Photo by: Icon Sportswire
Badgers shine in opening games of the Rivalry Series
December 18, 2019 | Women's Hockey
Roque scores pair of goals to lead Team USA to two wins over Canada
MADISON, Wis. -- Eleven Badgers - a mix of eight former Wisconsin women's hockey standouts and three current student-athletes - suited up for Team USA and Team Canada during the first two games of the Rivalry Series between the two hockey powerhouses.
Current Badger senior Abby Roque stole the show as the UW alternate captain scored a goal in each game, helping USA Hockey to a 4-1 win on Saturday in Hartford, Connecticut and a 2-1 win on Tuesday in New Brunswick.
On Saturday, nine of the 11 Badgers suited up for their respective national teams in a nationally-televised broadcast on NBCSN. For Team USA, Alex (Rigsby) Cavallini got the start in net, Hilary Knight was on the third line while the fourth line featured three 2019 NCAA champions in Roque, Britta Curl and Annie Pankowski. Four Badger legends - Emily Clark, Meaghan Mikkelson, Sarah Nurse and Blayre Turnbull, suited up for Team Canada with Clark on the top line, Nurse and Turnbull on the second and Mikkelson on the third d-pair.
With the U.S. holding a 2-1 lead, the U.S. Badger line struck gold as Roque launched a beautiful backhander into the Team Canada net thanks to an assist from Curl to give the U.S. a 3-1 lead. It marked the first goal for Roque in her first game with the senior team while Curl netted her first career point with the U.S. senior squad.
Cavallini was strong in net and was named the Team USA Player of the Game after making 31 stops while Pankowski earned an assist on Team USA's opening goal.
On Tuesday night, 2017 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Winner Ann-Renee Desbiens started for Team Canada while UW junior Natalie Buchbinder made her first appearance for the U.S. senior team.
Roque scored in the first four minutes, thanks to an assist from Buchbinder, to set the tone in Team USA's 2-1 win over Hockey Canada.
Desbiens made 19 saves in the setback.
The U.S. and Canada will resume the Rivalry Series in early February with games in British Columbia and California.
Current Badger senior Abby Roque stole the show as the UW alternate captain scored a goal in each game, helping USA Hockey to a 4-1 win on Saturday in Hartford, Connecticut and a 2-1 win on Tuesday in New Brunswick.
On Saturday, nine of the 11 Badgers suited up for their respective national teams in a nationally-televised broadcast on NBCSN. For Team USA, Alex (Rigsby) Cavallini got the start in net, Hilary Knight was on the third line while the fourth line featured three 2019 NCAA champions in Roque, Britta Curl and Annie Pankowski. Four Badger legends - Emily Clark, Meaghan Mikkelson, Sarah Nurse and Blayre Turnbull, suited up for Team Canada with Clark on the top line, Nurse and Turnbull on the second and Mikkelson on the third d-pair.
When you say Wisconsin, you've said it all!
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) December 18, 2019
There are 1️⃣1️⃣ #Badgers in the #RivalrySeries between @usahockey and @HC_Women!#OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/ZW0KL23jRn
With the U.S. holding a 2-1 lead, the U.S. Badger line struck gold as Roque launched a beautiful backhander into the Team Canada net thanks to an assist from Curl to give the U.S. a 3-1 lead. It marked the first goal for Roque in her first game with the senior team while Curl netted her first career point with the U.S. senior squad.
Yes @NHLNetwork, @abby_roque is a ROCK STAR!
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) December 17, 2019
The #Badgers senior scores her second of the #RivalrySeries to give @usahockey an early lead! https://t.co/qlPKloInHF
Cavallini was strong in net and was named the Team USA Player of the Game after making 31 stops while Pankowski earned an assist on Team USA's opening goal.
On Tuesday night, 2017 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Winner Ann-Renee Desbiens started for Team Canada while UW junior Natalie Buchbinder made her first appearance for the U.S. senior team.
Roque scored in the first four minutes, thanks to an assist from Buchbinder, to set the tone in Team USA's 2-1 win over Hockey Canada.
Yes @NHLNetwork, @abby_roque is a ROCK STAR!
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) December 17, 2019
The #Badgers senior scores her second of the #RivalrySeries to give @usahockey an early lead! https://t.co/qlPKloInHF
Desbiens made 19 saves in the setback.
The U.S. and Canada will resume the Rivalry Series in early February with games in British Columbia and California.
Players Mentioned
Defense
/ Women's Hockey
Forward
/ Women's Hockey
Forward
/ Women's Hockey
Forward
/ Women's Hockey
Forward
/ Women's Hockey
Forward
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