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Joy Dunne Named a Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top 10 Finalist
3/5/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State women's hockey junior forward Joy Dunne is a Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Top-10 Finalist, the USA Hockey Foundation announced Thursday.
For the third consecutive season, Dunne is the Buckeyes' leading goal scorer with 26 goals on the year. She is second on the team with 47 points in 26 games played. The WCHA Forward of the Year finalist is fifth in the country in goals and points per game (1.81) and ninth in total points. She is also third in the country with a plus-46 on ice.
The O'Fallon, Mo. native's clutch reputation for the Buckeyes was cemented earlier this season when she broke the program record for career game-winning goals. So far this year, she has scored six game-winning goals, including the game-winners in the season-opener at Colgate, the season series-opening win at Minnesota and against then-ranked No. 5 Minnesota Duluth and No. 4 Penn State.
Dunne is currently third among the program's leading career goal scorers (78) and eighth in career points (151).
Dunne's experience playing every position growing up has proven to be impactful for the Buckeyes, especially this season. She played defense for the team for two series and was awarded the WCHA's Defender of the Week honor for her success at the position in those games.
Outside of her NCAA season accomplishments, Dunne is a 2026 Olympic gold medalist with Team USA. She made her Olympic debut this season as the youngest player on the United States' roster and finished the tournament with five points on two goals and three assists. She was also a top line forward and starter in the gold medal game.
Off the ice, Dunne is a WCHA All-Academic Team and WCHA Scholar-Athlete as a social work major. She is part of a pen pal program with a local elementary school and XX.
Dunne is a Patty Kazmaier Top 10 Finalist for the second consecutive season. She became the Buckeyes' ninth finalist in program history when she earned the honor last season. In all, an Ohio State women's hockey player has been a Top 10 Finalist 12 times.
About the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award
An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is annually presented to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. Selection criteria includes 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. For a full list of previous honorees, click HERE.
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. An accomplished athlete who helped lead the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship in three consecutive seasons (1981-84), Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died Feb. 15, 1990, at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.
For the third consecutive season, Dunne is the Buckeyes' leading goal scorer with 26 goals on the year. She is second on the team with 47 points in 26 games played. The WCHA Forward of the Year finalist is fifth in the country in goals and points per game (1.81) and ninth in total points. She is also third in the country with a plus-46 on ice.
The O'Fallon, Mo. native's clutch reputation for the Buckeyes was cemented earlier this season when she broke the program record for career game-winning goals. So far this year, she has scored six game-winning goals, including the game-winners in the season-opener at Colgate, the season series-opening win at Minnesota and against then-ranked No. 5 Minnesota Duluth and No. 4 Penn State.
Dunne is currently third among the program's leading career goal scorers (78) and eighth in career points (151).
Dunne's experience playing every position growing up has proven to be impactful for the Buckeyes, especially this season. She played defense for the team for two series and was awarded the WCHA's Defender of the Week honor for her success at the position in those games.
Outside of her NCAA season accomplishments, Dunne is a 2026 Olympic gold medalist with Team USA. She made her Olympic debut this season as the youngest player on the United States' roster and finished the tournament with five points on two goals and three assists. She was also a top line forward and starter in the gold medal game.
Off the ice, Dunne is a WCHA All-Academic Team and WCHA Scholar-Athlete as a social work major. She is part of a pen pal program with a local elementary school and XX.
Dunne is a Patty Kazmaier Top 10 Finalist for the second consecutive season. She became the Buckeyes' ninth finalist in program history when she earned the honor last season. In all, an Ohio State women's hockey player has been a Top 10 Finalist 12 times.
About the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award
An award of The USA Hockey Foundation, the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award is annually presented to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey. Selection criteria includes 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. For a full list of previous honorees, click HERE.
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. An accomplished athlete who helped lead the Tigers to the Ivy League Championship in three consecutive seasons (1981-84), Patty Kazmaier-Sandt died Feb. 15, 1990, at the age of 28 following a long struggle with a rare blood disease.
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