Izzy Daniel Bio
Isabel Grace Daniel, known professionally as Izzy Daniel, is an American professional ice hockey forward who plays for the Vancouver Goldeneyes of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). A 2024 Patty Kazmaier Award winner, she is widely recognized as one of the top playmakers of her generation and made history as the first Cornell University player to receive women’s college hockey’s most prestigious individual honor. Daniel previously played for the Toronto Sceptres of the PWHL after being selected in the 2024 PWHL Draft.
Born on September 29, 2000, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Daniel developed into a star at The Blake School before starring at Cornell University, where she became a record-setting forward. Known for her vision, passing, and hockey intelligence, she is a right-shooting forward who has built her reputation on consistent point production and strong two-way play.
Early Life and Background
Isabel Grace Daniel was born on September 29, 2000, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she grew up in a supportive family environment that encouraged her athletic development. She is the daughter of Greg Daniel and Beth Daniel, and she has two younger brothers, Eli and Darley, who have remained part of her close-knit family circle throughout her hockey career.
Daniel attended The Blake School in Minneapolis, where she played four years of varsity hockey and quickly established herself as one of the top young players in Minnesota. During her high school career, she won two state championships and was named team MVP twice, all-conference three times, and all-state twice. In 2019, she was a finalist for the Minnesota Ms. Hockey Award, a recognition reserved for the top senior girls’ high school hockey player in the state.
Her success at Blake gave her a strong foundation in competitive hockey and helped her earn a path to NCAA Division I play. Her time in Minnesota youth hockey, combined with her family’s encouragement, played a key role in shaping her early identity as a forward with elite offensive instincts.
Path to Hockey
Daniel’s path to college and professional hockey began with her standout play at The Blake School, where her scoring touch and playmaking ability drew attention from top NCAA programs. Her selection as a Ms. Hockey finalist confirmed her status as one of the most decorated high school players in Minnesota, a state with a deep tradition of producing elite women’s hockey talent.
She committed to Cornell University, joining the Big Red for the 2019–20 season and immediately stepping into a meaningful role as a freshman. That season, she recorded three goals and 14 assists in 29 games and was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year, signaling her arrival as one of the conference’s brightest young talents.
After her rookie year, Daniel continued to develop her game, using her speed, vision, and hockey sense to become one of the most reliable forwards in the ECAC. Her early college success positioned her for national recognition and, eventually, a top selection in the Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft.
Izzy Daniel Career
Early Career (2019–2022)
Daniel began her collegiate career at Cornell University during the 2019–20 season, recording three goals and 14 assists in 29 games and earning Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors. The Ivy League canceled the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which temporarily paused her development but did not slow her trajectory once play resumed.
During the 2021–22 season, her sophomore year, Daniel recorded nine goals and 25 assists in 30 games and was named to the All-ECAC Hockey Third Team. Her blend of playmaking and steady production helped establish her as a core piece of Cornell’s offense and laid the groundwork for her eventual rise to national prominence.
Cornell Breakthrough (2022–2024)
In her junior year during the 2022–23 season, Daniel led the Big Red in scoring with 18 goals and 30 assists in 32 games, earning second-team All-ECAC and second-team All-Ivy honors. Her ability to control the pace of the game and create chances for teammates made her one of the most dangerous forwards in the ECAC.
During the 2023–24 senior season, Daniel again led Cornell in scoring with 21 goals and 38 assists in 34 games, ranking second nationally in assists per game at 1.12, third in points per game at 1.74, and seventh in goals per game at 0.62. Her 38 assists tied the Cornell single-season record, and she finished her career having appeared in 125 consecutive games with 51 goals and 107 assists.
Following the season, Daniel was named to the All-Ivy and All-ECAC first teams and won Ivy League Player of the Year, ECAC Forward of the Year, and ECAC Player of the Year. She also won the 2024 Patty Kazmaier Award, becoming the first player from Cornell to win the honor awarded to the top women’s college hockey player in the United States.
Toronto Sceptres Era (2024–2025)
On June 10, 2024, Daniel was selected in the third round, 18th overall, by PWHL Toronto in the 2024 PWHL Draft. Shortly after, on June 27, 2024, she signed a two-year contract with the Toronto Sceptres and transitioned into the professional ranks as one of the most decorated rookies in the league.
