K. Gorbatenko named UW’s captain for 2026-27
September 10, 2026 | Women's Hockey
McNaughton, Potter, Scannell also chosen to lead Badgers
MADISON, Wis. — Senior Kelly Gorbatenko has been chosen to lead the Badgers for the 2026-27 season, Wisconsin women's hockey head coach Mark Johnson announced on Thursday.
Fellow seniors Ava McNaughton and Laney Potter, and junior Maggie Scannell will join Gorbatenko as alternate captains.
A native of Barrington, Illinois, Gorbatenko served as an alternate captain for the 2026 national championship team, posting a goal and an assist in the title game. The WCHA's returning goal scorer, Gorbatenko has played in all 134 games during her time as a Badger. She solidified herself as an offensive playmaker last season with seven multi-goal games, including a four-goal outing against St. Cloud State in February.
UW goaltender McNaughton marks the first Badger netminder to serve as an alternate captain since Kristen Campbell in 2019-20. A native of Seven Fields, Pennsylvania, McNaughton led the nation in goals against average last season with a stellar 1.35 while guiding the team to a second-straight championship title. She enjoyed an impressive .939 save percentage, earning her All-WCHA Second Team honors, not long after bringing home a gold medal with Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
A defender from Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, Potter is a staple member of the Badgers' blueline. She tallied a career-high 10 goals in the 2025-26 season and ranked second in blocks with 53. Potter came up clutch on the biggest stage, scoring a goal in the 2026 national championship game against Ohio State, helping UW secure its ninth title. This summer, she spent time with Team USA's Collegiate Select Team as an alternate captain.
Scannell, a forward from Wynantskill, New York, scored a career-best 28 points in the 2025-26 season, including a hat trick in the season opener against Bemidji State. She skated in all 41 games for the Badgers and has been named a member of the Academic All-Big Ten team two seasons in a row. Scannell is no stranger to leading a team, having served as the captain of the U.S. Collegiate Select Team this past summer and the Under-18 Select Team gold medal team in 2024.
The Badgers open the season on Friday, Sept. 25 at Appleton Arena with a two-game series against St. Lawrence. Single-game tickets are now available HERE.
Fellow seniors Ava McNaughton and Laney Potter, and junior Maggie Scannell will join Gorbatenko as alternate captains.
A native of Barrington, Illinois, Gorbatenko served as an alternate captain for the 2026 national championship team, posting a goal and an assist in the title game. The WCHA's returning goal scorer, Gorbatenko has played in all 134 games during her time as a Badger. She solidified herself as an offensive playmaker last season with seven multi-goal games, including a four-goal outing against St. Cloud State in February.
UW goaltender McNaughton marks the first Badger netminder to serve as an alternate captain since Kristen Campbell in 2019-20. A native of Seven Fields, Pennsylvania, McNaughton led the nation in goals against average last season with a stellar 1.35 while guiding the team to a second-straight championship title. She enjoyed an impressive .939 save percentage, earning her All-WCHA Second Team honors, not long after bringing home a gold medal with Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
A defender from Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, Potter is a staple member of the Badgers' blueline. She tallied a career-high 10 goals in the 2025-26 season and ranked second in blocks with 53. Potter came up clutch on the biggest stage, scoring a goal in the 2026 national championship game against Ohio State, helping UW secure its ninth title. This summer, she spent time with Team USA's Collegiate Select Team as an alternate captain.
Scannell, a forward from Wynantskill, New York, scored a career-best 28 points in the 2025-26 season, including a hat trick in the season opener against Bemidji State. She skated in all 41 games for the Badgers and has been named a member of the Academic All-Big Ten team two seasons in a row. Scannell is no stranger to leading a team, having served as the captain of the U.S. Collegiate Select Team this past summer and the Under-18 Select Team gold medal team in 2024.
The Badgers open the season on Friday, Sept. 25 at Appleton Arena with a two-game series against St. Lawrence. Single-game tickets are now available HERE.
Players Mentioned
Forward
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Goaltender
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Defense
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Forward
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Monday, March 23
