After a strong showing in a sweep against Minnesota State last weekend, the No.1 Wisconsin women's hockey team finds itself in prime position to make a run deep into the WCHA playoffs. Head coach Mark Johnson took some time this week to reflect on this year's successes. Calling it a ""special year,"" Johnson praised the work his team put in and gave credit to everyone for doing their part.
""There were times within the season where we were missing players,"" Johnson said. ""Everyone in our organization putting in a lot of time and energy made it a special year.""
While Johnson was pleased with the way his team performed during the regular season, he is already looking ahead to next week's playoff matchup against St. Cloud, where some injuries to key players could be a factor for the Badgers.
With Brittany and Brooke Ammerman, as well as Kelly Nash, all nursing injuries, Johnson knows his line-up next weekend could be without some important contributors. Johnson said he expects Nash to be back on the ice, but remains unsure whether or not Britney or Brooke Ammerman will be able to play.
""It's going to be day-to-day,"" Johnson said. ""I'm not sure they're going to be available this weekend as I look at it today.""
This is not the first time the Badgers have had to overcome injuries. With a depleted line-up last weekend, Johnson was able to shuffle lines around and find great chemistry on the ice.
""It's the next player in,"" Johnson said. ""We played a couple defensemen up at forward over the weekend and found some combinations that worked pretty well.""
While some key players are out with injuries, Johnson is confident that that he has other players ready to step up.
""If you lose some key players and personnel, other players are going to be a little bit more focused,"" he said.
Trying to find this focus, Johnson stressed the idea that ""everybody is at zero right now."" The Badgers have had an extremely successful regular season, but Johnson wants his team to look at this weekend as a fresh start.
""Throw it out the door, it's done with, we can't do anything about it, but here's our opportunity,"" he said.
Knowing competition will be tight in the playoffs, Johnson believes his team will have to play their best hockey to come away with the title.
""If you want to win you have to bring everything to the table on that particular night,"" Johnson said. ""It's going to be exciting.""
