'It should be exciting. It should be fun': Wisconsin women's hockey embraces the challenge of WCHA Final Faceoff
MADISON – A weekly look at the Wisconsin women’s hockey team.
FOR THE RECORD
Badgers advance to Final Faceoff
UW remained ranked No. 6 in the USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls following a sweep of Minnesota State during the first round of the WCHA playoffs. The Badgers won, 3-0, on Friday and posted a 4-1 victory on Saturday.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Laila Edwards continues late-season surge
Freshman Laila Edwards produced her fourth multi-point game of the season Saturday. The 6-foot-1 forward assisted senior Britta Curl on the game-tying goal in the second period and recorded the game-winner, her second of the season, less than 90 seconds later. The points were her sixth and seventh of February, and 22nd and 23rd of the season, to help her win the WCHA rookie of the month honor.
More:Gold-medal Olympian Brianna Decker, former star at University of Wisconsin, retiring from hockey
NOTABLE
Mark Johnson doesn’t get caught up in award season
The WCHA all-conference teams came out last week. This week the conference has been doling out its major awards. That includes the rookie of the year award won by freshman Caroline Harvey. That said, UW coach Mark Johnson considers the honors as "outside noise."
“If someone is worrying about I should have been on that team or I should have won this award that is not going to help what is going on right now,” he said. “You’ve got to be present. You’ve got to be in the moment if you’re going to have success, not only this week but in the NCAA Tournament.”
Spreading the wealth offensively
In the process of sweeping Minnesota State last week, Wisconsin had a lot of contributors. The Badgers scored seven goals. Twelve players, by goal or assist, had a hand in that total.
Sunday is selection day
The brackets for the NCAA Tournament will be announced at 11 a.m. Sunday on ESPNews. As it stands, the Badgers likely will be on the road for the regional round, though they could enhance their chance for hosting by winning the conference tournament.
BY THE NUMBERS
17 25-win seasons for the Badgers under coach Mark Johnson.
3 Assists by senior Chayla Edwards to her younger sister, Laila, this season, including Laila’s first postseason goal.
10 Wisconsin players with at least 20 points this season.
COMING UP
UW seeks two wins in the Land of 10,000 Lakes
vs. Minnesota, 5 p.m. Friday, WCHA semifinals (BTN+): UW owns a 2-0-2 record against Minnesota this season with one of the ties a shootout win last month. The Badgers have had a knack for seizing the moment and making plays at critical times against the Gophers, a trend that will have to continue in order to earn a spot in the final at 2 p.m. Saturday, where No. 1 Ohio State is likely to be waiting.
"We look forward to the challenge," Johnson said. "It should be exciting. It should be fun. Everybody seems to be playing their best hockey right now."
Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.
DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin women's hockey embraces challenge of WCHA Final Faceoff
