Gophers forward Taylor Heise wins 2022 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award

University of Minnesota Golden Gophers senior forward Taylor Heise was named the winner of the 2022 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as the best top player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey on Saturday.

Heise, a Red Wing High School graduate and Lake City native, led the Gophers to a 29-9-1 record this season. She led the national in total points (66) and was second in the country with 29 goals during the 2021-22 season.

“I am beyond honored to receive such a prestigious award that means so much to women’s hockey,” said Heise. “I would like to thank my current coaches and teammates for always supporting me and making all my years at the University of Minnesota, especially this year, so amazing. To have my name put alongside so many talented women is an absolute honor.”

The 25th recipient of the Kazmaier Award, Heise joins Amanda Kessel (2013) and Krissy Wendell (2005) as the only Gophers to be honored recipients of the award.

The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is named in honor of the late Patty Kazmaier, who was a four-year varsity letter-winner and All-Ivy League defenseman at Princeton University from 1981-86. Kazmaier died in 1990 at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.