The crowd stands as none for No. 1
UW women’s hockey on top after hiatus
There are two ways to look at this. It's a crying shame that the brilliant shots of Wisconsin hockey players Daryl Watts and Sophie Shirley ricochet in echoes throughout an empty LaBahn Arena, where fans aren't allowed during a pandemic that has dragged on for nearly a year. Or ...
The Badgers, who needed to shut down for 20 days in December because of a COVID-19 outbreak, are so talented they have been able to resume the season firing off point after point despite the limited practice time.
They're both true, of course, and despite the turbulence of 2020, so is this:
The 6-2 Badgers took over the No. 1 ranking in the country in this week's USCHO poll after a weekend sweep of former No. 1 Minnesota. In fact, UW shredded its rival, 5-0 and 6-3, the 11 goals the most ever by the Badgers in a two-game set in series history.
"This is a goofy game. If you score goals, it creates energy,” coach Mark Johnson said after the second win Saturday. “If you score first, it helps settle your team down. It sends a message to me of what we are capable of doing.
“But more importantly, it shows the players what they're capable of doing."
Capable – and thriving. Some of UW's success is directly attributed to their one-two scoring punch of Watts and Shirley.
“Daryl is one of those players you just love to play with,” said Shirley, a junior forward from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. “She's super exciting to watch and she kind of just always knows where to be on the ice. She's always open.”
“Sophie has her speed and her acceleration,” said Watts, a senior forward from Toronto. “She's got long legs and she almost looks like a gazelle on the ice. She accelerates so fast, and that really helps her separate from whoever's forechecking her, or trying to play D against her.
“That really opens space up for, like, me, and Brette Pettet and whoever else is playing with her.”
Last season, Shirley and Watts were top-10 finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the highest individual honor in women's college hockey. Watts (25 goals) led the Badgers with 74 points, while Shirley was close behind with 29 goals and 61 points.
And while they push each other – they are 1-2 in points again this season – it's a healthy, competitive environment.
“There's always a little bit of competition there,” Shirley said. “We are really good friends and we're always trying to work together. I'm always trying to pass to her and she's always trying to pass to me.”
Said Watts: “Often with the top players
Daryl Watts had 25 goals last year.
on the team, there can be jealousy sometimes. There's absolutely none of that with me and Sophie.
“That's really special because I've played hockey for a long time and I have had teammates – and I'm sure Sophie has too – who kind of develop an unhealthy jealousy towards, kind of the top player.
“But between Sophie and I, like I said we're such great friends, we both just want what's best for the team.”
The Badgers have to take all the credit for this, because the talent is deep. UW is tied for sixth nationally in goals per game (3.12). Shirley, Dara Greig, Britta Curl, Watts and Makenna Webster each scored in the 5-0 win over Minnesota on Friday.
“Our forwards are so talented,” Watts said. “Britta Curl is unbelievable. She's one of the best all-around players that I've ever played with at any level.
“Our freshmen are studs, like Casey O'Brien, Makenna Webster and Maddi Wheeler – really, like they're so talented. We just have so many great players.”
The lack of internal conflict fosters a culture with the Badgers that turns their competitive drive outward, toward the opponent.
The 2019-20 season ended without closure, as winter sports were shut down in March before the playoffs.
Since then, the Badgers have endured the up-and-down, stop-and-go kind of year that every other sport has encountered.
After playing two games to start the season, UW had to cancel six games after the COVID outbreak. Everyone was sent home.
“That just flat out sucked because we'd been practicing since late August,” Watts said.
The seniors have stepped up in leadership, keeping the team motivated and focused. It's been essential. They're good enough to be national title contenders.
“It's kind of starting to feel a little bit normal again,” Shirley said.
Robbed of that 2020 finish, the team is determined to see this season through.
Somewhat counting on their own immunity for a few months, they're hoping no more games are canceled because of outbreaks at other universities.
“We all have the end goal of, hopefully, making it to that Frozen Four and then winning the national championship,” Shirley said.
And yet, they only talk about that sort of thing when asked directly. For now, the focus is on the schedule, week to week.
The Badgers head to St. Cloud State this Friday and Saturday.
“I think that's what the season has taught us and last season too, you really just need to take it day by day, game by game, you can't look ahead,” Watts said. “We cannot worry about who we play the following weekend because there's so many uncertain factors out there with this crazy new world.”