Curl, Johnson, Harvey and Simms named finalists for WCHA honors
March 05, 2024 | Women's Hockey
UW quartet named finalists for another round of WCHA accolades
MADISON, Wis. – Four Badgers were named finalists for WCHA yearly honors as Wisconsin women's hockey head coach Mark Johnson was named a top-three contender for the WCHA Coach of the Year award, and Britta Curl, Caroline Harvey and Kirsten Simms were named finalists of other yearly awards, the league announced Tuesday.Â
Johnson is in the running for a 10th WCHA Coach of the Year award and his first since the 2020-21 season, while Curl could be the first Badger to win the Student-Athlete of the Year honors. Harvey and Simms are both up for the WCHA Player of the Year award.Â
A two-time captain of the Badgers, Curl earned her fourth WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award this season, all while enjoying a career-high 58 points thanks to 21 goals and 37 helpers. Her +54 plus/minus rating ranks second in the conference and her 42 blocked shots are the most among all WCHA forwards. Her success on the ice is easily mirrored off the ice, as she not only excels in the classroom, but in the community as well. When she is not at the rink or working on academics, the Bismarck, North Dakota, native is spending time with children and their families at the local hospital, or visiting nearby elementary schools.Â
A nine-time WCHA Coach of the Year, Johnson reached 600 career wins early this season, Â becoming the first NCAA Division I women's hockey coach to do so. He led the Badgers to their 10th 30-win season in program history while holding a 23-5-0 record in regular season conference play. The seven-time national champion will lead Wisconsin to its 14th-straight WCHA Final Faceoff this weekend in hopes of securing the program's 10th conference playoff title.Â
A finalist for the WCHA Defender of the Year honors, Harvey led all WCHA defenders in points this season with 33 thanks to five goals and 28 assists despite missing nine games due to injury. The Salem, New Hampshire, native has a +50 plus/minus rating that ranks second in the WCHA, helping earn her a spot on the All-WCHA First Team. The 2023 WCHA Rookie of the Year broke the school record for the best plus/minus rating in a single game with a +9 plus/minus mark against Lindenwood.Â
Simms, a finalist for the WCHA Forward of the Year award, has posted an impressive NCAA-leading 67 points in her sophomore season, leading to 1.97 points per game average. A native of Plymouth, Michigan, Simms' 29 goals and 38 assists both rank second in the country, earning her a spot on the All-WCHA First Team. She has enjoyed 21 multi-point games this season and her eight game-winning goals for UW ranks second in the country.Â
The Badgers will continue their postseason journey this weekend in Minneapolis as they prepare to face No. 5 Minnesota at the 2024 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff. Puck drop on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Ridder Arena. Fans can watch the action on TVW or listen to the game on The Game 1070 AM in the Madison area.Â
Johnson is in the running for a 10th WCHA Coach of the Year award and his first since the 2020-21 season, while Curl could be the first Badger to win the Student-Athlete of the Year honors. Harvey and Simms are both up for the WCHA Player of the Year award.Â
A two-time captain of the Badgers, Curl earned her fourth WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award this season, all while enjoying a career-high 58 points thanks to 21 goals and 37 helpers. Her +54 plus/minus rating ranks second in the conference and her 42 blocked shots are the most among all WCHA forwards. Her success on the ice is easily mirrored off the ice, as she not only excels in the classroom, but in the community as well. When she is not at the rink or working on academics, the Bismarck, North Dakota, native is spending time with children and their families at the local hospital, or visiting nearby elementary schools.Â
A nine-time WCHA Coach of the Year, Johnson reached 600 career wins early this season, Â becoming the first NCAA Division I women's hockey coach to do so. He led the Badgers to their 10th 30-win season in program history while holding a 23-5-0 record in regular season conference play. The seven-time national champion will lead Wisconsin to its 14th-straight WCHA Final Faceoff this weekend in hopes of securing the program's 10th conference playoff title.Â
A finalist for the WCHA Defender of the Year honors, Harvey led all WCHA defenders in points this season with 33 thanks to five goals and 28 assists despite missing nine games due to injury. The Salem, New Hampshire, native has a +50 plus/minus rating that ranks second in the WCHA, helping earn her a spot on the All-WCHA First Team. The 2023 WCHA Rookie of the Year broke the school record for the best plus/minus rating in a single game with a +9 plus/minus mark against Lindenwood.Â
Simms, a finalist for the WCHA Forward of the Year award, has posted an impressive NCAA-leading 67 points in her sophomore season, leading to 1.97 points per game average. A native of Plymouth, Michigan, Simms' 29 goals and 38 assists both rank second in the country, earning her a spot on the All-WCHA First Team. She has enjoyed 21 multi-point games this season and her eight game-winning goals for UW ranks second in the country.Â
The Badgers will continue their postseason journey this weekend in Minneapolis as they prepare to face No. 5 Minnesota at the 2024 Kwik Trip WCHA Final Faceoff. Puck drop on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Ridder Arena. Fans can watch the action on TVW or listen to the game on The Game 1070 AM in the Madison area.Â
Players Mentioned
Forward
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Defense
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Forward
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