Her time in Toronto allowed her to adjust to the pace and physicality of professional hockey while contributing to a competitive PWHL roster. Her combination of hockey IQ and playmaking translated quickly into the professional game and helped set the stage for her next move.
Vancouver Goldeneyes Era (2025–Present)
On June 9, 2025, Daniel was selected eighth overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft, becoming one of the foundational players for the new franchise. The selection reflected her status as a rising star and gave her a fresh opportunity to anchor a growing team.
As a member of the Goldeneyes, Daniel is expected to play a top-six forward role and contribute on the power play, where her vision and passing are major assets. Her arrival in Vancouver has been viewed as a key building block for the expansion club’s long-term identity.
Driving Style and Strengths
Daniel is widely regarded as a cerebral forward whose strengths include elite passing, vision, and the ability to read the play two or three steps ahead. She excels as a playmaker rather than a pure goal scorer, using her hockey IQ to create offense for linemates and control zone entries. Her right shot and strong skating allow her to drive play from the wing and contribute effectively on the power play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Daniel’s career-defining moment came in 2024 when she became the first Cornell player ever to win the Patty Kazmaier Award, cementing her place in the history of women’s college hockey. She also tied Cornell’s single-season assist record with 38 helpers during her senior year and finished her college career with 125 consecutive games played, a testament to her durability and consistency.
Izzy Daniel Career Wins
Izzy Daniel’s most celebrated victory came in 2024 when she won the Patty Kazmaier Award, the highest individual honor in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey. She also earned multiple Ivy League and ECAC Player of the Year awards during her senior season at Cornell, along with two state championships during her high school career at The Blake School.
NCAA and College Highlights
At Cornell, Daniel was a four-year standout who led the Big Red in scoring during both her junior and senior seasons. She tied the program’s single-season assist record with 38 assists in 2023–24 and finished her college career with 51 goals and 107 assists across 125 consecutive games.
Her individual accolades at Cornell included Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2020, All-ECAC selections in multiple seasons, Ivy League Player of the Year in 2024, ECAC Forward of the Year in 2024, and ECAC Player of the Year in 2024. Her 2024 Patty Kazmaier Award win made her the first player in Cornell history to receive the honor.
Other Wins and Performances
During her high school career at The Blake School, Daniel won two Minnesota state championships and was a finalist for the 2019 Minnesota Ms. Hockey Award. She also represented the United States in international competition settings throughout her development, further establishing her résumé as one of the top American forwards of her generation.
Izzy Daniel Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Isabel Grace Daniel was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by her parents, Greg Daniel and Beth Daniel, who supported her athletic pursuits from an early age. She grew up alongside two younger brothers, Eli and Darley, in a family environment that valued sports and competitive play.
Her Minnesota roots connected her to one of the strongest women’s hockey pipelines in the United States, and her family’s backing helped her pursue elite-level opportunities throughout her development.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Daniel studied industrial and labor relations at Cornell University, balancing her academic workload with a demanding Division I hockey schedule. She has kept her personal life largely private, focusing public attention on her career and continued growth as a professional athlete. Her social media presence under the handle izzydaniel8 has allowed fans to follow her journey through the PWHL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks a major new chapter for Izzy Daniel, who joined the Vancouver Goldeneyes after being selected eighth overall in the 2025 PWHL Expansion Draft. As one of the marquee additions for the expansion franchise, she is expected to serve as a top-line forward and a key driver of offensive production. Her arrival gives the Goldeneyes a proven playmaker with Patty Kazmaier Award credentials to build around.
Daniel’s transition from the Toronto Sceptres to Vancouver comes after one professional season in the PWHL, where she gained valuable experience at the league’s pace and physical level. Her ability to adapt quickly will be a major storyline as the Goldeneyes establish their identity in their inaugural campaign.
Looking ahead, Daniel’s combination of elite vision, passing, and hockey IQ positions her as a potential long-term cornerstone of the Vancouver franchise. If she continues her college-level production into the professional ranks, she could quickly emerge as one of the premier forwards in the entire PWHL and a central figure in the league’s growing spotlight.
