The Wisconsin women’s hockey team (1-3-2-2 WCHA, 5-3-2 overall) is coming off a sweep against New Hampshire and looking ahead to hosting Minnesota State (2-2-2-1, 4-4-2) this weekend at the LaBahn Arena.
Head coach Mark Johnson was immensely pleased with the team’s performances against New Hampshire, especially the 5-0 shutout Sunday afternoon.
Initially disappointed with the team’s performance in the first period, Johnson said at his Monday press conference that a “nice little chat” resulted in stronger, more effective play from the Badgers in the last 40 minutes of the game.
Aside from looking forward to his team repeating its performance from last weekend, it will be an emotional night Friday for Johnson and his family, as the ice in the Kohl Center will be named after his late father, coaching legend “Badger” Bob Johnson.
Bob Johnson led the Badgers to seven NCAA tournaments during his time in Wisconsin before moving on to the National Hockey League to coach the Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins. He coached the Penguins to a Stanley Cup Championship in 1991, shortly before dying of brain cancer.
Mark Johnson is looking forward to watching his father’s name become permanently etched in Wisconsin hockey history.
“The exciting part for me personally is just knowing that fans and future players within the program that go into the Kohl Center will see his name on the ice,” Johnson said.
The Badgers open their series against Minnesota State at 2 p.m. Friday.
