Wisconsin raises another women's hockey banner with a glimpse of future
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MADISON – The Wisconsin women’s hockey team got to hang another championship banner. The Badgers are getting pretty good at that.
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What immediately followed Oct. 1 wasn’t exactly championship-level play, but after a ragged first period, the back-to-back champions came on strong with six goals in the second period and the players left LaBahn Arena with a 7-0 victory over Boston University in the home opener.
“I mean, I’m not sure what I'm going to get after the ceremony,” said Mark Johnson, who has been part of nine as the Wisconsin coach. “A lot of festivities, lot of distractions, things like that. It's early in the season, so there's some things that you like and things that we need to work on, which is gonna be sort of the common theme every year at this time, especially with a younger-type roster.”
The Badgers (3-0) and Terriers (0-1) are set for a 5 p.m. rematch Oct. 2.
Badgers youngsters came through
Nela Lopušanová, a freshman left wing from Slovakia, scored a pair of goals is in the second period, plus an assist, after notching a pair of assists in the season-opening series at St. Lawrence.
“She’ll pull you out of your seat, so keep an eye on her,” Johnson said.
Canadian freshman center Rosalie Tremblay scored the Badgers’ second goal of the game with her second goal of the season. She assisted on two others.
“For a young player to be comfortable, that’s impressive,” Johnson said. “She’s a real good 200-foot player, smart, and she's going to be a lot of fun to watch and help.”
Although LaBahn had an unusual number of empty seats, the crowd was loud from introductions onward. But the moment wasn’t too big for the international freshmen.
“The girls kind of told us that it was going to be a big game, and then a lot of people were going to make it because we were celebrating, but I was never expecting that much noise,” Tremblay said. “Like, how big we are for the city, it's amazing to see, and we want to do it for them and today, winning 7-0, I’m pretty happy we did that for them.”
Among the veterans, junior right wings Maggie Scannell (one goal, two assists) and Hannah Halverson (three assists) both had three-point nights.
No worries about Ava McNaughton
Ava McNaughton, the goaltender of the year two seasons ago, an Olympic gold medalist and a key contributor to UW’s eighth and ninth titles, didn’t miss a beat in her return to the net. McNaughton suffered a lower body injury in the opener and sat out the second game (a planned night off unrelated to the injury) but returned to practice during the week. She finished with 22 saves after needing just four in the first period.
“There were a couple flurries in the third period, which were good,” Johnson said. “She got tested, she had to make a couple nice saves. She was aggressive on them, and the pucks were hitting her in the ‘W’ [on her jersey] and so that's always a good indication that she's in tune to what's going on.
“You go stretches without making a save or really touching the puck, and then you get a quick flurry. That shows pretty good focus.”
Mark Johnson already has a plan for No. 10, if there is one
In the ceremony a year ago recognizing the 2025 championship, UW unfurled a banner hanging alongside seven others. The 2026 version went up from ice level after the leadership group of McNaughton, Scannell, Kelly Gorbatenko and Cassie Hall skated out with it.
Hard to imagine, but after so many, it’s difficult to make each one special.
“You never know if we’re gonna win another one,” Johnson said, “but if we happen to get one, lights off, it’s in a spotlight as it goes up.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin raises another women's hockey banner with a glimpse of future