Triple Trouble: Wisconsin Captains Lead Team Into Border Battle
December 02, 2004 | Women's Hockey
The fourth-ranked 2004-05 Wisconsin women's hockey team has a trio of seniors assuming leadership roles: team captain Carla MacLeod and assistant captains Molly Engstrom and Jackie Friesen.
The captains have guided Wisconsin to an 11-3-0 overall record this season, including a 7-3-0 mark in the WCHA heading into this weekend's match up with top-ranked Minnesota.
Carla MacLeod relishes her role, returning for a second season as Badger captain. Last season, MacLeod led Wisconsin to a second-place WCHA finish in addition to earning second-team all-conference recognition.
'Anytime you can be a captain on a team like this, it 's an honor,' said MacLeod. 'The girls are really receptive to me. It was a role I was more than happy to step into.'
MacLeod remains relaxed in her position, 'I'm not a hard-nosed captain, really. I am very laid back. I like to have a lot of fun. I try to instill that in the team too.'
The Calgary, Alberta native draws from a plethora of sources to form her outspoken yet fun-loving demeanor, 'I have learned a lot over the years, even here at Wisconsin when Sis Paulsen was captain. She was a great leader, working hard on and off the ice.'
'I learned a lot as a captain of the Canadian National team as well," said MacLeod. "I've been able to pick up pieces here and there and hopefully apply them to this team.'
'Carla's a really good captain. She does it all really well, she does her job. She commands a lot of respect,' praised assistant captain Molly Engstrom.
Engstrom, the last season's WCHA Defensive Player of the Year, contrasts MacLeod's approach with a more subdued and laid back attitude.
'They are all different in their own right. Molly is the opposite (of MacLeod). She is very quiet and subdued. She does her talking on the ice, ' assessed head coach Mark Johnson.
Engstrom recognizes the accountability of the position she has earned, 'You have more responsibility. You have a letter on your jersey and that 's just a role you have to step into.'
Team assistant captain Jackie Friesen blends both of her fellow captains ' leadership styles, 'The way I play lets me lead by example. I will give my input to help get the girls going. But mostly, the way I lead is on the ice. Hopefully, my teammates will see that and get the team going.'
Johnson is grateful for this season's group of leaders, 'Collectively they do a good job. All three have been around for three years and have played international competition. I think they compliment each other as far as their strengths and weaknesses.'
