Game One Coverage
Friday, Jan. 10 | 6:07 pm CT — Bemidji, Minn.
Game Two Coverage
Saturday, Jan. 11 | 3:07 pm CT — Bemidji, Minn.
MADISON, Wis. – The No. 1 Wisconsin women's hockey team heads back on the road to Bemidji to take on the BSU Beavers this weekend at the Sanford Center. Puck drop Friday is set for 6 p.m. while Saturday's series finale begins at 3 p.m.
1. BATTLE AT THE BURGH BOSSES: The Badgers brought home another trophy last weekend after posting two wins over Robert Morris and No. 3 Northeastern in Pittsburgh at the Battle at the Burgh tournament.
UW scored twice in the final 12 minutes of Saturday's opening game at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex to post a 3-1 win over Robert Morris. Junior Dryl Watts tallied her 50th point of the season and at Wisconsin with a shorthanded goal just 88 seconds into the game.
Wisconsin then defeated Northeastern in the 4-3 overtime championship game Sunday that began with sophomore Britta Curl snagging a five-hole and ended with linemate junior Catilin Schneider's power-play rebounder just under three minutes to go in OT.
2. TERRIFIC 20: Saturday's victory over Robert Morris marked the first UW win of the new decade.
The women's hockey team was the first team in the NCAA to reach 20 wins in the country. This marks the 10th straight year the Badgers have reached this goal and the 19th time in program history.
3. AGAINST THE BEAVERS: The Badgers came out with a weekend sweep notching repeat 4-1 wins against the Beavers Oct. 26-27 in a relentlessly aggressive series at LaBahn Arena.
Seven Badgers claimed goals in the last series matchup including two by sophomore
Sophie Shirley who now holds 41 points thanks to 19 goals and 22 assists.
Wisconsin still have the upper hand when it comes to the series between UW and BSU. Since the beginning of Wisconsin women's hockey in 1999, Wisconsin is 76-6-4 all-time against Bemidji and 37-4-1 all-time at home.
4. IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD: Wisconsin legends and Team USA Olympians Brianna Decker and Hilary Knight were named by the
International Ice Hockey Federation as two of six women on the All-Decade Team and in the top three of the top 10 best female players of the decade by
Hockey News.
Former Badger forward Brianna Decker (2009-13) was named at No. 1 as the best hockey player of the decade and "arguably the most underrated player in the women's game". As a Badger, Decker earned the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, WCHA Player of the Year and Wisconsin's Offensive Player of the Year in the 2011-12 season.
Leading American women's hockey in scoring at the Olympics this decade, former Badger forward Hilary Knight (2007-12) stole No. 3 on the list. She has posted 36 goals which is 10 more than any other player in 37 World Championship games. As the Badgers' all-time leader in goals, Knight had notched 143 total including 30 game-winners, 37 on the power play and eight short-handers.
Both Decker and Knight have won Olympic gold in 2018, World Championship gold five times from 2011-17, the 2016 Isobel Cup in their inaugural NWHL season with the Boston Pride and the NCAA Frozen Four crown in 2011 together among many other accomplishments.
6. POND HOCKEY 101: The Wisconsin athletic department in partnership with Madison Parks will host the ninth edition of the Wisconsin women's hockey outdoor team skate from 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15 at
Vilas Park Ice Rink (1339 Vilas Park Dr).
Fans are invited to skate and receive autographs the Badgers. Admission is free and all ages are welcome to attend. Skate rentals and concessions are available from the warming shelter through Madison Parks.
If weather does not cooperate on Wednesday, a make up date is set for Thursday, Jan. 16 from 6-7:30 p.m.
