Despite leading Ohio State to a national championship with one of the most productive seasons ever for a defenseman in women’s college hockey, Sophie Jaques did not become the Buckeyes’ first-ever Patty Kazmaier Award winner.
That award, which honors the best player in women’s college hockey, was given to Minnesota forward Taylor Heise on Saturday.
Congratulations to Taylor Heise of @GopherWHockey on winning the 2022 Patty Kazmaier Award! #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/nuKvoPjmkD
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 26, 2022
Heise wins the award after leading all women’s college hockey players with 66 points this season. Ohio State coach Nadine Muzerall believed Jaques deserved to win the award, however, because of her contributions of both ends of the ice, as her 59 points were 11 more than any other defenseman during the 2021-22 season and the second-most of any true defenseman in the last 20 years.
“Imagine Tom Brady being quarterback and then all of a sudden having to go out and play defense,” Ohio State women’s hockey coach Nadine Muzerall said earlier this month while explaining why she thought Jaques deserved to win the Patty Kazmaier Award.
Nevertheless, it was still a historic season for Jaques, who became Ohio State’s first-ever top-three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award and helped the Buckeyes win their first national championship in program history.
Jaques, who is set to graduate from Ohio State in May with a degree in civil engineering, will have another shot at winning the award next year, as she plans to use her additional year of eligibility to play a fifth-year senior season with the Buckeyes as they attempt to defend their national title during the 2022-23 season.
