What is better than having one Badger hockey team ranked No. 1 in the country?
Having two Badger hockey teams ranked No. 1 in the country. This was exactly the case for Wisconsin last week. Currently, the Badgers women's hockey team is dominating the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. With their recent sweep of fourth-ranked Ohio State (7-9-2), the Badger women improved their record to 16-1-1 and a two-point lead in the conference.
Before the men dropped to second in the national rankings, both the men's and women's hockey teams were No. 1'a feat last achieved by Minnesota between Nov. 28, 2004 and Jan. 3, 2005. Amazingly, Wisconsin and Minnesota are the only two schools to ever lay claim to this distinguished honor.
Under the direction of coach Mark Johnson, the lady Badgers have found their stride over the last three years. Each year, the Badgers have improved their record and chances at a national championship. Johnson played for the Badgers and helped lead the men's squad to the 1977 national championship alongside men's head coach Mike Eaves. Adding to his credentials, Johnson also skated for 11 years in the NHL.
Johnson is most prominently known for his play on the legendary 1980 Olympic hockey team. In this 'Miracle on Ice,' the United States defeated the vastly superior Russian team to forever become a piece of national history. After his time in the NHL, Johnson devoted his time to coaching various teams, including a stint as the assistant coach for the men's Badger hockey team.
Johnson summed up the differences between coaching for men and women: 'The women listen a lot better than the men do. They don't know it all, and they want to become better.'
This weekend, the Badgers hope to continue their winning streak against seventh-place Bemidji State (5-15-0). Although the Badgers swept Bemidji State in their last meeting (winning one game 10-3), Bemidji has been playing better recently and will be riding a wave of momentum into Saturday's game.
Second-to-last in the WCHA conference, Bemidji State will have nothing to lose when they come to the Kohl Center Saturday. As no other opponents have been able to take out Wisconsin recently, Bemidji could be just the type of team to cause trouble for the Badgers if they are not careful. However, the women are ready to go and aren't letting their undisputed No. 1 ranking go to their heads.
'I don't think we pay too much attention to what we're ranked other than the fact that we should be aware that when we are No. 1, teams are going to be given the extra incentive to want to beat us,' junior forward Sara Bauer said.
Currently, Bauer is on track to become the all time leading scorer in Wisconsin women's hockey history with 127 career points. She needs only 50 more points to tie the current record holder, Meghan Hunter (2000-2004). The Badgers will look to Bauer to continue her stellar play this weekend against Bemidji.
This weekend, both the Saturday and Sunday games will begin at 2 p.m. Tickets are free for UW students with their student ID ($1 for all others), and the first 100 fans to show up will receive free food and drink.
