Saturday morning, USA Hockey announced that Boston College Women’s Hockey freshman Daryl Watts of Toronto, Ontario was awarded the 2018 Patty Kazmaier Award, given annually to the top Division I women’s college hockey player.
An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is presented annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey. Other selection criteria include outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement.
In doing so, Daryl Watts made history: In the 21 year history of the award, on a list of players that includes Olympic heros and Hockey Hall of Famers, no player had ever won the award as either a freshman or a sophomore.