Wisconsin women’s hockey (25-1-2) is on top of the WCHA and NCAA. They finished their regular season this weekend with two wins against Bemidji State. The WCHA playoffs start on Feb. 28 in a best-of-three first round.
Ohio State handed Wisconsin their only loss this season. They’ve scored 186 goals on 1354 shots, averaging 5.5 goals per game and converting on .137 percent of shots. They have league-leading .380 power play percentage and a .920 penalty kill percentage, besting every other team in the NCAA.
Here are the standout players who will contribute to the team’s success in the postseason:
The graduate student forward has 23 goals and 49 assists, totaling 72 points in 34 games, leading the team in points. O’Brien has a .217 shot percentage and is first in NCAA assists per game. She’s played with Wisconsin for five years, recording 73 points in 41 games last season. The center captain has been integral to the team’s major successes this year.
The sophomore goaltender has played 32 games this season, recording a .947 save percentage and seven shutouts. She has the second best save percentage in the NCAA with 646 saves and is currently tied for fourth in shutouts in the NCAA. McNaughton is a reliable player in net for the Badgers — she’s won 29 games this season, losing one and tying two others.
The junior forward has 30 goals and 34 assists, totaling 64 points in 34 games, second in points for Wisconsin and leading in goals. She has a .217 shot percentage and is currently second in the NCAA for goals per game with a .88 average. During Edwards’ freshman season, she recorded 27 points in 41 games, last season she had 56 points in 41 games and this season she beat both of those just 32 games into the season.
The junior defenseman has 15 goals and 36 assists, totaling 51 points in 34 games. Harvey has been huge on the blue line for the Badgers. Leading the team with a +65 plus/minus is a testament to her ability to defend when needed and put pressure on the opponent’s forwards. She earned the 2-23-2024 WCHA Defender of the Year (2023-24) award, which shows her impact on Wisconsin’s top line.
The junior forward has 19 goals and 41 assists, totaling 60 points in 42 games is third in points for Wisconsin. She’s had a slower season compared to last, but no less impactful. Simms frequents the top line most games and is a huge part of goals scored for Wisconsin on O’Brien’s wing.
The junior defenseman has three goals and nine assists, totaling 12 points in 34 games. Jungels has been integral for the team’s impressive statistic of only allowing 1.1 goals per game from their opponents. With Harvey as her defensive partner, the two dominate the blue line — forcing turnovers, deflecting shots towards their goaltender and putting pressure on their opponents. Jungels is second on the team with a +58 plus/minus.
The redshirt senior forward has 22 goals and 25 assists, totaling 47 points in 34 games and has been an important winger on the second line for the Badgers. She’s a leader on the team, carrying the alternate captain’s A on her chest and tied at eight in goals per game in the NCAA. Her +42 plus/minus is just as impressive.
The freshman defenseman has 12 assists in 34 games and is solid as the left defenseman on the team’s second pair. Although recording zero goals yet this year, she’s strong defensively and is a great skater on the blue line and in front of Badgers goaltenders.
The entire Wisconsin women’s hockey team has been the reason the Badgers have fared so well this season, but looking out for these few may give you a few reasons as to why they have only lost one game all season. Wisconsin has high hopes, and a high probability, of taking home the WCHA title and an eighth Frozen Four trophy in March.
