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.

“Being that annoying person on the ice, but also being a threat, is really cool. I'll never give that up.”

Murphy finds joy in knocking opponents off their game while staying on top of hers. It’s that ability to always find fun in the game — to be a little irreverent but a lot capable and confident — that makes her so difficult to play against.

The challenge, she said, is finding the line for when antagonizing an opponent might lead to unintended consequences. She’s been trying to tell herself, “Don’t do anything stupid. Just don't. Some things just aren't worth it.”

It’s a work in progress — but so is every part of her game, Murphy said.She’s always looking to improve in big and small ways.

“This year it was about, ‘How can I grow and learn from last year?’” said Murphy, who trained with men’s and women’s pro players in the offseason, including U.S. teammate and captain of the PWHL’s Minnesota Frost Kendall Coyne Schofield.

“It was improving everything — getting a better shot, getting faster, getting stronger in the offseason, is always like a big thing for me. You can never be too strong. I’m just trying to make myself better in those little areas any way that I can.”

The speed and detail work has been on full display in Murphy’s game this season. A deft skater with quick hands, she often circles the offensive zone looking for an opening. The more experience Murphy has gained, the slower and more controlled the game feels, she said.

“I’m just looking for a lane,” she said. “I’m noting where the screens are in front of the net, where the goalie is looking. Honestly, I’m looking for a lot of things. I’m looking for legs and sticks and literally any opening. Sometimes you just have to have faith. I feel like I have had that recently, to believe that something will open up, and if you don't see it immediately, that it will eventually be there.”

Those instincts have served her well as she has been responsible for 20% of the Gophers’ goals this season. And while sometimes she’s looking to use a screen or find a teammate’s stick for a deflection, this year she has been more thoughtful — and accurate — with her shot.

“I’ve been more selective, not just wanting to get pucks on net but picking corners has been a big thing for me,” Murphy said. “This year I’m shooting pucks a lot more and having a real purpose for where those pucks do go has been a big thing for me.”

Her 200-foot game has also improved as she has gotten better at reading plays on defense and looking for chances to create a turnover. Sometimes that’s just being strong on her skates and being able to come through traffic with the puck on her stick. But it also means trusting her gut and knowing when to jump a play to make a steal and take off on a breakaway.

“Trying to make a forward make a mistake and then counter on them has been something that I've been trying to focus on,” Murphy said. “It’s an undervalued part of the game. Being strong on the forecheck and in the neutral zone leads to scoring more goals.

“I'm not going to say I can read the play every single time. I really can't. But sometimes I feel like you just have a gut feeling. This year, I've just tried to jump that gun a little early and have faith that they'll make a mistake, or I will read the play.”

Last year, the Gophers’ season ended in the NCAA quarterfinals after losing to Clarkson in quadruple overtime. That rough ending has given the team extra motivation to make this year’s Final Four, which will take place on home ice at Ridder Arena.

“Our team has each other’s backs,” Murphy said. “If someone does make a mistake, someone else has their back. I just have a lot of faith in this team. We have a lot of personalities on the team that can do a lot of big things if we put our heads down and grind.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.