2012 Patty Kazmaier Award winner Brianna Decker, a junior with the Wisconsin Badgers, has been voted as USCHO’s D-I women’s Player of the Year. Decker edged out Northeastern’s Florence Schelling for the award.
Decker is a 5-foot-4 center from Dousman, Wis. She centered Wisconsin’s top line of Carolyne Prévost and Brooke Ammerman, and also served as the assistant captain for the Badgers. In addition to winning the Kazmaier, Decker was named the WCHA’s Player of the Year, a CCM All-American, and WCHA first-team player.
Decker led the nation in goals scored with 37, and finished tied with Jocelyne Larmoueux for most points scored with 82, which followed a sophomore campaign where she notched 34 goals and 80 points. Decker also finished third in points-per-game with 2.05.
During the 2011-12 season, she set Wisconsin’s record for longest scoring streak by notching a point in a least one game for 32 consecutive games in a streak that began last season, from Feb. 11, 2011, to Jan. 6, 2012. She had five game-winning goals during the current season.
Decker also finished second in WCHA scoring behind Lamoureux with 60 points.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Decker’s season is how she elevated the play of her linemates. Ammerman’s productivity increased by 20 points over her previous best, while Prévost’s increased by 25 over her most productive season.
Among Decker’s other highlights were:
• 26 multi-point games.
• 13 multi-assist games.
• Nine multi-goal games.
Decker, who played prep school hockey at Shattuck St. Mary’s, currently sits fourth all-time in scoring at Wisconsin with 189 points. Decker is the fourth Wisconsin player to win the Patty Kazmaier Award, and third in four years.
Still to come are the coach of the year, rookie of the year, All-USCHO first, second and third teams, and all-rookie team.
