The Wisconsin Badgers (0-0-0 WCHA, 2-0-0 overall) return to the ice this weekend following a week off from play. The Badgers will host No. 6 North Dakota (0-0-0, 1-1-0), who split their first series against Boston University.
This is a series that promises to bring excitement and drama to the Kohl Center. The Saturday-Sunday set is the WCHA opener for both teams, both of whom are among the preseason favorites to win the conference. Not only is this the WCHA opener, but it also features two top-10 nationally ranked teams. Wisconsin enters the contest holding the top spot while the Fighting Sioux land at No. 6.
Big games often come with big back stories, and this weekend is no different. The last time these two teams met was in the WCHA Final Face Off last season. The game ended 3-0 in favor of Wisconsin, ending the Fighting Sioux's season.
Keeping all this in mind, it is easy to see that the Kohl Center will be rocking this weekend.
""It should be a good series,"" head coach Mark Johnson said. ""[North Dakota is] going to come in confident and be looking to win a couple of games.""
Much of North Dakota's confidence comes from the Lamoureaux twins. Junior forwards Jocelyne Lamoureaux and Monique Lamoureaux-Kolls combined, accounted for 50 goals, 61 assists and 111 points last season for the Sioux. Lamoureaux-Kolls has already registered three goals in two games this season, while her sister Lamoureaux has tallied three assists.
""Intensity,"" senior forward Hilary Knight said about containing the Lamoureaux twins. ""Just having pressure on all the pucks.""
The Lamoureauxs' play is something to behold. Playing the same position, Knight is able to appreciate their skill (but can also match their ability with her own).
""The Lamoureaux's are all-around amazing players,"" Knight said. ""They've got great shots and great ice awareness. They're the type of players that if they get the puck, they're most likely going to score.""
Keeping the Lamoureaux's in-check and off the puck may be the most important part of the Badger game plan this weekend. The most important piece for this game plan will be the play of Wisconsin's goalie.
Sophomore goalie Alex Rigsby has already proven her worth by helping lead the Badgers to a national championship last season. As a freshman, she was outstanding between the pipes, gaining much confidence as the season progressed and it seems fair to conclude that she will only gain more as this season goes forward.
""She's changed,"" Knight said about Rigsby. ""She's a lot better. She's just that much better than last year.""
It's hard to imagine that someone who was arguably the best at her position could get any better, but that is what it will take if Wisconsin wants to repeat what they did last year, let alone take two games from a tough opponent like North Dakota.
The Badgers come into this season with many personal and team goals and expectations. But it will be the ability of the team to put these expectations aside and take it game by game that will help Wisconsin achieve these goals.
""Expectations are always high with regards to what they want to do at the end of the season,"" Johnson said. ""But it's a process, a journey. You can't get ahead of yourself.""
