This season has been a magical one for the Wisconsin women's hockey team. The Badgers recorded a program best record of 36-4-1 and won the NCAA national championship for the first time.
There is little left to say about the Badgers. The team has accomplished more this season than any other season before it and has been utterly dominant all season long.
Perhaps the most important thing to realize about Wisconsin's season is the fact that the Badgers have finally turned the tables on border rivals Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth. The Badgers finally posted a winning record against both Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth this season.
Prior to this season, Wisconsin had a combined record of 13 wins and 38 losses against its two border rivals. This season, the Badgers won five of six games against Minnesota and had a record of 2-1-1 against Minnesota-Duluth.
The Badgers also won the WCHA title for the first time. Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth are the only other teams to ever win the WCHA title. Likewise, they were the only teams to have won the NCAA championship in this century.
The fact that the Badgers are the first team outside of the Gopher State to win the WCHA title displays the growing competition and equality in the conference.
"There definitely is more parody in the WCHA," Minnesota head coach Laura Halldorson said. "It has been a couple of years that Wisconsin has been right in the mix. They have had a strong team and they have come close to making it to a Frozen Four. [But] this was their year."
A key to the Badgers' success this season was the remarkable play from a very talented group of freshmen. Forwards Erika Lawler and Angie Keseley have been electric all season long, with the two line-mates combining for 65 points on the season.
Redshirt freshman Jessie Vetter compiled a fantastic record during the regular season and became the 'go-to' goalie during the playoffs. Freshman forward Tia Hanson also stepped up in the playoffs, recording the game-winning goals in the 2-1 double-overtime victory over Mercyhurst and in the 1-0 victory against St. Lawrence.
"We are confident in our young freshmen and we have trust in them," UW head coach Mark Johnson said. "We don't consider them freshmen anymore. They have done a wonderful job all season. They play at a high level and have made a contribution to our success this season."
Another key to the Badgers' success was their special teams, which steadily improved throughout the season. Wisconsin was second in the conference in both power-play and penalty kill, along with the fewest penalty minutes per game.
The power play was especially key in the championship game over Minnesota, with two of the three goals in the game being scored on power plays. The penalty kill was also crucial in stopping several Minnesota power-play advantages.
"In playoff games, your special teams have to be good," Johnson said. "We were able to kill the first power-play opportunity that Minnesota had and then we came right back and capitalized on a power-play opportunity of our own. … Certainly it's a big difference being up 3-0 compared to 2-0."
"I think [the Badgers' two power-play goals] were huge," Halldorson added. "The first goal was on the power play … and they followed it up with a five on five goal shortly after that. And the third goal (a power-play goal) was really important. … It might have been the dagger."
Wisconsin also had the leading scorer in the conference for most of the season, as junior forward Sara Bauer recorded 58 points throughout the regular season and playoffs. Bauer was just named the best Division I female hockey player in the country when she was awarded the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award Saturday.
It has been a perfect season for not only the players, but for the coaching staff as well.
"There are sleepless nights, as a player you get excited to play in these types of games and that is what you work hard for, the chance to play for a national championship," Johnson said.
"Obviously, I have been touched with a lot of nice things throughout my playing career, and now I have something from a coaching standpoint and that is really special," Johnson continued. "I feel very lucky to be blessed with good players and to have had this opportunity, and the chips just fell into place. It has been a great year."
It certainly has been.
And the amount of recognition the team has received for its success this season will almost certainly lead to more successful seasons to come.
"[Winning the national title is] huge. Titles mean a lot," team captain Sharon Cole said. "For recruiting and everything, people want to be part of a winning team, especially with coach [Johnson]."
"It's definitely a dream come true," sophomore forward Jinelle Zaugg added. "We're trying to make a name for Wisconsin, and we say in the locker room that Wisconsin is the new state of hockey."
Cole, who started her first season the same year Johnson started coaching the Badgers, also commented on what made this group of players better than in previous seasons.
"We're really deep and each year we get more and more skilled players," Cole said. "It's nice to be able to play three lines that can play against any other team's top line. … Our team chemistry has really improved, and I think the team has really gelled as a whole. … We work better together and really trust each other."
