As the University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team heads to Minneapolis for a WCHA playoff semifinal matchup with defending national champions and rival Minnesota-Duluth this Friday, it brings with it an official legend.
Senior goaltender Jessie Vetter was voted by the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as one of the top 10 players in the league’s first decade. Vetter, who stands as the only active player to make the list, joins former Wisconsin greats Sara Bauer and Molly Engstrom as recipients of the honor.
As Vetter and her teammates prepare for the weekend at Ridder Arena, hopes of a fourth consecutive trip to the national title game, should, as it often does during postseason play, fall to the team’s goaltender.
Coach Mark Johnson, judging from Vetter’s gutsy performance in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Ohio State, thinks she can handle the load.
“When you go through four or five minute periods when you’re not playing well, she has been able to keep us in the game,” Johnson said. “They hit a couple posts in the second period, but when they got good quality opportunities, she kept us in the game and gave us the opportunity to win it.”
Vetter enters WCHA postseason play tied for the NCAA record for career victories with 86, tied for first in career shutouts, as a recipient of all-WCHA honors and most importantly, owner of two national championships.
After taking over as a freshman and guiding UW to a national championship, Vetter has accumulated an impressive 8-1 record in NCAA tournament play.
In addition, during Vetter’s career, Wisconsin has won more games than any other program during that four-year span. Vetter also has seen extensive ice time in international play, and many consider her a top candidate to start as goalie of the 2010 Olympic team to be coached by current UW coach Mark Johnson.
Vetter’s departure next season will call for a new era in Wisconsin women’s hockey and generate many relieved Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth fans. With so many great achievements already, Vetter did note that her favorite of all her awards was easily the NCAA record for most career victories.
Vetter admits she was surprised to get the recognition, and listening to her modestly speak about her accomplishments leaves the impression that she has no intention of admiring any of this until the season concludes this spring.
“That is definitely a very good accomplishment I think. I think it is one of the ones I like the most just because victories are huge for our team and [they] help us get to where we want to be. It is definitely a very cool honor to have,” Vetter said.
Vetter’s teammate Erika Lawler, a fellow senior, expressed her gratitude towards the selection of her friend and teammate.
“It’s awesome. I saw that today and I am just so proud of her. I definitely so happy that she was chosen to be part of that because she deserves it more than anyone does I know,” Lawler said. “I am just very fortunate to have had her as my goalie the last four years, (and) lucky to [be] a teammate. (She is) Not only a great goalie, but a great leader. If anyone deserves it, it’s [Vetter].”
With a huge matchup against UMD looming next weekend, individual awards will seem trivial in comparison to team success. Similar to Vetter’s cool demeanor and consistency is her great modesty.
Vetter, who has played with or against virtually each of the other nine recipients of the honor, has gained the respect of not only her teammates, but her opponents as well.
“It is a good feather in her cap,” Johnson said. “She’s certainly earned that, and not only the respect of her teammates but also the people she’s playing against.”
