Wisconsin Badgers' forward Kelly Gorbatenko (7) goal during an NCAA women’s hockey match against Minnesota Duluth Saturday December 2, 2023 in Madison, Wisconsin. Photo by Tom Lynn/Wisconsin Athletic Communications
Tom Lynn

Women's Hockey

Five Things to Know: No. 2 Badgers look to tame No. 7 Bulldogs

UW heads back to Minnesota for WCHA showdown

MADISON, Wis. – The second-ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team will continue its time on the road as they head to Duluth to face the Bulldogs for the second time this season. Puck drop at AMSOIL Arena is set for 3 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday.

Friday's contest can be seen in the Madison area on the CW (Over the Air - 15.2, DirectTV - 16, Dish Network - 57, Spectrum - 616, TDS - 18, Hulu Live TV) while Saturday's game will air on MeTV (Over the Air - 15.4, Spectrum - 192, TDS - 16). In addition, fans can watch both games on Big Ten Plus or listen to them on The U 100.9 FM. 

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Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Duluth

Wisconsin women's hockey celebrates a goal against Minnesota State on Jan. 19, 2024

1. LAST TIME OUT

The Badgers completed the season sweep over Minnesota State thanks to a 3-2 triumph on Friday night and a 7-2 victory on Saturday night. 

Seven different Badgers scored in the series finale, including Kirsten Simms and Cassie Hall who tallied a goal in both of the games against the Mavericks. 

Casey O’Brien posted five points in the series, including a four-point night on Saturday, while goalies Jane Gervais and Ava McNaughton each picked up a win in the series.

2. DUO EARNS WCHA HONORS

Following a sweep over conference opponent Minnesota State, Wisconsin women’s hockey senior Casey O’Brien was named WCHA Forward of the Week for the second week in a row, while freshman Cassie Hall won WCHA Rookie of the Week for the third time this season. 

A native of Milton, Massachusetts, O’Brien picked up her fourth WCHA weekly honors after a league-leading five-point weekend. The forward posted an assist in Wisconsin’s 3-2 win over Minnesota State on Friday before tallying a goal and three helpers in UW’s 7-2 triumph on Saturday. Thanks to her first assist on Saturday, the center became the 15th skater in program history to reach 150 career points.

Hall earned her second WCHA weekly award of the month following a two-goal weekend. The South Lyon, Michigan, native extended her goal-scoring streak to six games after tallying her 15th and 16th goals of the season during the sweep of the Mavericks.

Kirsten Simms takes a puck down the ice against Boston College on Oct. 6, 2023

3. STELLAR SIMMS

Forward Kirsten Simms is enjoying a stellar sophomore campaign as she leads all WCHA skaters with 45 points. 

Simms has already surpassed her point total from her rookie season as she posted 31 points, and the Plymouth, Michigan, native is just five points away from becoming the 19th skater in Badgers history to post 50 points in a season. 

Simms leads the country in points per game average with a 2.05, which would rank fifth in school history.

The Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team defeats Minnesota Duluth in the LaBahn Arena 3-0 at the University of Wisconsin- Madison on December 2, 2023. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / Wisconsin Athletic Communications)

4. LOOKING AHEAD

The Badgers have five series remaining in the regular season with four of the five opponents currently ranking in the top-10 of the USCHO poll. 

Wisconsin will face No. 7 Minnesota Duluth on the road this weekend, before hosting No. 10 St. Cloud State at home Feb. 3-4. UW will hit the road one last time in the regular season to face Bemidji State on Feb. 9-10 prior to hosting Border Battle rival No. 5 Minnesota Feb. 16-17. 

The Badgers will face their toughest battle as they wrap up the regular season with a set of home contests against the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team defeats Minnesota Duluth in the LaBahn Arena 3-0 at the University of Wisconsin- Madison on December 2, 2023. (Photo by Taylor Wolfram / Wisconsin Athletic Communications)

5. AGAINST THE BULLDOGS

Wisconsin leads the all-time series against Minnesota Duluth, 58-37-16, including a 25-18-7 record when playing in Duluth. Since the 2018-19 season, the Badgers have controlled the series, holding a 14-6-1 record over the Bulldogs. 

UW faced UMD at LaBahn Arena in a series earlier this season, resulting in a split. The Badgers shutout the Bulldogs, 3-0, in the series opener before falling 3-2 in the finale. 

Captain Britta Curl posted four points on a goal and three assists in the series, while Caroline Harvey tallied three helpers.