MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin women's hockey head coach
Mark Johnson announced Thursday that senior forward
Britta Curl will serve as the Badgers' captain for the 2022-23 campaign.
A native of Bismarck, North Dakota, Curl was an alternate captain on UW's 2021 NCAA Championship squad before taking an Olympic redshirt for the 2021-22 season.
"It is such an honor to be trusted with this role," Curl said. "I am excited to be a small part of carrying on a culture and helping this team win."
Joining Curl on this year's leadership team are senior defender
Natalie Buchbinder, senior defender
Nicole LaMantia and junior forward
Casey O'Brien as the trio will serve as alternate captains.
A member of the U.S. squad at the 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship that captured silver, Curl served as a captain for USA Hockey's Collegiate Women's National Team during its three-game series against Canada this summer. Curl has posted 75 points in 98 games for the Badgers, including 34 during her rookie season when the Badgers' captured their fifth NCAA title. The winger is a threat on the power play with 14 career power-play strikes that rank in the top-25 in program history.
Buchbinder also returns to the UW lineup this fall after taking part in USA Hockey's Residency Program last fall. A native of Fairport, New York, Buchbinder has appeared in 130 games for the Cardinal and White and holds a career plus/minus rating of +75. The defender has also posted 40 points thanks to four goals and 36 assists.
An alternate captain on last year's squad, LaMantia will don an "A" for the second-straight season. The Wayne, Illinois, native was a first-team All-WCHA selection last year after recording 31 points off on eight goals and 23 assists. LaMantia led UW last year with a +42 plus/minus rating and 209 blocks, and enters this season ranked 11th in program history in career defenseman scoring.
A top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award last year, O'Brien is coming off of a career year for UW, posting 27 goals and 28 assists during her sophomore season. A native of Milton, Massachusetts, O'Brien's 27 goals ranked second among WCHA forwards last year, while her nine game-winning goals were tied for the third-most in school history.
The third-ranked Badgers open their 2022-23 season at No. 14 Penn State next Thursday and Friday in University Park, Pennsylvania. Puck drop at Pegula Ice Arena for both games is set for 6 p.m. CT and the games will stream live on B1G+.
