The Badgers women's hockey team won their third national title in four years. Led by all-American Hilary Knight, Meghan Duggan, Alicia Matthews, Captain Erika Lawler, and the NCAA's top player, goaltender Jessie Vetter, the Badgers left no doubt with a 5-0 finals win over Mercyhurst. The Badgers rolled through the NCAA tourney outscoring the competition 17-1 capping a season with only two losses. Seniors Vetter, Lawler, Matthews, Rachel Bible, Kayla Hagen and Angie Keseley have been there for all three national titles. Coached by Mark Johnson, himself one of the Badgers' all-time greats, with a men's NCAA title as a player, two goals in the Miracle on Ice victory over the Russians in 1980, a two-time NHL all-star with over 300 career goals, now coach of three women's NCAA titles, and the 2010 U.S. Women's National Team Coach, there's very little not to like about this team. Many, many congratulations to the dynasty in Madison.
UW Release College Hockey Online Release
Nice video intro to the team here; UW will surely release a 2008-09 highlight video soon.
Showing posts with label hockey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hockey. Show all posts
Why Wisconsin?
It's a good year to adopt the women's hockey team. First, they are gunning for their 3rd national title in four years. Second, with a win today they could become the first program to go to four straight national finals.
Update: With a 5-1 thrashing of UM-D, the Badgers are in the finals.
Third, the ladies "get" Wisconsin. Really. Senior captain Erika Lawler, from Massachusetts:
"It's a very proud school," said Lawler. "You go there, and everyone's really proud to be a Wisconsin Badger. Definitely the school's pride is a cool, cool thing, a unique thing that Wisconsin has."
"Wisconsin people go all out in their sports, everyone's really into it and just fully invested in their sports and very supportive there. They have an unbelievable atmosphere. It's such a fun environment to be a part of while you're there and while you're living in it."
Meaghan Duggan, also from Massachusetts:
"I didn't know much about the school," Duggan said. "They fly you out for your official visit and I was kind of starstruck. It's an unbelievable campus, it's a beautiful city, I love Madison. They won the national championships the year before I got there. I knew the hockey was a powerhouse and it's just an unbelievable university."
"Anyone that goes out to Madison and gets the tour on the University of Wisconsin campus is going to think the same thing. I heard from a bunch of people from home that they didn't go out there because they were afraid they'd never come back."
"I guess that happened to me. It's hard to leave home and be away from my family but it was definitely the right decision for me."
Same for me. Ok, I didn't have an official visit and wasn't playing any sport (let alone one that just won a national title), and I enjoyed the independence of being far away from home, but on my first visit I saw the same thing: the University really is a special place. Nice to see these lady Badgers represent us so well.
Go Badgers.
I like the news feed feature, got this from here.
Update: With a 5-1 thrashing of UM-D, the Badgers are in the finals.
Third, the ladies "get" Wisconsin. Really. Senior captain Erika Lawler, from Massachusetts:
"It's a very proud school," said Lawler. "You go there, and everyone's really proud to be a Wisconsin Badger. Definitely the school's pride is a cool, cool thing, a unique thing that Wisconsin has."
"Wisconsin people go all out in their sports, everyone's really into it and just fully invested in their sports and very supportive there. They have an unbelievable atmosphere. It's such a fun environment to be a part of while you're there and while you're living in it."
Meaghan Duggan, also from Massachusetts:
"I didn't know much about the school," Duggan said. "They fly you out for your official visit and I was kind of starstruck. It's an unbelievable campus, it's a beautiful city, I love Madison. They won the national championships the year before I got there. I knew the hockey was a powerhouse and it's just an unbelievable university."
"Anyone that goes out to Madison and gets the tour on the University of Wisconsin campus is going to think the same thing. I heard from a bunch of people from home that they didn't go out there because they were afraid they'd never come back."
"I guess that happened to me. It's hard to leave home and be away from my family but it was definitely the right decision for me."
