Although Wisconsin enters the postseason in third place in the WCHA standings, its chance at a third straight regular season conference title may hinge on the eligibility of a Minnesota Duluth player.
Bulldog freshman forward Iya Gavrilova is the player in question. Prior to playing with Duluth, Gavrilova played hockey for a professional team in Russia, where she received over $500 per month, according to the Duluth News Tribune. This would make her ineligible for NCAA competition.
When you recruit overseas you have to be careful,"" Wisconsin head coach mark Johnson said. ""You have to get questions answered before you can take the next step in the process.""
If the NCAA - which is currently investigating the situation - decides Gavrilova was ineligible, Wisconsin could leap over second place Minnesota into first place if the NCAA awarded the Badgers points in the two games they played against Duluth this season with Gavrilova in the lineup.
Gavrilova scored the game-winning goal in a 3-1 win over Wisconsin Nov. 30. The next afternoon, she scored in the final minute of regulation and in overtime to complete a 3-2 Bulldog comeback against the Badgers at the Kohl Center.
The freshman has been benched by head coach Shannon Miller since Feb. 1, missing the last six games since the issue arose of Gavrilova's amateur status. Prior to the move, Gavrilova led the Bulldogs in scoring.
Neither the WCHA nor NCAA has ruled on the situation as of Wednesday evening.
""You want the NCAA to do the right thing. When they're comfortable, when they're ready to make a decision, I'm sure they're going to do it,"" Johnson said.
Badgers open playoffs against Mavericks
Gavrilova's eligibility is a minute concern for Wisconsin, which is fighting to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. That battle continues this weekend when Minnesota State comes to town for the first round of the WCHA Playoffs.
The Badgers sit at No. 6 in the PairWise Rankings, which determine the eight team national tournament field.
Wisconsin is not the favorite it was a year ago when it lost only one game all season. Junior goaltender Jessie Vetter thinks this is an advantage for the Badgers.
""Just because we're down a little bit this year, [other teams] don't think we have that championship team,"" Vetter said. ""I prefer to be the underdog. Last year we definitely weren't the underdog, and this year we're the underdog. And I like that situation because people underestimate you a little bit and then we come to play and after the first period they're like, 'Wow they're still a good team.'""
The netminder has posted another solid season for Wisconsin, and that, combined with her past postseason experience - three goals allowed in ten postseason starts - gives Johnson confidence heading into the WCHA Playoffs.
""She's obviously very solid back there and probably equally as important. She's had some experience the last two years going deep into the tournament,"" he said.
Johnson's thoughts, however, are not on the team's past success in the postseason because it needs a first round playoff victory this weekend against Minnesota State to have a shot at a third straight national title.
""My message isn't even related to the NCAA's because that's not what's going to happen in the next two weeks,"" he said. ""Right now, it's the ability to focus in on Friday night.""
