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Women's Hockey

Five things to know: Badgers head to Minnesota for Border Battle

The Badgers take on the Golden Gophers Friday and Saturday.

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women's hockey (6-0-0, 2-0-0 WCHA) team hits the road this Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. to face the No. 3 University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-1-1, 0-1-1 WCHA) in Minneapolis.

Fans can listen to the action on 1070 The Game as Paul Braun and Mark Greenhalgh will have the call from Ridder Arena. Fans can watch Friday's action on B1G+ and Saturday's game on the Big Ten Network.

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Wisconsin vs. Boston College

Marianne Picard takes a faceoff against UMD

1. LAST TIME OUT

The Badgers come into the Twin Cities with their first two conference wins in their WCHA opening series in Madison on Oct. 11 and 12. Wisconsin defeated then-No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth 5-1 in game one and 7-3 in game two. It was the third-straight sweep for the Badgers who upped their win streak to six.

Wisconsin found depth in their roster as freshman Maggie Scannell representing the fourth line and third-line blueliner Laney Potter both enjoyed two goal games. Second-line center Cassie Hall lit the lamp once in each game. Laila Edwards notched a goal in each of the games, including her second shorthanded goal of the season in game two.

2. THREE HONORS FOR THE BADGERS

Out of all four WCHA Player of the Week categories, the Badgers picked up three. Laila Edwards earned Forward of the Week, Laney Potter was named Defender of the Week and Maggie Scannell received Rookie of the Week honors.

Edwards posted two goals and two assists in the sweep of UMD. The junior forward had a goal and an assist in both games, including an NCAA-leading second shorthanded goal of the season on Sunday. Potter put together four points on two goals and two points in the two-game series, enough points to for the most among WCHA skaters and blueliners that weekend. Scannell enjoyed a two-goal performance in game two, both the freshman's first NCAA two-game performance and first collegiate multi-point game. Scannell also notched an assist in game one.

3.  GOING CAMPING

Seventeen former Badgers were named to PWHL training camp rosters. At least one former Wisconsin women’s hockey player is represented on each of the six PWHL team’s training camp rosters. 


Six total former Badgers made the Toronto Scepter's training camp roster, three are on the Boston Fleet and Minnesota Frost. 

Four former Badgers will be behind the bench this season. Stefanie McKeough will take on assistant coach duties in Boston, Sis Paulsen is the equipment manager in Minnesota, Lauren Williams is an assistant coach in New York and Carla MacLeod is the Ottawa Charge head coach.

4. AGAINST THE GOPHERS


The Badgers are 48-56-16 all time against the Golden Gophers. Wisconsin won three out of four of the regular season matchups last year and four out of five including playoffs, beating Minnesota 4-3 in OT in the WCHA Final Faceoff. The last time the teams met for a regular season series at Ridder Arena, they traded a game each. Lacey Eden enjoyed a two-goal game two in the series and Kirsten Simms notched two goals between the two games.

Including the WCHA playoff game, the Badgers are on a three-game win streak against Minnesota.
 

The Badger women's hockey team lines up for the anthem

5. TV TIME

The Badgers game on Saturday is their second game this season to be broadcast on television. Saturday’s 3 p.m. game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network. One of the Wisconsin versus Boston College games was broadcast on ESPNU. The Badgers have one more televised game on their schedule for the time being as their game against Ohio State at Wrigley Field is slated to be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.