The eighth-ranked UW women’s hockey team has enjoyed a month of competitive success this January, winning their last six games while holding their opponents to just three goals.
However, the success is bittersweet, as Badger head coach Trina Bourget took an unexpected medical leave Jan. 16. It is unknown when she will return.
Assistant coaches Dan Koch and Tracy Cornell have stepped up as interim coaches and will run the team until Bourget’s return.
Bourget is in her second year as the Badgers’ head coach. Last season, she led Wisconsin to the first 20-win season in program history, including wins over three top-five teams.
UW junior Sis Paulsen commented on the team’s reaction to Bourget’s sudden departure.
“I think we’ve really adjusted well,” Paulsen said. “Coach Bourget had an unfortunate thing happen to her. We don’t really know what exactly has happened, but we are being really supportive of her, and we have really come together as a team through this change.”
Paulsen, the team captain, also praised the interim coaches on their ability to keep the season’s momentum strong after Bourget’s leave was announced.
“Tracy and Dan have done a great job,” Paulsen said. “They’ve been doing great running practices and we’ve been winning games, so obviously things have been working.”
This past weekend, it looked as though the Badgers had no problem adjusting to the coaching change; they defeated Minnesota State twice, 4-0 on Friday and 3-0 on Saturday.
The team currently has not allowed a goal in the past 10 periods, thanks to both the strong play of the UW forwards and the consistent play of junior goaltender Jackie MacMillan.
Despite the Badgers’ domination of their recent opponents, Paulsen was quick to mention that her team needs to keep their focus during this tumultuous period.
“We have to be sure to take one game at a time,” Paulsen said. “We cannot overlook anybody. We know that we have to get up for every game if we want to do well in the playoffs.”
Wisconsin has just ten games left in the regular season before the WCHA Tournament. This weekend, the Badgers travel to the East Coast to take on Boston College and Providence.