Same for me. Ok, I didn't have an official visit and wasn't playing any sport (let alone one that just won a national title), and I enjoyed the independence of being far away from home, but on my first visit I saw the same thing: the University really is a special place. Nice to see these lady Badgers represent us so well.
Go Badgers.
I like the news feed feature, got this from here.
Badger Hockey Friday
Yeah, so the men are playing basketball tomorrow, too.
Update: no NCAA tourney for the men after losing the WCHA semi to Denver. Tough to miss the tourney. Time to pull for the ladies.
Lest you forget, the Badger men's hockey team is playing in the WHCA semi-final vs. Denver. Defenseman Jamie McBain just won the WCHA player of the year award and was named as a top 10 finalist for the NCAA's Hobey Baker (MVP) award. Had the men been a touch more consistent this season, they wouldn't be fighting for their NCAA tourney lives, but they weren't, so they are. A win over Denver won't guarantee anything, but it's a necessary step to keep their NCAA hopes alive. They will need Connelly's best in net and will need to avoid the scoring droughts that haunted them at critical times throughout the regular season.
The women are legit national title contenders, and play in the NCAA semi-final against Minnesota-Duluth. The Badger women have a slight edge in the season series, at 2-1-2, but as that tells you, these teams are evenly matched. They basically need the same thing the men do, solid goaltending and goals (funny, but that's a common theme for how to win hockey games: score more than the other guys), but unlike the men, they consistently get both. In net, Jessie Vetter is one of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier (MVP) award, and the Badgers had three skaters in the running, too (with two forwards making the final 10).
Update: no NCAA tourney for the men after losing the WCHA semi to Denver. Tough to miss the tourney. Time to pull for the ladies.
Lest you forget, the Badger men's hockey team is playing in the WHCA semi-final vs. Denver. Defenseman Jamie McBain just won the WCHA player of the year award and was named as a top 10 finalist for the NCAA's Hobey Baker (MVP) award. Had the men been a touch more consistent this season, they wouldn't be fighting for their NCAA tourney lives, but they weren't, so they are. A win over Denver won't guarantee anything, but it's a necessary step to keep their NCAA hopes alive. They will need Connelly's best in net and will need to avoid the scoring droughts that haunted them at critical times throughout the regular season.
The women are legit national title contenders, and play in the NCAA semi-final against Minnesota-Duluth. The Badger women have a slight edge in the season series, at 2-1-2, but as that tells you, these teams are evenly matched. They basically need the same thing the men do, solid goaltending and goals (funny, but that's a common theme for how to win hockey games: score more than the other guys), but unlike the men, they consistently get both. In net, Jessie Vetter is one of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier (MVP) award, and the Badgers had three skaters in the running, too (with two forwards making the final 10).
I Don't Believe In Jinxes: Post-Season
Well, I don't believe that some random fan out in California can say something that somehow jinxes our athletic teams in Wisconsin.
The Badger hockey team still has a shot at the NCAA tourney without winning the WCHA tourney. Number one, they need to beat Denver in the WCHA semifinal. Then a whole bunch of other stuff has to fall just right. So it's still possible, but not likely. The problem is even teams that aren't playing any longer can get a boost in the pairwise rankings (which are very good at predicting NCAA tourney invites) when the teams they have played win. Because of that, the only sure bet is to win the WCHA tourney. So let's pull for that. It only requires 2 upsets, folks.
Along those lines, this Florida State match-up in the basketball tourney seems doable. Truth be told, though, this is a football blog and I don't know a thing about Florida State basketball (but I do know that 12/5 upsets aren't uncommon in hoops; oh, and I know we should have played them better in football). Assuming a win over FSU, everyone seems ok with the likely second round match-up with Xavier, although that strikes me as likely major conference bias. Of course I'd like to see the Badgers go far, but, seriously, there's no way they are one of the best 16 teams in the country. They just aren't. Get there and I'll be very happy for them and cheering them on, but that would just be an example of how strange the outcomes in the NCAA basketball tourney can be. You could say the same thing about the men's hockey team making their tournament.
