For Desbiens, a healthy achievement

BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider

MADISON, Wis. — When we last laid eyes on Ann-Renee Desbiens, the junior goaltender for the Wisconsin women's hockey team was in an awful way.

She was angry and frustrated after the Badgers ended the regular season Feb. 19 and 20 with back-to-back Western Collegiate Hockey Association losses at Minnesota.

The defending NCAA champion Gophers claimed 4-0 and 4-3 (overtime) victories and Desbiens will tell you she didn't perform up to her lofty, exacting standards.

"That was a rough weekend," she said.

What goes unsaid until Desbiens is coaxed into talking about it is that she played both games with a horrific case of the flu.

Desbiens didn't accompany her teammates on the bus to Minneapolis lest she be contagious. She arrived via car at Ridder Arena two hours before the series opener and gutted out both games — one of which was televised nationally on the Big Ten Network — while facing one of the most lethal offenses in the nation.

"She was behind the eight ball from the get-go," Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson said.

A week later, Desbiens is definitely feeling better about things. Not only has she purged the flu bug, she learned Thursday that she was one of 10 finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award — given to the top college player in the country — then embraced a milestone Friday while helping the Badgers open the postseason with a bang.

Desbien tied the NCAA single-season record for most shutouts with her 17th as UW eased to a 4-0 victory over Minnesota State in the opener of a best-of-three WCHA playoffs at LaBahn Arena.

Desbiens, from La Malbaie, Quebec, made 13 saves to equal the mark set by former Minnesota standout Noora Raty in 2012-13.

"It's impressive to get 17," Desbiens said, "but it isn't something you can do by yourself."

That's been a common theme with Desbiens throughout this record-breaking season. The third-ranked Badgers set an NCAA standard with nine straight shutouts from Oct. 10 to Nov. 13. They also set a program mark with 19 shutouts.

Desbiens typically responds to questions about her resume of shutouts — she now has 34 in 80 career starts — with a mix of humility and sheepishness.

"The biggest part about it is we've been able to be consistent the entire season pretty much," she said.

Too modest?

"She's had an amazing season and she's so humble, so it's awesome to see for her," sophomore center Emily Clark said of Desbiens after accounting for a goal and an assist against the Mavericks.

Wisconsin (31-3-1 overall) had an overwhelming 56-13 advantage in shots on goal, including a 23-1 edge in the second period that helped transform a 1-0 lead into a convincing decision.
Desbiens was tested twice — an odd-man rush in the first and one in the second — but otherwise watched her teammates dictate from the other end of the rink.

"When everyone's during their job, the puck is not in our end a lot," Clark said. "But when it is, she's there and we're confident that if we have a small breakdown. She definitely gives maybe more credit than she (should) when she stands on her head."

Some perspective: 42 percent of Desbien's career starts have been shutouts. Raty finished at 31 percent (43 of 139). Desbien's two All-American predecessors at UW, Jessie Vetter and Alex Rigsby, finished at 34 percent (39 of 114) and 27 percent (30 of 132), respectively.

"It's tough to get those," Johnson said of Desbien's latest record. "Credit to her for staying focused for 60 minutes and putting herself in position in a lot of games to finish the deal."

A first-period power-play goal by Clark, her 21st of the season, was all the Badgers needed, but they pulled away in the third on conversions by junior defenseman Mellissa Channell, junior left winger Sarah Nurse — her team-best 23rd — and freshman left winger Sam Cogan.

The Mavericks (3-28-4) spent most of the game trying to keep their wits and catch their breath against the reigning WCHA regular-season titlists.

"The pressure we had in the second period went over into the third," Channell said. "They were exhausted in the second.

"We did our job. We wore them down and then we just took over in the third."

There was feistiness on both sides, which is what you expect in the playoffs.

"Every game from here on out is going to be emotional and I think that's where it comes from," Clark said. "Your season's on the line at this point."

Closing out the series Saturday will be an even tougher task even though Wisconsin has won all five meetings against the Mavericks, including four shutouts.

"Because if they lose, they're done," Desbiens said.

An added bonus for Desbiens is that the milestone came with her parents, Raynald and Claire, in the stands as well as her older brother Vincent, who had never seen her play for the Badgers.

The record was set hours after the Desbiens got a tour of campus and the luxurious facilities at LaBahn.

"It was pretty nice to play in front of them," Ann-Renee said.

Desbiens leads the nation in save percentage (.957) and goals against average (0.79) despite getting roughed up a bit last week.

"I got pretty sick, but it's not an excuse," she said. "You still should be able to go out there and play."

Desbiens rode from Madison to Minneapolis with UW assistant coaches Jackie Friesen and Mark Greenhalgh. She wrapped herself in a blanket and donned headphones to listen to music, but couldn't sleep.

Desbiens said she felt better Saturday against the Gophers, "but still not the best conditions."

The shutout record is shared achievement as far as Desbiens is concerned.

"They're making my life pretty easy back there," she said of her teammates. "What they're doing in front of me sometimes doesn't get enough credit with how well they play."

But Channell offers a different take.

"It all really technically comes down to Ann," she said. "If Ann isn't in the net, pucks go in the net.

"She's done incredible this season. She's an amazing goaltender. We've had some play in it, yes, but I think it's mainly her."