Britta Curl's hot hand leads our look at Wisconsin women's hockey
MADISON – A look at the Wisconsin women’s hockey team.
IN THE POLLS
UW holds steady at No. 2
The Badgers remained ranked No. 2 behind Ohio State in the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey polls following a sweep of Bemidji State last week. The victories raised Wisconsin's record to 13-2-1 overall and 10-1-1 in the WCHA. UW is one point from tying Ohio State for the No. 1 spot in the USA Today ranking.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Britta Curl leads record-setting showing
The senior captain recorded a seven-point weekend in the Badgers’ sweep of the Beavers, contributing her first hat trick during a 13-1 victory Friday that was the program’s largest over a WCHA opponent. She also had two assists to establish a personal best for points in a game (five). The next night she scored two goals in a 4-1 win.
The performance earned her WCHA forward of the week distinction and raised her season total to 21 points, 11 goals and 10 assists.
“As you watch Britta practice and watch her play, she’s got a very hard shot,” Badgers coach Mark Johnson said. “She hit a couple early on and that certainly build your confidence.”
NOTABLE
Badgers announced recruiting class
Wisconsin’s 2023 class features six players, five of whom played for the United States or Canada at the U-18 women’s world championship last fall.
The group is: forwards Kelly Gorbatenko (Barrington, Illinois), Cassie Hall (South Lyon, Michigan) and Bella Vasseur (Oregon), defenders Ava Murphy (Kitchener, Ontario) and Laney Potter (Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania) and goaltender Ava McNaughton (Seven Fields, Pennsylvania).
"This is a very well-rounded and talented group," Johnson said in a news release. "Our fans got to see many of these players play here in June at the 2022 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship at LaBahn Arena for their national teams. With their experience playing with their under-18 teams, their skill levels, their work habits their future is very bright. "We're excited to welcome the group to Madison and there's going to be opportunities for each one of them to come in and help the program."
Jesse Compher, Lacey Eden, Caroline Harvey will represent Team USA
Jesse Compher, Caroline Harvey and Lacey Eden will represent Team USA in the December games of the Rivalry Series. The three will be joined by former Badgers Hilary Knight and Abby Roque as the United States plays Canada Dec. 15 and 19.
Jane Gervais remains sidelined
Sophomore goaltender Jane Gervais, who suffered what appeared to be a leg injury in the second game of the Minnesota series on Nov. 2, has yet to return to practice, Johnson said.
BY THE NUMBERS
3 Badgers who had a seven-point series against Bemidji State last week: Curl, senior Sophie Shirley and junior Casey O’Brien.
4 Points scored by O’Brien during the first period of UW’s 13-1 win over Bemidji last Friday. That’s a program record for a period.
+6 Plus/minus ratio last weekend for Vivian Jungels, who was named the WCHA Rookie of the week.
COMING UP
A trip to Mankato before the break
At Minnesota State (Mankato), 6 p.m. Friday (BTN+); 3 p.m. Saturday (BTN+): The Badgers have owned the series with the Mavericks, winning 95 of the last 101 meetings. Minnesota State, which was swept by Minnesota last weekend, enters play sixth in the WCHA with 16 points. After this series UW won't play again until Dec. 31 at Quinnipiac.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Britta Curl hat trick leads our look at Wisconsin women's hockey
