Swartout was big reason for Holy Family’s rise to success

by Bryan Zollman, Let’s Play Hockey

Let’s Play Hockey announced the winner of the 2026 Jori Jones Award at the 2026 Ms. Hockey Banquet on Sunday, Feb. 22 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.

Kayla Swartout of Holy Family was the recipient of the award, given to the state’s top senior goaltender. Swartout has been a mainstay in the crease for the Holy Family Fire, helping lead them to their second straight state tournament appearance and third-place finish, and helping the program turn a corner into a Top 10 contender.

Swartout finished the season with 24-4-0 record, a 1.67 goals against average and a .938 save percentage. In her career she finished with a 61-22-1 record, 1,999 saves, 1.61 goals against average and .936 save percentage.

Holy Family head Coach Randy Koeppl was a goalie at Bloomington Jefferson, so he knows a good one when he sees one. He credited her off-ice commitment to her on-ice success.

“The work ethic with her is just unbeleivable,” he said. “She’s such a good goalie, but just has the best personality for being a goalie and a leader. To see her up on stage with the big old Swarty smile and how she represents herself and her family and our school and our program, it was such an honor to see her win that award and carry on that tradition of a lot of great goalies who have won that award.”

Swartout thanked her parents, coaches and teammates upon receiving the award.

“Thank you to my teammates for helping me grow every single day,” Swartout said. “You pushed me to be the person I am. Thank you to my parents and those 5 a.m. calls to wake up early to skate. To Randy,  thank you so much for believing in me and taking a chance on me. Thank to my other coaches, especially you Jason (Jensen) for always believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you for helping me get here.”

Swartout will continue her playing career at the University of Wisconsin, currently ranked No. 1 in the country and defending national champions.

“She made our program better,” said Koeppl.  “That personality and work ethic is almost unmatched. I couldn’t have been happier for her.”

The award was sponsored by the Minnesota Wild, the Minnesota Girls Coaches Association, and Tradition Mortgage.

About the Jori Jones 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. 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.

Past winners:

1999 — Katie Beauduy, Blaine HS
2000 — Shari Vogt, River Lakesm HS
2001 — Jody Horak, Blaine HS
2002 — Amber Hasbargen, Warroad HS
2003 — Robin Doepke, Chaska HS
2004 — Emily Brookshaw, Hill-Murray HS
2005 — Johanna Ellison, Cloquet/Esko/Carlton HS
2006 — Alannah McCready, Centennial HS
2007 — Ashley Nixon, Blaine HS
2008 — Alyssa Grogan, Eaganm HS
2009 — Laura Bellamy, Duluth Northern Stars HS
2010 — Kallie Billadeau, Hopkins HS
2011 — Julie Friend, Minnetonka HS
2012 — Erika Allen, Roseville HS
2013 — Sydney Rossman, Minnetonka HS
2014 — Erin O’Neil, Hopkins HS
2015 — Frances Marshall, Thief River Falls HS
2016 — Jenna Brenneman, Breck HS
2017 — Breanna Blesi, Maple Grove HS
2018 — Alexa Dobchuk, Eden Prairie HS
2019 — Calla Frank, White Bear Lake HS
2020 – Anna LaRose, North Wright County HS
2021 – Brynn Dulac, Minnetonka HS
2022 – Maggie Malecha, Northfield HS
2023 – Umna Corniea, Edina HS
2024 – Grace Zhan, Hill-Murray HS
2025 – Layla Hemp, Minnetonka HS
2026 – Kayla Swartout, Holy Family HS