Captains Q&A: Joy Dunne
11/20/2025 10:41:00 AM | Women's Ice Hockey
Junior forward Joy Dunne has already etched her name into the Ohio State women's hockey record book, setting program single season points and game-winning goals records last season and earning national and WCHA Rookie of the Year honors in 2024. The O'Fallon, Mo. native is a Patty Kazmaier Top 10 finalist and is a proven clutch player, scoring in every NCAA Tournament game of her career including the lone goal in the 2024 national title game. She is an assistant captain for the Buckeyes in 2025-26.
Get to know more about Joy:
When did you start playing hockey?
“I started playing hockey when I was four. I started skating when I was three, thinking I wanted to be a figure skater, quickly learned I am too competitive for that and like physical contact.”
What are you majoring in and why did you choose it?
“I picked social work as my major because when I was in my senior year of high school I did an internship and shadowed a lawyer in a juvenile office. I got to see that side, see what social workers do, and it really opened my eyes. I just had such a heart for it and then I continued to meet social workers and work with more social workers. I love it and I love how you can do so much with it and help people in so many ways.”
Why did you choose Ohio State?
“I chose Ohio State because I had two sisters that went here. Honestly, when I was going through the recruitment process, I was like ‘Well, I want to be different as the youngest,' but everything about Ohio State I fell in love with. From the school, especially at the time I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and then talking with Muzzy. Learning about the culture and wanting to be way better in four years, I could see Muzzy could do that and that I was really going to be pushed. I just fell in love with everything she said and everything she said she has backed up, her word was valid and true."
What does it mean to you to carry on your family’s legacy and what do you want your legacy to be at Ohio State?
“We have a thing we say, ‘Play for Her.’ Part of it is my sisters who were here before me because they got to be coached when Muzzy first got here and before the program was what it is now. We are so fortunate, and Muzzy has pushed so hard for us, so I’m just thankful. They walked so we could run in this program and all the things we get and how we are treated and how we are pushed. I’m just super thankful for what they had to do for me and for the rest of us and I want to do the same that they did for us and make the program better. Muz is always ready to make the program better and obviously she can’t do that alone. Just continuing to make the program's normal even better. The normal of future players won't be our normal, it'll be better.”
What makes this program and Ohio State special to you?
“I would say walking through the airport with your Ohio State stuff as a team, or even if you are by yourself, you’ll have someone yell O-H. I think that just shows how far Ohio State stretches when you’re so far away people are still calling it out.”
What is your favorite thing about Ohio State?
“I think it’s the resources, especially within our staff. When people throw out that word, there are so many resources at Ohio State and so many people that are willing to help you. My coaches or staff are so willing to help me be better or do the extra work or take time to do extra video for me. I’ve talked with others, and they just don’t have that. That's our normal and I’m so thankful.”
What does it mean to you to be one of the captains of this team?
“It’s such an honor. I was so thankful and appreciative of how our other girls see all of us as captains. I love all the captains. I’m just so thankful and honored because it’s a big thing, especially here, especially how much Muzzy has pride in leadership here and how we all do and how the culture is kind of built around the player.”
How do you want to grow this season?
“There's a bunch of areas. I can always find something but especially being a captain, Muz has challenged me in this. There are no days off. Figuring out what that looks like for me and to help and be a good leader, but also helping others be great. Making it more about the team, making it more about how we can all collectively be better together, not just how am I getting better as an individual.”
