A Perfect Pair
Andy Baggot, UWBadgers.com Insider
3/13/2025
Long before Laila Edwards and Caroline “KK’’ Harvey became best friends, roommates, chosen leaders on the Wisconsin women’s hockey team and torch-bearers for the next generation of USA Hockey stars, there was a get-acquainted moment that Edwards introduced with a quick laugh.
“I was probably 8 or 9 and KK was 10,’’ she began. “We were playing in a tournament together in Boston on the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite and she had this hideous helmet.’’
Edwards paused to giggle.
“It was an Easton. It was matte black and looked like a football helmet,’’ she continued.
These days, Edwards wouldn’t hesitate to give Harvey grief over such a fashion choice. In fact, she insists that she has. But things were different back in 2012 when the future Badgers – currently two of the brightest, most engaging talents on the world stage – were getting to know one another.
“No, no,’’ Edwards said. “I was scared of her. She was too good.’’
Times have changed. Harvey still strikes fear into the hearts of many opponents, but Edwards has become dangerous in her own right.
Laila’s ceiling is whatever she wants it to be and KK’s is the same way,’’ Johnson said. “They’re very detailed and organized. They’ve got visions. They’ve got goals. They work at it.Mark Johnson
Harvey, a junior defender and co-captain of the top-ranked Badgers along with fifth-year senior center Casey O’Brien, has emerged as a generational force for women’s hockey in the U.S. She’s already been an Olympian, won a silver medal and looked every bit like a natural leader in the process. She’s already played in two NCAA title games, winning one as a freshman. She already set the all-time UW standard for most points in a career by a defender with 132 career points and has another full season to play.
Yet whatever Edwards, a junior right winger and an assistant captain along with fifth-year senior right winger Lacey Eden, lacks in a nickname she makes up for with a fast-maturing game that has UW coach Mark Johnson and decision-makers at USA Hockey like Katie Million equally impressed. Edwards is one of the top goal scorers in the nation – she has 30 in 37 outings – but her debut with the U.S. national team last November saw her paired with two-time Olympic defender Megan Keller as the first black woman to play at that level for Team USA.
“Laila’s ceiling is whatever she wants it to be and KK’s is the same way,’’ Johnson said. “They’re very detailed and organized. They’ve got visions. They’ve got goals. They work at it.’’
Million, the director of women’s national programs for USA Hockey, said Harvey and Edwards are highly regarded for their character as well as their athletic abilities.
“We definitely see them as leaders of our team and of the future,’’ Million said.
Which helps explain why Harvey, from Salem, New Hampshire, and Edwards, from Plymouth, Michigan, were chosen to be part of a first-ever leadership summit, sponsored by the International Ice Hockey Federation and held last summer in Vierumaki, Finland.
“We decided that KK and Laila were the perfect pair to bring from the national team,’’ Million said. “It was an opportunity for them to learn not only from leadership and cultural items, but it was an opportunity for them to interact with other players from around the world. It ended up, I think, being better than anything, we thought it would be.
“It was just a really great time to connect with others and learn from others in a noncompetitive format. I think everyone walked away with newfound friendships and respect for some of our competitors.’’
The summit gave way to a project close to Million’s heart: A six-nation tournament featuring collegiate teams was staged last month in Tampere, Finland. Harvey and Edwards were part of the leadership group for the U.S. squad that won the team title. They were joined by six other UW teammates on the American roster (Eden, O’Brien, left winger Kristen Simms, center Cassie Hall, defender Laney Potter and goaltender Ava McNaughton), three from runner-up Team Canada (defender Ava Murphy, defender Emma Venusio and right winger Sarah Wozniewicz) and center/winger Adela Sapovalivova, a UW recruit from Czechia).
“We’re really lucky with all the resources that USA Hockey does provide to our players and staff because we learned from a lot of other players that they aren’t treated quite the same that we are and it really was unique learning lesson for all of us,’’ Million said.
“It was a unique opportunity,’’ Harvey said. “We got to meet a diverse group of people, learn about their backgrounds and where they came from and their resources. It helped equip us in a lot of different ways, on and off the ice leadership-wise and just as people, learning a lot and embracing that opportunity.’’
Edwards said her favorite conversations dealt with leadership.
“It was such an incredible opportunity,’’ she said. “I got to learn so much about what makes a good leader, creating a good environment in the locker room. It also made you grateful for what you have.’’
Johnson was happy to hear that. The Badgers play in palatial LaBahn Arena to sellout crowds, regularly travel via charters and have access to elite-level weight training, meals, academic tutors and sports medicine.
“It gives them another tool,’’ he said, “an appreciation for what they have here because of what they saw there. You can get numb to what we have.’’
Edwards said her friendship with Harvey began when they both attended Bishop Kearney, a prep school in Rochester, N.Y.
“She was so nice to me,’’ Edwards said. “She took me on a visit. We both shared a little bit of immaturity, which was fun. Ever since then we’ve pushed each other to be better players, but, more importantly, better people.’’
Harvey said she and Edwards know each other inside and out with one shared, dominant trait.
“We’re both very empathetic people,’’ Harvey said.
“They couldn’t be a more unique and awesome pair,’’ Million said. “It’s really fun to see that friendship develop.’’
Harvey’s idea of leadership is through quiet, determined effort.
“Every practice, every workout, I give my 110 percent,’’ she said. “There’s never a day off. It’s always about consistency and effort.
“I pick and choose my moments when it’s necessary to say something. I’m a person of few words in that way. I try to lead by example.’’
Said Johnson: “She works at her game as hard as anybody. She has aspirations of doing things a lot of kids just dream about.’’
Johnson related a telling story about Edwards, how a parent approached him to say thank you because, as promised, she showed up to watch their daughter play on Edwards’ day off.
“Laila’s got a big heart and gets it,’’ Johnson said. “She cares about that kind of stuff. She understands the platform that she has and the impact that she can have.’’
For that matter, Harvey does as well.
“She’s a caring person, too,’’ Johnson said. “She cares about how the team’s doing and she’s always thinking, ‘What can I do to improve that.’’’