In women's college hockey, rivalries do not get much bigger— or more important— than the one between Wisconsin and Minnesota-Duluth.
Since the start of the NCAA's women's hockey national championship 10 years ago, either the Badgers or the Bulldogs have won it eight times, with Duluth adding its fifth title last year. As a result, the path to a national title often includes a matchup between the two teams late in the postseason.
When the teams meet Friday and Sunday, then, No. 1 Wisconsin and the No. 3 Bulldogs, will in all likelihood, be previewing even more meaningful games to come this spring.
""The games we've played over the past five or six years certainly helps create a rivalry,"" Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson said. ""We've matched up quite a bit in the past five years, and the team that's won it has carried the hardware.""
According to Johnson, the Badgers and Bulldogs' rivalry comes from the similarity in the teams' players, more specifically the fact that they are some of the best in the world.
""Their teams are well-coached, they've got good players, they've got elite players, they've got international players,"" he said. ""You look at our teams from the past seven years you can say a lot of the same things.""
Although it never found its goal-scoring ability lacking, the Wisconsin offense has plenty of confidence after a series in which the Badgers outscored non-conference opponent Robert Morris 14-2. Freshman forward Brittany Ammerman said that is something the team will look to carry over against Duluth.
""We're a very deep team offensively so we don't have too many problems putting the puck in the net,"" she said. ""But if everyone's connecting and doing the little things right, then we're going to be great offensively.""
Ammerman's sister, Brooke Ammerman, had trouble finding the back of the net early in the season but has seemed to get her scoring ability in recent weeks, posting a hat trick in the first period of Wisconsin's series-opening win over Robert Morris. Brooke Ammerman said the nature of the goals she scored was reassuring.
""They were goals that don't always go in, so it makes me think that my scoring touch is back a bit,"" she said.
Wisconsin will also benefit from playing on their home ice against the Bulldogs. Johnson said having the Thanksgiving series in Madison means the team will get to enjoy the holiday with family and not on the road.
""Having a Thanksgiving weekend when you don't have to travel is an added bonus,"" he said. ""Hockey doesn't do holidays very well, so having an opportunity to be at home and stay at home is a bonus.""
