By: Anthony Winker

After capturing their seventh national title last season, the Wisconsin women's hockey team's quest for a record eighth begins Thursday.

Mark Johnson has won seven national titles. He has won 594 career games. He has coached 21 seasons. And yet, at the end of his interview session with reporters on the University of Wisconsin's hockey media day, he was excited as ever for the start of a new season. 

“Let's play some hockey!” Johnson, head coach of the Badgers women's team yelled, clapping his hands three times. 

Very soon, they will. Wisconsin women's hockey travels to Lindenwood to kick off the 2023-2024 campaign on Thursday, a season in which they will be the NCAA's hunted after winning the national championship last season. Already the first to seven NCAA titles, they will attempt to be the first to the eight mark this season. 

However, just because the team won it last season doesn't change things for this season. They want to win it again. 

“As a team we want to be in the Frozen Four. Last year, no one even thought we were gonna be in the Frozen Four,” Wisconsin star defender Caroline Harvey said. “It's even more motivation with the target on our back going into this year, we wanna be [in Durham]. That's what we're gonna strive for.”

For Harvey, a trip to the Frozen Four, in Durham, New Hampshire this season, would mean a trip home. Her hometown of Salem is just under an hour drive away. But getting there isn't always a road smoothly paved, and the Badgers learned that last year. 

Despite winning the NCAA Tournament, the Badgers went on a five-game losing streak at the beginning of the calendar year, tying the longest in program history and the longest since 2002. UW captain Britta Curl uses that losing streak as a reminder that nothing comes easy in this league.

“We'll have some good games in the first month or so and that should remind people that nothing in this league is a breeze,” UW captain Britta Curl said. “We saw it last year.” 

And they'll likely see it this year too. The WCHA is as strong as ever this season. In the first poll released by the USCHO, WCHA teams occupied the top three spots and four of the first seven. In total, six of the league's eight teams are receiving votes in the poll. 

Navigating a full season in this league will be tough, but Curl said the ups and downs could help them drive a steadier ship this season. Regardless, that roller coaster experience from last year could prove valuable to a team who will be relying heavily on the freshmen crop from last year to play at a high level this year. 

Changing of the guard

This year's squad will be one in search of some new leaders in the room. They walked out on top, but UW had to say goodbye to forwards Jesse Compher (40 PTS) and Sophie Shirley (37 PTS) along with defenders Nicole LaMantia (29 PTS), Natalie Buchbinder (15 PTS) and goaltender Cami Kronish (Frozen Four MOP). 

Thankfully for the Badgers, they do return some experience. On the front end, the cardinal and white return their two leading scorers from last year in seniors Casey O'Brien (46 PTS) and Curl (40 PTS). Graduate defender Chayla Edwards returns for another season after utilizing her COVID eligibility. Redshirt senior Katie Kotlowski also returns to the ice for the Badgers. 

Wisconsin dipped into the transfer portal this offseason as well and grabbed grad student Anna Wilgren from Minnesota State, a participant in the 2022 Olympic Residency program. Wilgren's (42 PTS in 92 GP) on-ice talent speaks for itself, but Johnson was impressed with how quickly she adjusted to a new environment.

“She settled right in and she's become a leader even though she's been here a short period of time,” Johnson said. “I'm excited to watch her grow throughout the season.”

Wilgren's usage will be an interesting situation to monitor as the season begins, with Wilgren making her return after suffering a serious injury that took her season after just three games last year. 

Underclassmen not under the radar anymore 

There's no denying just how good Wisconsin's freshmen class was from last year. All but one of the six first-year's took home at least one WCHA Freshman of the Week award and they were absolutely instrumental in UW's NCAA Tournament run, with a freshman having a game-winning goal in each of the NCAA Tournament's final three rounds. 

And the Badgers return them all from last year, including the nation's plus-minus leader from last year Vivian Jungels (+46), Kirsten Simms (GWG in national title game), and of course, the WCHA Preseason Player of the Year Harvey. 

They may have taken some people by surprise during last year, but the hockey world knows them now. 

It didn't start like that though. Many of them struggled at the beginning of the year before taking off later on. That's something that Johnson hopes this year's six-player freshmen class can replicate. 

“Second half of the year after you've already played these games against quality opponents, what are you going to look like then?” Johnson said. “That'll be fun for us as coaches to be able to work with them to get them to understand the process.” 

Wisconsin's freshmen class of Kelly Gorbatenko, Laney Potter, Cassie Hall, Bella Vasseur, Ava Murphy, and Ava McNaughton are familiar with LaBahn Arena. All but Vasseur participated in the 2022 U18 Worlds last summer, held in Madison. How quickly they adjust will be key for the Badgers this season. 

In goal for the Badgers . . . 

It feels hard to believe now, but around now a year ago, a massive question for Wisconsin was goaltending. Who would take the net after the departure of Kennedy Blair? Kronish did, and ran with it, but at the beginning of last year, her, current redshirt junior Jane Gervais and current redshirt freshman Chloe Baker had a combined four starts between them. 

This year, the experience isn't that scarce as Gervais played 11 games for UW last year before getting hurt against Minnesota. Baker and incoming freshman McNaughton have no starts between the two of them, so the job will likely be Gervais' to lose, at least to start. 

Johnson said they would work to get starts for McNaughton and/or Baker early on in the season. The early season series against Lindenwood feels like a good time for that. 

Wisconsin opens the season Thursday against Lindenwood for a two game set in Missouri before returning home for their home opener against Boston College on October 5.

Other notes from Media Day . . . 

• Claire Enright, who assisted on the only goal in the national title game last year, will be out to start the season, according to BadgerExtra's Todd Milewski. Enright, a Minnesota native, had offseason surgery on her leg. Her return is unknown. 
• The Badgers will not be dropping their national championship banner at the home opener on October 5. They will instead be dropping it the following day – Friday, October 6.