Vetter announces retirement from women’s hockey
August 11, 2016 | Women's Hockey
Two-time Olympian backstopped Badgers to three NCAA titles
MADISON, Wis. – Two-time Olympian and 2009 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recipient Jessie Vetter announced her retirement from professional hockey on Thursday.
A native of Cottage Grove, Vetter led the Wisconsin women's hockey squad to NCAA titles in 2006, 2007 and 2009, while collecting a program-record 39 shutouts.
Vetter also shined on the international stage, leading the U.S. to silver at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and compiled 46 wins between the pipes for Team USA in all international competitions.
"My bag is down in the basement, zipped up," Vetter told the Isthmus. "I think as I've gotten older — and I just got married — the idea of training and competing and going to the rink as much as I did just doesn't seem as appealing as it used to. So I've been asking myself, 'If I don't want to put my hockey gear on, how am I going to be able to stay at the high level I expect of myself?' I've had a long career playing hockey and enjoyed every second, and if it's time, it's time."
Vetter ended her UW career with a then-program record of 91 wins, while her career goals-against average of 1.19 and save percentage of .941 are both school records. She shut out opponents in 39 of her 115 games at UW, and her 39 shutouts are the second-most in NCAA history.
"I thought when she married my nephew this past May that she was ready to move on and enter the next chapter in her life," UW head coach Mark Johnson said. "When you look back at what she accomplished not only at Wisconsin, but on the international stage, it's incredible. She brought a smile to a lot of people's faces and she was a big part of our program, helping us get things going and winning championships.
"I'm excited for her to enter that next chapter in her life and thank her for all of the contributions she made not only to Wisconsin, but to women's hockey in general. She was a tremendous influence for a lot of kids."
The goaltender was named the 2006 Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player, becoming the first freshman and goalie to receive the award after she recorded a pair of shutouts during the Badgers' run to their first NCAA title.
Vetter garnered first-team All-America honors in 2007 as she backstopped UW to its second-straight NCAA title. She set a then-NCAA record with a goals-against average of 0.83, becoming the first goaltender in NCAA men's or women's ice hockey to record a goals-against average below 1.00. In addition, Vetter posted a personal shutout streak of 448 minutes and 32 seconds, which was the longest streak in NCAA men's or women's hockey history until current UW netminder Ann-Renee Desbiens recorded a streak of 543:53.
After leading UW back to the NCAA title game in 2008, Vetter played an integral part in UW's NCAA title run in 2009, as she was named the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player after blanking Mercyhurst in the championship contest. She became the second goaltender in NCAA history to win the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the highest individual honor in women's collegiate hockey, after she posted a 33-2-5 record while leading the NCAA in save percentage and shutouts.
On the international stage, Vetter helped the U.S. win four Four Nations Cups and six International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships, including the 2016 IIHF World Championship, where she earned her final victory for Team USA. She concluded her international career with a goals-against average of 1.57, a save percentage of .925 and 15 shutouts in 63 appearances.
A native of Cottage Grove, Vetter led the Wisconsin women's hockey squad to NCAA titles in 2006, 2007 and 2009, while collecting a program-record 39 shutouts.
Vetter also shined on the international stage, leading the U.S. to silver at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics and compiled 46 wins between the pipes for Team USA in all international competitions.
"My bag is down in the basement, zipped up," Vetter told the Isthmus. "I think as I've gotten older — and I just got married — the idea of training and competing and going to the rink as much as I did just doesn't seem as appealing as it used to. So I've been asking myself, 'If I don't want to put my hockey gear on, how am I going to be able to stay at the high level I expect of myself?' I've had a long career playing hockey and enjoyed every second, and if it's time, it's time."
Vetter ended her UW career with a then-program record of 91 wins, while her career goals-against average of 1.19 and save percentage of .941 are both school records. She shut out opponents in 39 of her 115 games at UW, and her 39 shutouts are the second-most in NCAA history.
"I thought when she married my nephew this past May that she was ready to move on and enter the next chapter in her life," UW head coach Mark Johnson said. "When you look back at what she accomplished not only at Wisconsin, but on the international stage, it's incredible. She brought a smile to a lot of people's faces and she was a big part of our program, helping us get things going and winning championships.
"I'm excited for her to enter that next chapter in her life and thank her for all of the contributions she made not only to Wisconsin, but to women's hockey in general. She was a tremendous influence for a lot of kids."
The goaltender was named the 2006 Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player, becoming the first freshman and goalie to receive the award after she recorded a pair of shutouts during the Badgers' run to their first NCAA title.
Vetter garnered first-team All-America honors in 2007 as she backstopped UW to its second-straight NCAA title. She set a then-NCAA record with a goals-against average of 0.83, becoming the first goaltender in NCAA men's or women's ice hockey to record a goals-against average below 1.00. In addition, Vetter posted a personal shutout streak of 448 minutes and 32 seconds, which was the longest streak in NCAA men's or women's hockey history until current UW netminder Ann-Renee Desbiens recorded a streak of 543:53.
After leading UW back to the NCAA title game in 2008, Vetter played an integral part in UW's NCAA title run in 2009, as she was named the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player after blanking Mercyhurst in the championship contest. She became the second goaltender in NCAA history to win the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the highest individual honor in women's collegiate hockey, after she posted a 33-2-5 record while leading the NCAA in save percentage and shutouts.
On the international stage, Vetter helped the U.S. win four Four Nations Cups and six International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships, including the 2016 IIHF World Championship, where she earned her final victory for Team USA. She concluded her international career with a goals-against average of 1.57, a save percentage of .925 and 15 shutouts in 63 appearances.
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