Patty Kazmaier Award

The presentation of the 2025 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, which honors the top player in the NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey, will take place Saturday, March 22, on the campus of the University of Minnesota. The ceremony, which is open to the public and is free to attend, will begin promptly at 11:30 a.m. CT and will be televised live on NHL Network. A free autograph signing with women’s hockey legends will be held immediately following the ceremony.

“I’ve been learning from everyone around me, taking pieces of what they teach me and some of their games, and just trying to become the best version of myself as a player and a person every day,” Edwards said. “I’m continuing to learn and not be complacent where I'm at. Learning every day and getting more experience has really helped me.”

Edwards is more confident in her skills and her ability, but she’s also more secure in who she is and who she wants to be. She carries herself with a new self-assuredness off the ice that has translated to being more decisive and composed on the ice. 

“She's such a gifted player and very versatile,” said teammate Caroline Harvey. “She’s a special player, and she's one you want on your team. She’s a great teammate. She has your back, she'll go to war for you.”

While her scoring has been the attention-grabber this season, Edwards said her focus this season was on her 200-foot game, building plays from the back and not trying to do too much. 

“It all starts in the defensive zone,” she said. “If you take care of the defensive zone, you spend more time in the offensive zone. My job as a winger is to not let the defense get their shot through. I feel like doing my job allows everyone else to do their job or makes it easier for everyone else to do their job, so just being reliable on every foot of the ice has really become more and more important to me. It doesn't always have to be fancy. Making simple, small plays leads to bigger things.”

The 6-foot-1-inch Edwards is tough to go through on one end and her long stride, long reach and a background in figure skating means she’s a nimble, fast skater that can keep the puck out of defenders’ reach in transition. 

She’s an imposing figure screening the goaltender and uses her size to not only own highly contested pieces of ice, but to reach for and deflect pucks. All that combines to make her an innate puck possessor who can buy extra time to read the ice and distribute the puck — something she said she loves to do, though, she admits Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson has been telling her to shoot more since she stepped on campus. 

“I love to pass. I love to set people up. There's still times I should probably shoot when I don't, but I have more confidence in my shot this year,” Edwards said. 

Some of that confidence has been hard-earned. Facing Badger goalie Ava McNaughton every day in practice means facing one of the best in the country. Scoring on her is difficult, Edwards said, which only helps her game. She said when she does find the back of the net against McNaughton, she knows her work is paying off and her shots are improving. 

“One of the best parts about being here [at Wisconsin] is you practice with and against these players every day and you get better in turn for it,” said Edwards. 

A forward at Wisconsin, Edwards has transitioned to defense with the U.S. national team, something she said has changed the way she views the ice when she’s on the wing. Injuries to Badger defenders have meant she sometimes has to drop back to the blue line, but she has learned how much each position informs how she plays the other. 

“As a forward, I’m reading the game and looking to be in the right spot,” Edwards said. “Good goal scorers put themselves in a good position to take those shots. I’m trying to find good areas to score from. Playing defense has helped me see the ice differently and that comes full circle when I’m on offense, reading the opponent and looking to be in the right position.”

She’s achieved that goal and more, helping Wisconsin earn the No. 1 ranking for most of the season. Wisconsin has just one regulation loss — to No. 2 Ohio State — and as the regular season wound down, things really started to come together for the Badgers.

“The confidence and comfort in how we’re playing makes everything feel very free and easy,” Edwards said. “There’s nothing to worry about. We feel like even if we make mistakes, we can make up for it.

“There's no better feeling, because when everyone's firing on all cylinders, we’re a dangerous team.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.