On the other hand, our women's hockey team is a legit national title contender. Semifinals this Friday vs. UM-D (three WCHA squads, with Minnesota in the other semi, in the Frozen Four!). Go Badgers! Good goaltending is the key to playoff hockey and so far Patty Kazmaier finalist Jessie Vetter (video, and yes, the athletic department LOVES that song for highlight videos), who sounds like a someone who could shred on the lead guitar, has proven up to the task (1.33 GAA is just sick!).
The Badger hockey team still has a shot at the NCAA tourney without winning the WCHA tourney. Number one, they need to beat Denver in the WCHA semifinal. Then a whole bunch of other stuff has to fall just right. So it's still possible, but not likely. The problem is even teams that aren't playing any longer can get a boost in the pairwise rankings (which are very good at predicting NCAA tourney invites) when the teams they have played win. Because of that, the only sure bet is to win the WCHA tourney. So let's pull for that. It only requires 2 upsets, folks.
Along those lines, this Florida State match-up in the basketball tourney seems doable. Truth be told, though, this is a football blog and I don't know a thing about Florida State basketball (but I do know that 12/5 upsets aren't uncommon in hoops; oh, and I know we should have played them better in football). Assuming a win over FSU, everyone seems ok with the likely second round match-up with Xavier, although that strikes me as likely major conference bias. Of course I'd like to see the Badgers go far, but, seriously, there's no way they are one of the best 16 teams in the country. They just aren't. Get there and I'll be very happy for them and cheering them on, but that would just be an example of how strange the outcomes in the NCAA basketball tourney can be. You could say the same thing about the men's hockey team making their tournament.
On the other hand, our women's hockey team is a legit national title contender. Semifinals this Friday vs. UM-D (three WCHA squads, with Minnesota in the other semi, in the Frozen Four!). Go Badgers! Good goaltending is the key to playoff hockey and so far Patty Kazmaier finalist Jessie Vetter (video, and yes, the athletic department LOVES that song for highlight videos), who sounds like a someone who could shred on the lead guitar, has proven up to the task (1.33 GAA is just sick!).
Pre/Post Season
Today the post season begins for the men's basketball and hockey teams. The roundballers start with Ohio State in the Big Ten tourney, and on the ice the Badgers take on Minnesota State (Mankato) at the Kohl Center. Both likely need wins to get to the NCAA tourney. For the hockey team, they will need more than just winning this series with Mankato.
The top-seeded women's hockey team hosts Dartmouth to start the NCAA tourney tomorrow.
It goes without saying, but . . . Go Badgers! On Wisconsin!
Of course, this is a football blog, so we're in the pre-season. UW put up its linebacker preview today. As previously noted, Culmer St. Jean will move to middle linebacker, with Jaevery McFadden moving to the strong side. Blake Sorensen is the most likely starter on the weak side. I'm pretty comfortable with those three as the starters. St. Jean has been well regarded, but unlearned, from the start. With several years under his belt, the learning shouldn't be a problem any longer (and didn't look like it was his extensive action in the last two games last season). McFadden is moving to his more natural position on the outside.
The bigger concern, especially with the news that Hodge isn't coming back, is depth. Yes, everyone's excited about Rouse's talent, and we hear good things about Taylor, Hubbard, and Prather, but there isn't much experience there (practically none outside of special teams). Of the true freshman coming in, O'Neill and Fenton got the most press, but neither of them is likely ready to go this coming Fall.
In short, the problem with the linebackers isn't talent, it's depth.
On the plus side, the defense is much healthier this Spring than it was last year. Hopefully that pays dividends.
The top-seeded women's hockey team hosts Dartmouth to start the NCAA tourney tomorrow.
It goes without saying, but . . . Go Badgers! On Wisconsin!
