All eyes will be on sophomore Annie Pankowski when the Badgers take the ice next winter. After a phenomenal freshman season she will be the offensive leader for Wisconsin in their quest for a national title.
The Badgers compiled an impressive 29-win campaign in 2015 but fell to perennial powerhouse Minnesota in the Frozen Four even after the Gophers lost in the WCHA tournament. Wisconsin graduated five seniors, but return key pieces like Pankowski, junior forward Sarah Nurse and junior goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens.
Desbiens figures to be an important piece to winning it all as she proved to be one of the top netminders in the nation last season. She earned 16 shutouts and kept Wisconsin in nearly every game. She will begin her second season as a starter attempting to improve on her masterful year.
In the national semifinal against Minnesota, Desbiens had a rare letdown, allowing three goals, which left a bitter taste in the goaltender’s mouth as well as the rest of the team. The program has not captured a national title since 2011, but the Badgers have reached the Frozen Four three times since then.
This could be the year for Wisconsin to get over the obstacles of the past four seasons if they can provide a more consistent offense. The Badgers’ attack was often streaky last year and struggled against top teams. This was most evident in their contests with Minnesota, as Wisconsin never put up more than one goal in each of the five games between the two schools.
A possible solution to these issues could be an improved Pankowski, which is hard to imagine given her successful freshman year in which she led the team with 42 points. If she can build on this season, she has the potential to be the best player in the nation and take Wisconsin on a championship run.
Nurse will be another key for Wisconsin. She finished third on the Badgers in goals with 15 after a late-season offensive surge. She is one of the fastest skaters on the team and has lightning-quick hands, but often struggled to find twine throughout the regular season. If she can improve her ability to finish, she could match Pankowski stride for stride offensively.
The Badgers will have a shot at the National Championship if they can get strong goaltending when it matters. Desbiens should get better in the offseason and with a year of postseason experience, she should be more confident in pressure moments. Wisconsin will also need timely goals and an offense that kicks into gear during big games. Ultimately, the Badgers return enough talent to have a fantastic year and a chance to win it all.
