Ava Murphy gears up for first NCAA Frozen Four appearance
Ava Murphy is soaking it all in — the practices, the camaraderie, the atmosphere, the heightened media exposure — very much aware that her first Frozen Four appearance could also be her last.
A first-year defender for the Wisconsin Badgers, Murphy and her teammates are in Durham, N.H., this week with hopes of winning the NCAA women’s hockey championship on Sunday afternoon.
To get there, the No. 2 nationally ranked Badgers (34-5) must first take care of business against the No. 3 Colgate Raiders (32-6-1) on Friday (7:30 p.m.) at Whittemore Center Arena. Earlier Friday (4 p.m.), the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (33-4) will face the No. 4 Clarkson Golden Knights (33-4-2) in the other semifinal.
Murphy, 18, said she has given much thought to the significance of reaching this point with the defending NCAA champions.
“If you look at the bigger picture and how many teams are in the NCAA, I’m very lucky, very blessed to be one of the players in the Frozen Four,” she said in a telephone interview.
“It’s crazy and something I won’t take for granted for sure, to be part of an amazing program and getting an opportunity to come here in my first year.”
Murphy was born and raised in Kitchener and attended the Victus Academy before securing a scholarship to play for the Badgers.
She is a two-time world champion (2022, 2023) with Canada’s under-18 team and, last summer, played for the national women’s development team in a three-game series against the United States.
It’s crazy and something I won’t take for granted for sure, to be part of an amazing program and getting an opportunity to come here in my first year.
Murphy has appeared in 35 games for the Badgers during the 2023-24 season, scoring two goals and nine assists for a team that advanced to the Frozen Four last weekend with a 4-0 win over the St. Lawrence Saints.
Earlier this month, she was selected to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association all-rookie team and named one of three finalists for the conference’s top rookie award that went to Ohio State forward Joy Dunne.
Murphy, however, lists the highlight of her first season as simply wearing the uniform and playing in front of large, enthusiastic crowds at the 2,273-seat LaBahn Arena.
“It’s been amazing so far, just being on the beautiful campus with the most amazing teammates and getting to practise with them and learn from such amazing coaches; I’ve loved every minute of it,” she said. “I played at the LaBahn for the U18 tournament (in 2022), but to have those fans on your side supporting you, that’s been incredible.”
Former U.S. Olympian Mark Johnson, who scored two goals in the “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union in 1980, is the Badgers head coach. Johnson took charge of the women’s hockey program before the 2002-03 season and has guided Wisconsin to a record seven NCAA titles.
Wisconsin’s bid for an eighth national championship continues against a Colgate side that skated into the Frozen Four with a 3-1 win last weekend over Cornell. The Wisconsin-Colgate clash will be their first meeting of the season.
“We all want to win, and we know that’s only going to be possible by working together,” said Murphy. “We have a lot of confidence in each other and feel superexcited going into the weekend.”
Ohio State is the only team Wisconsin has history with this season, with the Buckeyes winning three of five meetings. The Badgers have won the last two, including a 6-3 triumph on March 9 in the WCHA Final Faceoff.
All games, including Sunday’s 4 p.m. final, will be streamed on TSN+ in Canada.
AVA MURPHY WISCONSIN BADGERS DEFENDER