Of course, this is a football blog, so we're in the pre-season. UW put up its linebacker preview today. As previously noted, Culmer St. Jean will move to middle linebacker, with Jaevery McFadden moving to the strong side. Blake Sorensen is the most likely starter on the weak side. I'm pretty comfortable with those three as the starters. St. Jean has been well regarded, but unlearned, from the start. With several years under his belt, the learning shouldn't be a problem any longer (and didn't look like it was his extensive action in the last two games last season). McFadden is moving to his more natural position on the outside.
The bigger concern, especially with the news that Hodge isn't coming back, is depth. Yes, everyone's excited about Rouse's talent, and we hear good things about Taylor, Hubbard, and Prather, but there isn't much experience there (practically none outside of special teams). Of the true freshman coming in, O'Neill and Fenton got the most press, but neither of them is likely ready to go this coming Fall.
In short, the problem with the linebackers isn't talent, it's depth.
On the plus side, the defense is much healthier this Spring than it was last year. Hopefully that pays dividends.
Badger Hockey Tournaround
Not real knowledgeable about our hockey team, but follow them as much as the internet, work, family, and other hobbies allow. After starting the season without a win in 7 games, the Badgers have clawed their way back into first place in the WCHA with a sweep of Minnesota at Mariucci. Mariucci has been a house of horrors for Wisconsin over the years, so this was very big. This is probably the first week all year that the experts will say Wisconsin should be in the NCAA tourney. We have Denver and North Dakota (1st and 2nd in the WCHA -- we're tied for first) remaining at home, with Minnesota State-Mankato sandwiched in between before the WHCA tourney. The Badgers still need a strong finish to make the NCAA's, but it's within legitimate reach for the first time this season.
Update: here's a great blogpost from UW about the Badgers' NCAA hopes.
Here are the BTN's highlights from Friday night's win:
Update: here's a great blogpost from UW about the Badgers' NCAA hopes.
Here are the BTN's highlights from Friday night's win:
In Other News . . .
Pretty good Thanksgiving weekend for Badger sports:
the Women's hockey team remained unbeaten (16-0-2) and #1 in the land. The men continued their improvement, reaching .500 for the first time, with wins over Michigan and Michigan State in the [Big Ten] Showcase at the Kohl Center.
The #22 men's hoops team warmed up for its big ACC/Big Ten challenge match-up with VaTech by beating UW-Milwaukee. The 5-1 women's squad rallied late to upset #6 Baylor and win the Paradise Jam tourney in St. Thomas.
The wrestling team beat Oregon State Sunday.
The only downside for the weekend was two losses for the Volleyball team means the women will miss the NCAA tourney for the first time since 1995.
the Women's hockey team remained unbeaten (16-0-2) and #1 in the land. The men continued their improvement, reaching .500 for the first time, with wins over Michigan and Michigan State in the [Big Ten] Showcase at the Kohl Center.
The #22 men's hoops team warmed up for its big ACC/Big Ten challenge match-up with VaTech by beating UW-Milwaukee. The 5-1 women's squad rallied late to upset #6 Baylor and win the Paradise Jam tourney in St. Thomas.
The wrestling team beat Oregon State Sunday.
The only downside for the weekend was two losses for the Volleyball team means the women will miss the NCAA tourney for the first time since 1995.
TV Problems
I like Badger basketball, but I'm just not into it the way I am football, so it won't get as much play here (I'll probably pay more attention to hockey). Still, big game tonight with #2 UConn. In fact, it's the only game tonight between ranked teams. Thank goodness for Fox Sports Net, I'll be able to see some it. Unlike three Saturdays this fall, Akron, Indiana, and Cal Poly.
I like the BTN, but did I mention that Wisconsin playing a California team wasn't selected for California BTN TV on Saturday? Seriously? I had to watch the Cal Poly replay on Sunday, recorded on my DVR late Saturday night.
Lame. And Comcast is lame for not giving me the overflow channels on the BTN.
I like the BTN, but did I mention that Wisconsin playing a California team wasn't selected for California BTN TV on Saturday? Seriously? I had to watch the Cal Poly replay on Sunday, recorded on my DVR late Saturday night.
Lame. And Comcast is lame for not giving me the overflow channels on the BTN.
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