Casey O'Brien (ice Hockey)

Casey O'Brien (born August 27, 2001) is an American college ice hockey forward for Wisconsin of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). She won the Patty Kazmaier Award in 2025.

Early life and education

O'Brien was born to Erika and James O'Brien and has two older brothers, Jack and Max. She grew up in New York City before moving to Boston at the age of 10. She attended Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, Massachusetts during her freshman year. She then joined Shattuck-Saint Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota for her sophomore year. During her sophomore year, she recorded 37 goals and 43 assists in 56 games. During her junior year, she recorded 52 goals and 42 assists in 49 games and was named the USA Today Girls Hockey Player of the Year.

Playing career

College

O'Brien began her collegiate hockey career for the Wisconsin Badgers during the 2020–21 season. During her freshman year, she recorded two goals and eight assists in 21 games, and helped the Badgers win the 2021 NCAA Division I tournament.

During the 2021–22 season, in her sophomore year, she recorded 27 goals and 28 assists in 38 games. She led the nation with nine game-winning goals and ranked third in program history. Following the season she was named a top-ten finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award. During the 2022–23 season, in her junior year, she recorded 19 goals and 29 assists in 41 games, and helped the Badgers win the 2023 NCAA division I tournament.

During the 2023–24 season, in her senior year, she recorded 23 goals and 50 assists in 41 games, and helped the Badgers finish as runner-ups in the 2024 NCAA division I tournament. Her 50 assists led the NCAA, and ranked first in single-season program history. Her 73 points ranked second in the NCAA, behind teammate Kirsten Simms' 75 points. She became the eighth payer in NCAA Division I history to score 50 or more assists in a season. During the month of January 2024, she led the WCHA in points with 17, had five multi-point games, and recorded a point in every game during the month. She was subsequently named the WCHA Player of the Month. During the 2024 WCHA tournament she recorded 13 points and was subsequently named to the All-Tournament team, and tournament MVP. Following an outstanding season, she was named to the All-WCHA first team, USCHO Player of the Year, and a top-three finalist for both the Patty Kazmaier Award and WCHA Forward of the Year.

On May 8, 2024, O'Brien announced she would use her COVID-19 exemption and return to Wisconsin for a fifth year. On September 18, 2024, she was named co-captain for the 2024–25 season, along with Caroline Harvey. On October 5, 2024, O'Brien scored one goal and two assists in a game against Boston College to become the seventh player in program history to surpass 200 career points. During the first month of the season, she recorded two goals and six assists to lead the WCHA in scoring. She led the WCHA in assists (6), assists per game (3.00), total points (8) and points per game (4.00) and was subsequently named the WCHA Player of the Month for the month of September 2024. During October, she again led the WCHA in points (16) and assists (11) and was named WCHA Forward of the Month for the second consecutive month.

During the 2024–25 season, as a graduate student, she recorded 26 goals and 62 assists in 41 games. She led the nation in assists, points, and points per game (2.20). She recorded 17 goals and 35 assists in 28 conference games, and was named WCHA scoring champion. Following the season she was named the WCHA Player of the Year and Forward of the Year. She also won the 2025 Patty Kazmaier Award. On March 1, 2025, during the 2025 WCHA women's ice hockey tournament against Bemidji State, O'Brien recorded one goal and five assists, to become Wisconsin's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Hilary Knight's record of 262 career points. One week later, during the WCHA championship game against Minnesota, she recorded one goal and two assists, to become Wisconsin's all-time leading scorer, male or female, surpassing Mike Eaves' record of 267 career points. She finished her career as Wisconsin's all-time leader in points (274) and assists (177). Her 274 points rank eighth in NCAA history.

Professional

On June 24, 2025, O'Brien was drafted third overall by the New York Sirens in the 2025 PWHL Draft. The Sirens acquired the pick at the draft in a trade that sent Ella Shelton to the Toronto Sceptres.

International play

O'Brien represented the United States at the 2018 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship where she recorded three goals and two assists in five games and won a gold medal. During the semifinals against Canada, she scored the game-winning shootout goal to help the United States advance to the gold medal game. She again represented the United States at the 2019 IIHF World Women's U18 Championship, where she recorded one goal and two assists in five games and won a silver medal.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honors

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:OBrien, Casey
2001 births
Living people
American women's ice hockey forwards
Ice hockey people from New York City
Patty Kazmaier Award winners
Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey players
21st-century American sportswomen