The USA Hockey Foundation announced Thursday the 10 finalists for the 2016 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.

Wisconsin sophomore forward Annie Pankowski made the cut. She is a Laguna Hills native and former member of the Anaheim Lady Ducks.

The honor is awarded annually upon the top player in NCAA Division I women’s hockey and this year will be unveiled at a brunch ceremony at Wentworth By The Sea in New Castle, N.H., on Saturday, March 19, as part of the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four weekend hosted by New Hampshire.

Pankowski ranks seventh nationally and third in the WCHA in points (52), is tied for sixth nationally and third in the WCHA in assists (32), leads WCHA in power-play assists (11) in conference games and is second in the WCHA in power-play points (14) in league play. She has registered a point in 29 of Wisconsin’s 32 games this season and has 14 multi-point games.

She recorded a 21-game point streak, which ranks fifth in UW program history, earlier this season and was named WCHA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 5 and Dec. 6 and was named the American Sports Network Player of the Week on Dec. 6.

Off the ice, Pankowski has volunteered at the Americans Family Children’s Hospital, Toys for Tots and the Goodman Community Center Food Pantry, and has also has taken part in UW’s “Flat Bucky” program and skated with the Madison Timber Wolves, an area hockey team for children and adults with special needs.

In early February, the selection process began when NCAA Division I women’s hockey coaches were asked to nominate players for the award. Players who were nominated by two or more coaches were then placed on an official ballot, which was sent back to the coaches to vote for the top 10 finalists.

The three finalists, including the recipient of the award, will be chosen by a 13-person selection committee made up of NCAA Division I women’s hockey coaches, representatives of print and broadcast media, an at-large member and representative of USA Hockey.

The top three finalists will be announced on Thursday, March 3.

THE 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.

ABOUT PATTY KAZMAIER

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.