Women tear up ice for team’s first-ever hockey national championship

The UW–Madison women’s hockey team didn’t just win its first-ever national championship title on March 26. UW–Madison dominated its way toward the title. The Badgers shut out the two-time defending national champion Minnesota Golden Gophers, 3-0, on the Gophers’ home turf.

There were several ways in which the Badgers controlled the national title game. UW grabbed an early lead by scoring two quick goals in the first period. The goals, scored 30 seconds apart, set an NCAA Frozen Four record for fastest back-to-back goals. The Badgers’ stifling defense and NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, goaltender Jessie Vetter, set NCAA Frozen Four records in fewest goals allowed and most saves. The Badgers scored for the third time just before the halfway point of the game, and by then the Badgers’ lead and defense proved too much to overcome.

Although the Badgers had control at the end of the game, it was hard to predict the Badgers’ dominance in the beginning of the game. Wisconsin defeated Minnesota four times this season, but the Gophers were reigning back-to-back national champions. A classic match-up between rival schools brought 4,701 spectators to Mariucci Arena for the national title game, and with both bands and mascots in attendance, the crowd was treated to a festive atmosphere. A good-sized contingent of Badger fans made the trip, setting the stage for a great hockey game.

The puck dropped and the crowd anxiously cheered and gasped at every well-timed pass or unfortunate miscue. The Badgers took advantage of an additional skater halfway through the first period as Jinelle Zaugg tallied a power play goal.

As a chorus of “sieve” chants still rang in the arena, the Badgers struck again. Thirty seconds later, UW had a 2-0 lead on a Grace Hutchins’ tip-in. Zaugg scored again in the second period and Vetter made some great saves as Minnesota put the heat on in the third, but the Badgers were too strong and skated away with a win.

At the end, the Badgers flung helmets, gloves and sticks into the air and embraced in joyous celebration.

It was a fitting finale to a season of firsts. In their seventh season of existence, the Badgers won their first regular season WCHA title, their first WCHA post-season title and played host to a NCAA game for the first time. UW also won 36 games, a new school record.

For their excellence this season, UW has seen a plethora of awards and accolades. Junior Sara Bauer was honored as the most outstanding player in collegiate women’s hockey this season, winning the Patty Kazmaier Award. Bauer and classmate Bobbi-Jo Slusar were named All-America, and coach Mark Johnson is one of six finalists for the AHCA Women’s Ice Hockey Division 1 Coach of the Year.

Not only are the Badgers being recognized in the hockey world, but in the political world as well. Gov. Jim Doyle declared March 27, 2006, to be UW Badger Women’s Hockey Team Day in the state of Wisconsin. Also, the Badgers were recognized by Wisconsin representative Tammy Baldwin on the floor of the United States House of Representatives.

But all the awards pale in comparison to the joy of winning a national championship — especially the school’s first championship and the first women’s hockey championship not owned by Minnesota or Minnesota-Duluth.

“We say in the locker room that ‘Wisconsin is the new state of hockey,’” explained Zaugg after the game, creating a famous quote that is being used in news stories and even by political leaders.

Wisconsin hockey fans are no strangers to famous quotes. With a women’s national title and the men’s team back in the Frozen Four for the first time since 1992, it truly is “a great day for hockey.”

Complete coverage of the Wisconsin women’s hockey team’s national championship run can be found at http://www.uwbadgers.com.

Goalie Jesse Vetter (30, left), and Nikki Burish (14) celebrate after winning the National Championship against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the Women’s Frozen Four Tournament final on March 20 in Minneapolis. The Badgers beat the Gophers 3–0.

Photo: David Stluka