*UPDATE* Wisconsin Badger Hockey Continues Pipeline to National Teams

The UW Athletic Department reports that several Wisconsin-affiliated players will be in the U.S. and Canada’s hockey training camp.

Wisconsin women’s hockey has been a dominant force in the NCAA over the last decade.  Under Mark Johnson’s leadership, the Badgers have won four national championships, seven conference tournament titles, and six regular season titles.

That alone should make recruiting a bit easier.  But wait, there’s more.

A total of five different Wisconsin players have won the Patty Kazmaier Award, the women’s hockey equivalent to the Heisman Trophy except women’s hockey is equitable enough to consider defensive players too.

The UW Athletic Department news release highlights the Wisconsin representation in the US training camp.

"Five Wisconsin women’s hockey players – four former and one current – were among the 23 players selected for the 2017-18 U.S. Women’s Hockey National Team that will train for the 2018 Winter Olympics."

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Badgers in red, white, and now blue, is hardly a new phenomenon.  Five Badgers were on the US women’s hockey team that won the silver medal in the 2014 Olympics.  Seven Badgers were on the US women’s hockey that won the silver medal in the 2010 Olympics.  Johnson took a leave of absence from Wisconsin to coach that 2010 squad.  Most recently, “seven current and former Badgers” played in the 2017 World Championships including four Badger alums on the victorious Team USA side.

Much like the original Wisconsin Idea, Badger women’s hockey reach extends far beyond the borders of the state and even the nation.  Our neighbors to the north are reaping the benefits of Wisconsin’s success and productivity as well.

On Thursday, the UW Athletic Department announced that one current and four former Wisconsin Badgers will be named to the Canadian training camp in preparation for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

"Senior-to-be Emily Clark will join alumnae Ann-Reneé Desbiens, Meaghan Mikkelson, Sarah Nurse and Blayre Turnbull on the 28-player roster.Clark, Mikkelson and Turnbull all played for Canada at the 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championships, helping the squad to silver."

During the 2016-2017 season of the National Women’s Hockey League, two of the top five point scorers were ex-Badgers.  Meghan Duggan finished fifth and the top overall scorer was Brianna Decker.

Everywhere you look in women’s hockey – Olympics, World Championships, professional hockey, NCAA – you’re going to find a Wisconsin connection.  Mark Johnson and his staff have built a powerful program in Madison on par with Alabama football, Connecticut women’s basketball, and North Carolina men’s basketball.  Johnson has a compelling sales pitch to recruits given the success his Badgers have had at the NCAA and international levels of competition.  Moon lit or not, you definitely want to be a Badger to reach the highest level of competition and achievement in women’s hockey.