaments in her right elbow.
Minnesota Duluth's Caroline Ouellette (Jr., F, Montreal, Quebec) ranks first on the Bulldog squad, and in the nation, in scoring with 49 points (19-30) in 22 games played. She is second in the nation in points per game (2.23) while ranking first nationally in assists per game (1.36) and second in overall assists (30). Ouellette is sixth in goals per game (0.86), seventh in overall goals (19), tied for second in short-handed goals (3), and tied for 10th in power-play goals (6). In the WCHA, Ouellette ranks second in the scoring with 30 points (11-19) in 14 games, first in assists (19), and fourth in goals (11). She is tied for third in power-play goals (4), short-handed points with two (1-1), short-handed goals (1) and tied for sixth in power-play points with nine (4-5). Ouellette was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on November 18. Off the ice, she participates in Skate with the Bulldogs, "Take Back the Night" and the "Big Jig" fund-raising ice-fishing contest.
Minnesota Duluth's second finalist, Jenny Potter, (Sr., F, Edina, Minn.) is tied for second in the nation in scoring with 47 points (24-23) in 24 games, and is tied for third in points per game (1.96). She is also tied for second in the nation in goals scored (24), and ranks third in goals per game (1.00), fifth in assists (23), and sixth in assists per game (.96). Potter is also tied for fifth in power-play goals (7), and first in game-winning goals (7). She lead the WCHA in scoring with 32 points (17-15) in 16 league games played. She also ranks first in goals (17), game-winning goals (5), is tied for first in power-play goals (6), ranks third in power-play points with 11 (6-5), is tied for third in short-handed points with two (1-1), and ranks fifth in assists (15). Potter was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on December 1, January 26 and February 9. She actively participates in Skate with the Bulldogs, Duluth Amateur Hockey clinics and the "Big Jig" fund-raising ice-fishing contest. Potter was a top three finalist for the 2003 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.
Minnesota State's Shari Vogt (Sr., G, Richmond, Minn.), the first Maverick ever to be named a Kazmaier top 10 finalist, ranks third in the nation in save percentage (.937) and is 12th in the nation in goals against average (2.11) and winning percentage (.587). She ranks fourth in the nation in minutes played (1,395:13) while she leads the WCHA in save percentage (.934) and minutes played (976:26). Vogt is fifth among league goaltenders in goals against average (2.34) and winning percentage (.469). She has been named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week on four occasions. Vogt is active off the ice as she participates in the MSU Athletics reading program and Adopt-A-Highway. She is a member of MSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and paints houses and rakes leaves for the elderly. She tutors Mankato Area Hockey Association (MAHA) and Mankato West High School goaltenders and participates annually in Skate with the Mavericks. Vogt also was a speaker at MSU's Women in Sports Day festivities.
Minnesota's Krissy Wendell (So., F, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) lead the Gopher squad and is tied for second in the nation in scoring with 47 points (20-27) in 24 games played. She is tied for third in points per game (1.96) while ranking third in the nation in assists (27) and fourth in assists per game (1.12). Wendell is tied for fifth in goals (20), ranks eighth in goals per game (0.83), first in short-handed goals (4), tied for third in game-winning goals (5), and tied for fifth in power-play goals (7). Third in the WCHA in scoring with 28 points (12-16) in 16 games, Wendell is tied for second in goals (12), and ranks fourth in assists (16). She also is tied for fourth in power play points with 10 (4-6), tied for third with four power-play goals and two short-handed points and is tied for first in short-handed goals (2). She ranks second in game-winning goals (4). Named the WCHA's Offensive Player of the Week three times, Wendell participates in hockey ministries and serves as a youth hockey coach. She is also active with numerous charity events and autograph sessions. She was a top-10 finalist for the 2003 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.
The finalists, as well as the award winner, are selected by a 13-member committee made up of women's intercollegiate ice hockey coaches, representatives from print and broadcast media and a representative from USA Hockey, the National Governing Body for ice hockey in the United State. Candidates, nominated by their coaches, must compete for a women's intercollegiate varsity ice hockey team at an NCAA-member institution. Other selection criteria include: outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement.
The award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, a four-year letter-winner and All-Ivy League defensemen for the Princeton University women's ice hockey team from 1981 to 1986. An accomplished athlete who helped lead the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship in 1982, 1983 and 1984, Kazmaier-Sandt died in 1990 at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.
For tickets and more information, contact The USA Hockey Foundation at 800-566-3288, ext. 165.
Past Patty Kazmaier Award Winners
1998 - Brandy Fisher, New Hampshire
1999 - A.J. Mleczko, Harvard
2000 - Ali Brewer, Brown
2001 - Jennifer Botterill, Harvard
2002 - Brooke Whitney, Northeastern
2003 - Jennifer Botterill, Harvard
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