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2015 Top-3 Patty Kazmaier Award Finalists Named

One of Minnesota's Hannah Brandt, Boston College's Alex Carpenter, and Boston University's Marie-Philip Poulin will win the award, given to the top player in Division 1 women's hockey, on March 21.

By Nathan Wells
Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

A repeat finalist and two Olympians are the players left vying for the 2015 Patty Kazmaier Award.

Minnesota junior forward Hannah Brandt, Boston College redshirt junior forward Alex Carpenter, and Boston University redshirt senior forward Marie-Philip Poulin are the three finalists for the award, given to the top player in Division 1 women's hockey.

The award is named in honor of Patty Kazmaier-Sandt, who passed away in 1990 at the age of 28.

Brandt was also a finalist for the 2014 Patty Kazmaier Award won by Clarkson's Jamie Lee Rattray. The Vandais Heights, MN native was named the WCHA Player of the Year for the second consecutive season Wednesday. Brant currently is second in the nation in points (67), goals (31) and third in assists (36) on a 31-2-4 Minnesota team searching for its fourth consecutive WCHA Final Faceoff title and third national championship in four seasons.

Carpenter, returning from a silver medal earned with Team USA in the 2014 Olympics, leads the nation in points (42), goals (33) and assists (42) in 33 games. Her 2.25 points per game is .3 more than the nearest player (BC teammate Haley Skarupa). The Eagles have spent much of the season as the #1 team in women's college hockey and were undefeated prior to Harvard upsetting BC in the Beanpot final. So far that is the only blemish for Carpenter and Boston College, which enters the Hockey East tournament 32-1-2.

Poulin is attempting to become Boston University's first Patty Kazmaier recipient. The Beauceville, Quebec native and Terriers captain has 22 goals and 47 points in just 29 games. She is in the top-10 of almost every major and minor offensive category. With two gold medals (2010, 2014) and one of the most recognizable names in women's hockey, Poulin could add more honors both individually and team-wise. Boston University is 28-8-3 in 2014-15.

The three finalists were cut down from the 10 previously announced finalists.

The winner of the 2015 Patty Kazmaier Award will be announced March 21 in Minneapolis a day before the national championship game at Ridder Arena.