ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Schedule | List | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State women’s hockey graduate defenseman Sophie Jaques has been named the recipient of the 2023 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the USA Hockey Foundation announced Saturday at a live Frozen Four ceremony in Duluth. , Minnesota at AMSOIL Arena.
Jaques is the first player from Ohio State to win the award, which is given annually to the top Division I hockey player. Jaques is only the second defenseman to win the award, joining the former Harvard defender and four-time Olympian Angela Ruggiero who won the award in 2004.
Jaques will go down as one of the greatest defensemen in NCAA history. Over the past two seasons, her point production has been among the best forwards in the nation while leading Ohio State defensively to back-to-back appearances in national championship games.
“I am extremely humbled and honored to receive the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award,” Jaques said. “I am grateful to be the recipient of an award that bears the name of the incredible athlete, scholar and human being, Patty Kazmaier. Although this is an individual award, I have been supported by a whole team of people throughout this season and my career at Ohio State, and I owe it all to my coaches and teammates over the of the last five years. Receiving this award is something I never even imagined possible.
As a member of the team’s best pair of defensemen, Jaques helped the Buckeyes hold their opponents to just 1.75 goals per game. She has blocked 55 shots this season while the team has allowed opponents an average of just 20.75 shots per game.
In the offensive zone, Jaques recorded 48 points on the year on 24 assists and a career and team high 24 goals. She leads defensemen nationally in points and goals for the second consecutive season.
Jaques leads the team and the country with nine power-play goals this season for the Buckeyes’ top-ranked power play. She is second among active NCAA players with 26 career power play goals.
The WCHA record holder for career goals by a defender, Jaques has recorded 61 goals and 95 assists for her career. She holds the Ohio State record for career points by a defenseman (156) and ranks fifth among Buckeyes all-time in the category.
The Toronto, Ont. native was named WCHA Player of the Year and Defender of the Year earlier this month. She won three of five WCHA Defender of the Month awards in the 2022-23 season and won six of the conference’s weekly awards for defenders.
Although her performance on the ice is exceptional, Jaques is an equally accomplished scholar. After graduating magna cum laude last May with a degree in civil engineering, she accepted a scholarship to earn her master’s degree in civil engineering at Ohio State. She is interested in pursuing opportunities in the field of transportation.
Off the ice, Jaques has been an active member of the Ohio State, Columbus and hockey communities throughout his career at Ohio State. She is currently Vice President of SHEROs, an organization that provides a safe space for minority student-athletes to have open discussions and promote diversity in sport. She also volunteers with the 2nd & 7 Foundation in Columbus.
Jaques and the Buckeyes will face Wisconsin in Sunday’s national championship game in Duluth, Minnesota. The puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET from AMSOIL Arena and the game will be televised on ESPNU.
Overview of Sophie’s career at Ohio State
2023 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Two-time Top 3 finalist for Patty Kazmaier (2022-23, 2021-22) 2022-23 WCHA Player of the Year Two-time WCHA Defender of the Year (2022-23, 2021-22) 15-time WCHA Defender of the Week Nine-time WCHA Defender of the Month Two-time First Team All-American (2022-23, 2021-22) Three-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete Four-time WCHA Varsity Team
About the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award
An award from the USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is given annually to the top NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey player. Selection criteria include exceptional individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and love of hockey. Academic success and civic engagement are also taken into account.
#GoBucks
