Hey Badger Fans! 

It's finally game week in Madison!! The Badgers are back in action taking on the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in a two-game series this weekend. 

Almost all of the team is back for business, besides Mellissa Channell, who currently in Austria/Germany for the Canadian Development Team. We wish her the best as she finishes up the Nations Cup. She will be back by Sunday's game! 

As soon as the Badgers returned from break we all hit the ice for a week of  practices and workouts to bring us back to game-shape. After an infinite amount of bike sprints and skating drills, we have began the week of preparation for the Bulldogs, working on more team-focused drills that always accompany the week before a game. 

With school out of session, many of us have been challenged to keep ourselves occupied during the hours we are not training. A plethora of new activities and hobbies have sprouted among the girls, such as crafting, volunteering, puzzling, and coloring. In our apartment, we're currently attempting to complete a 2,000 piece puzzle, of which I'm pretty sure I've only connected about five pieces. Nonetheless, I'm learning we are all quite the artistic bunch. 
 
The energy to begin the second half of the season is filling the locker room as each day grows closer to puck drop.

Sophomore Lauren Williams reflects on the excitement for this weekend.

"I think that everyone is really excited to play hockey again, to be honest," Williams said. "People haven't played a game in a while and I think we're all just ready to get back out there in that atmosphere."

Senior Erika Sowchuk has similar thoughts heading into our first series of 2016.

"We've put in the work last week and we know that we're ready for puck drop," Sowchuk said. 

Couldn't have said it better myself, girls! Can't wait to get back at it Friday at 2:07 p.m. and Sunday at 12:00 p.m. We hope to see you there! 

On Wisconsin!  

     -Baylee