The preseason rankings predict the Badger women to, yet again, be a strong force in women's hockey this season. With 17 returning letter winners, a U.S. National Team member, and Hall of Fame coach, the team strives to continue the success it tasted last year.
The USCHO.com Preseason rankings put the Badgers in the number three slot with national champion Minnesota in the lead, followed by powerhouse Dartmouth. The UW team was also No. 5 in the USA Today and USA Hockey Magazine polls.
Head Coach Mark Johnson views Minnesota as the largest obstacle in the nation this year.
\They're going to be the team to beat not only within our conference, but I think throughout the whole landscape of women's hockey,"" Johnson said.
The team finished last season with 25 total wins, a UW best. The team just missed a Frozen Four spot and look to the future with high hopes of advancing further this season.
""I think the theme for this year's team is, 'We've been close long enough, we need to get in.' And so the challenge becomes playing consistent, not living on your past and coming out of the gates here,"" Johnson said.
Numerous strong players return this year who will no doubt contribute to skill and strength of the team. Senior defender Molly Engstrom and captain senior defender Carla MacLeod were awarded spots among the selective USCHO preseason national teams. Engstrom received one of the seven first team spots and MacLeod made the second team.
""We've got a lot of good players coming back. We've got some of the pieces that you need to have a good team. And they've worked hard over the summer,"" Johnson said.
In the offseason, Engstrom, sophomore forward Lindsay Macy and junior goalie Megan Horras sharpened their skills by competing with the U.S. Under-22 team against teammate sophomore forward Megan Mikkelson, who competed with the Canadian team.
MacLeod will compete with Team Canada over Thanksgiving in pursuit of a spot on the Canadian team for the Four Nations Cup in Lake Placid where she could compete against Engstrom, who has already earned a spot on the U.S. team.
Johnson's past efforts with a strong roster have contributed to the opportunity for a spot in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Today, Johnson is in Minnesota, where he will be inducted into the Hall for his accomplishments both as a coach and as a player on the legendary 1980 Olympic Championship hockey team.
""It's something that you don't dream about as a kid, you don't think about it,"" Johnson said. ""It just sort of comes at some point in your life when you look back on it, and you feel real fortunate to have gotten an opportunity to do so many things in the hockey business that I've had a chance to do not only as a player, but as a coach.""
Johnson will return in time for the Badgers to take the ice against Wayne State in their preseason opener this weekend. Wisconsin and Wayne State have not met for five years, when the Badgers dominated with a 5-0 blowout in a preseason meeting. The Badgers will take the ice at the Kohl Center at 7:05 p.m. Friday in aspirations of another successful season.
