The semifinalists for the Jori Jones Senior Goalie of the Year Award have been announced by Let's Play Hockey.

The Jori Jones Award is given to the state's top senior goaltender based on criteria that includes: academics, community/extra-curricular activities, citizenship, coachability and, of course, on-ice performance.

Coaches nominate their players for consideration and panel of high school and college coaches and select members of the media vote on the top 10 semifinalists. A second vote will determine the five finalists and the winner of the award.

This year’s Semifinalists include: Nora Hannan (Edina), Mallory Hartl (Moose Lake Area), Ashlyn Hazlett (Minnetonka), Layla Hemp (Minnetonka), Ida Huber (Dodge County), Taylor Kressin (Moorhead), Reese McConnell (Edina), Jayda Moyer (Albert Lea), Zoe Rimstad (Academy of Holy Angels), and Kaydence Roeske (River Lakes). Seven of the 10 goalies are committed to play Division I hockey. Five hail from Class AA programs and five are from Class A programs.

Combined, the goaltenders have 10,025 minutes, have won 136 games, have faced 4,808 shots on goal, made 4,535 saves for .940 save percentage and have a combined 1.33 goals against average.

“This is an outstanding class for goaltenders,” said Let’s Play Hockey editor Bryan Zollman. “There are a lot of goaltenders who are not on this short list who have been tremendous this season and throughout their careers. The State of Hockey continues to produce quality female goaltenders, many who go on to have success at the collegiate level.”

The award will be presented to the winner at the annual Ms. Hockey Banquet at the Saint Paul RiverCentre on Sunday, Feb. 23 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Tickets to the event can be purchased HERE. The banquet is sponsored by the Minnesota Girls Coaches Association, the Minnesota Wild, and Tradition Companies. Chris Long of KSTP will emcee the event which will include guest speakers Gabby Billing of the Minnesota Wild and Madi Goldsworthy of Tradition Companies. The banquet also recognizes players and coaches who receive other individual and team awards.

Last year’s winner was Grace Zhan of Hill-Murray High School.

Previous winners include: 1999 — Katie Beauduy, Blaine; 2000 — Shari Vogt, River Lakes; 2001 — Jody Horak, Blaine; 2002 — Amber Hasbargen, Warroad; 2003 — Robin Doepke, Chaska; 2004 — Emily Brookshaw, Hill-Murray; 2005 — Johanna Ellison, Cloquet/Esko/Carlton; 2006 — Alannah McCready, Centennial; 2007 — Ashley Nixon, Blaine; 2008 — Alyssa Grogan, Eagan; 2009 — Laura Bellamy, Duluth Northern Stars; 2010 — Kallie Billadeau, Hopkins; 2011 — Julie Friend, Minnetonka; 2012 — Erika Allen, Roseville; 2013 — Sydney Rossman, Minnetonka; 2014 — Erin O’Neil, Hopkins; 2015 — Frances Marshall, Thief River Falls; 2016 — Jenna Brenneman, Breck; 2017 — Breanna Blesi, Maple Grove; 2018 — Alexa Dobchuk, Eden Prairie; 2019 — Calla Frank, White Bear Lake; 2020 – Anna LaRose, North Wright County; 2021 – Brynn Dulac, Minnetonka HS; 2022 – Maggie Malecha, Northfield HS; 2023 – Uma Corniea, Edina HS; 2024 –  Grace Zhan – Hill-Murray.

Link to Article with photos: https://letsplayhockey.com/semifinalists-for-jori-jones-goalie-of-the-year-award-announced/

THIS YEAR’S SEMIFINALISTS ARE (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER):

About the Jori Jones Senior Goalie of the Year Award

With the success of the Ms. Hockey Award, it only seemed natural to honor the top senior playing girls’ hockey goaltender in Minnesota with a similar award.

In 1999, Let’s Play Hockey established the Senior Goalie of the Year Award with Katie Beauduy of Blaine named the first winner. Every year since, the award has been presented at the Ms. Hockey Award banquet. The award was named in honor of Jori Jones in 2024. Jones was a goaltender who was a semifinalist for the award in 2022. She passed away in August of 2023 at the age of 19.

“The Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association is proud to partner with Let’s Play Hockey in naming this award in Jori Jones’ honor,” said MGCHA Executive Director Tim Morris. “It is always tragic when the Minnesota hockey family loses someone, especially someone as young and vibrant as Jori. Attaching her name to the Senior Goalie Award only strengthens and enhances the prestige of that honor and will keep her spirit alive for future classes of female goaltenders in the state of Minnesota. We are looking forward to presenting the award to one of this year’s worthy nominees. Gracious thanks to the Jones family and Roseville hockey for allowing us to forever connect Jori’s name to this award.”

The Jori Jones Award is presented to the top senior girls’ high school hockey goaltender in the state, based on the following criteria: academics, community/extra-curricular activities, citizenship, coachability and, of course, on-ice performance.

The candidates are identified based on nominations by their coaches. The selection of the top 10 candidates, then the five finalists, and ultimately the winner, is based on consultations with a panel of Division I and III college women’s coaches from the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as a panel of high school coaches.