This past Saturday's 5-0 victory over Minnesota State was Senior Night for the Wisconsin women's hockey team, a tribute to the five seniors departing at the end of the season.
The five players, team captain Sharon Cole, assistant captain Nikki Burish, goaltender Meghan Horras, forward Grace Hutchins and forward Cyndy Kenyon, are nearing the end of their season at Wisconsin and their honoring was much deserved.
The team was also honored at the game, after having clinched the WCHA championship for the first time in the program's history.
Since clinching the conference, the Badgers are beginning to look ahead to the playoffs. Wisconsin has one final series against Ohio State before facing North Dakota in the first round of the WCHA playoffs. Although North Dakota has the worst record in the conference, they are not to be underestimated.
"I think [North Dakota] will be coming out hard," Cole said. "They have nothing to lose … we know we can't let down at all because they beat [the University of Minnesota–Duluth] the other weekend. So we'll need to bring our A-game."
The Badgers will likely be playing hard as well in order to capitalize on their success this season, and for the seniors, they know this will be their last shot to make a run at the national title.
"Well now all the other years are gone … and this is my last year to experience the highest competition I can get," Cole said. "It is extra determination … to get to a national championship … but I think it's also extra determination for everyone on the team.
"I think a part of them realizes that the seniors on the team won't get another chance," she added. "But we've set ourselves up in a pretty good position [to win]."
Fellow senior Meghan Horras, however, felt differently.
"I know this my final season and the end of my career here," Horras said. "But I'll play same way just like any other game or any other year. I'll just go out there and do everything that I can and all the things I always do"
The leadership of these seniors is unquestionable. Cole anchors her line with junior Sara Bauer and sophomore Jinelle Zaugg. Their line has combined for 100 points this season, with Cole contributing 33.
Horras is the main goalie of the team with over 1,000 minutes played. She has the best winning percentage in the conference with 14 wins compared to just two losses.
Burish, meanwhile, went through some offensive struggles early in the season but has come on strong as of late. She led the way on Senior Night with a goal and two assists, giving her 22 points on the season.
Hutchins and Kenyon have both contributed offensively as well, with Hutchins collecting nine points on the season, while Kenyon has collected 19.
"[The seniors] are a great bunch of players," UW head coach Mark Johnson said. "They've won a lot of hockey games, and they've been here since I started [coaching the women's team]. They've had a great four years … Cole not only turned into a great hockey player, but she turned into our captain and Nikki Burish is an alternate captain. People can see what they do on they ice, but you miss more when they're off the ice."
With the seniors leaving at the end of the season, the Badgers will look to younger players to step up and be leaders. Jessie Vetter and Christine Dufour will take over in goal, and the team will need to find a new captain and assistant captain.
"Both [Vetter and Dufour] are great goaltenders," Horras said. "They both have very different styles, and I think that will work out very well next year. Both on and off the ice they work really well together, so things are looking pretty good for next year."
"There are a bunch of people who [show leadership]," Cole said. "I can't single out a few people … not only the people with [captain and assistant captain] letters [on their uniforms] are leaders but also all those without letters are just as important in leading the team."
