Badgering: Alexis Mauermann
November 29, 2017 | Women's Hockey, Andy Baggot, Varsity Magazine
Sophomore winger talks about superstitions and playing big when you’re not
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin women's hockey team is ranked No. 1 in the nation in part because its youthful lineup — 16 underclassmen in all — has become a balanced force. Perhaps no one embodies that process more so than sophomore left winger Alexis Mauermann, a Janesville, Wisconsin product who sits second for the Badgers (17-1 overall) with eight goals entering a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series with Minnesota Duluth on Friday and Saturday at LaBahn Arena. A 5-foot-2 bundle of speed and tenacity, Mauermann is one of eight UW players with double-digit points, four of whom are underclassmen. She took time after a recent practice to talk about superstitions, playing big when you're not and how she can tell when an opponent is intimidated playing at sold-out LaBahn Arena.
Has a coach ever told you you're too small to play hockey?
"No, I don't think a coach has ever told me, 'You're too small.' I think they've told me, 'Since you're small, you need to keep up.'"
??GAME TIME CHANGES?? The #Badgers will now play @UMDWHockey at 5 p.m. on Friday and noon on Saturday at LaBahn Arena! #OnWisconsin
— Wisconsin Hockey(@BadgerWHockey) November 27, 2017
What's the biggest change in you personally since your freshman season?
"I've gained a lot more confidence from last season. I think it's helped my game tremendously."
How can you tell an opposing team is intimidated when they come to LaBahn? After all, you have a 20-game unbeaten run at home.
"Just by the way when they first come out (onto the ice). You can see them and they're like, 'Wow, there's a lot of people here.' I think that's kind of intimidating because the crowd is mostly people cheering for Wisconsin and they're not used to that."
Your brother Ross won an NCAA title in 2015 playing for Providence College. What's the best advice he's given you?
"It's always been to just continue to work hard. That's how he went through college, working hard and doing the little things right. Always give 110-percent effort is what I learned from him."
Is your game anything like his?
"I've heard it is. That would be really cool if it was because I enjoyed watching him play at Providence. I'd say we're both the same. We're both small (Ross was 5-9 and 170 pounds) and we both get into little battles. I'd say our games are very similar."
Check out what #Badgers head coach Mark Johnson had to say at UW's weekly press conference!
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) November 27, 2017
What's your major and why?
"I'm thinking communicative science and disorders for speech pathology. I think it would be really rewarding to help someone. It's kind of a teaching role, but it's also medical in a way, too. I think it would be really cool to help stroke patients or children with speech impediments."
Hockey players are known for their superstitions. Do you have any?
"I'm not a superstitious person at all."
What's the most pain you've felt playing hockey?
"Tearing my ACL (in January of 2015) was pretty painful."
You and your teammates have a lot of amenities here at the Kohl Center complex and you typically play before sellout crowds. What's the best part about playing at LaBahn?
"The fans are the best part. What makes LaBahn, LaBahn, is the people that come here and support us. The program we have is supported by such amazing people. Our fans are awesome."
