Jori Jones Award
What is the Jori Jones 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.
Jori Jones Award 2026
Kayla Swartout, Holy Family
Jori Jones Award 2025
Layla Hemp, Minnetonka
Jori Jones Award 2024
Grace Zhan, Hill-Murray
Senior Goalie of the Year Award 2023
Uma Corniea, Edina
Past winners:
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 HS
2025 – Layla Hemp, Minnetonka HS
2026 – Kayla Swartout, Holy Family HS