Brianna Decker

Roque named top-three finalist for Patty Kazmaier Award

March 4, 2020 By Bill Scott

Abby Roque

Wisconsin senior forward Abby Roque has been named one of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, given to the best player in women’s college hockey.

Roque is the ninth leading scorer in program history and this year ranks seventh in the country with 57 points, including 25 goals. Her teammates, Sophie Shirley and Daryl Watts, were top-ten finalists.

Wisconsin has had five Patty Kazmaier Award winners, Sara Bauer in 2006, Jessie Vetter in 2009, Meghan Duggan in 2011, Brianna Decker in 2012 and Ann-Renee Desbiens in 2017.

The Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, native has been clutch for UW as she has five game-winning tallies this year. As a stellar center in the faceoff circle, Roque’s 494 faceoff wins pace the NCAA while her .663 faceoff clip ranks second in the country.

The 2020 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner will be announced on Saturday, March 21 in Boston.

The Badges head to Minneapolis for the WCHA Final Faceoff. They’ll play Minnesota-Duluth in the conference semifinals Saturday at 2 p.m. If they win, they’ll play Minnesota or Ohio State for the WCHA playoff title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Four Badgers named to U.S. Women’s Olympic hockey roster

January 1, 2018 By Bill Scott

Former Wisconsin women’s hockey standouts Brianna Decker, Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight and Alex Rigsby were named to the Team USA roster for the 2018 Winter Olympics on Monday.

Duggan and Knight will make their third appearance at the Olympics in February. Duggan captained the U.S. squad in 2014. Decker made her second Olympic team after playing in the 2014 games while Rigsby will make her Olympic debut this year in PyeongChang, South Korea.

The quartet will join the five Badgers, Emily Clark, Ann-Renee Desbiens, Meaghan Mikkelson, Sarah Nurse and Blayre Turnbull, selected on Dec. 22 to the Canadian Olympic team in PyeongChang.

The U.S. opens play at the 2018 Winter Olympics on Feb. 11 with a 1:40 a.m. CT game against Finland.

U.S. Men

For the first time since 1972, there are no Badger men’s hockey players on the U.S. Olympic team. However, the coaching staff has three.

Badger men’s coach Tony Granato will serve as the Head Coach of the U.S. team. Former Badger defensive great Chris Chelios will serve as an assistant coach and another former Badger, Jim Johannson is Team USA’s general manager.

Badger women’s hockey sweeps Lindenwood

October 7, 2012 By Bill Scott

After a 7-2 victory on Friday night, Mark Johnson’s Wisconsin women’s

Mark Johnson

hockey team dominated Lindenwood, 9-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Alev Kelter recorded a hat trick and a 4-point game, while Brianna Decker’s 1 goal and 2 assists allowed her to become the fifth Badger in program history to record 200 career points.

The Badgers (3-0-1) went scoreless on the power play (0 for 3). They killed off 4 of 5 penalties against.

Wisconsin completes its three-week road stretch next weekend against Minnesota-Duluth on Oct. 13-14.

Former Badger, Vetter, leads Americans

April 9, 2012 By Bill Scott

Former Wisconsin Badger women’s goaltender, Jessie Vetter, needed just five

Jessie Vetter

saves to shut out Russia as the U.S. women earned a 9-0 win in the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship in Burlington, Vt.

Badgers Hilary Knight (2 goals) and Brianna Decker (1 goal, 2 assists) led the U.S. offensively.

Wisconsin’s Decker is Kazmaier award winner

March 18, 2012 By Bill Scott

Wisconsin Badger junior forward Brianna Decker has been awarded with the 2012 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given annually to the top female hockey player in the nation.

The Dousman, Wisconsin native is the 4th Badger to win the award, joining Sara Bauer (2006), Jessie Vetter (2009) and Megan Duggan (2011).

Decker had already been named 2012 WCHA Player of the Year, leading the nation in goals with 37 and is tied for the lead in points with 82.

The Badgers beat Boston College 6-2 in the National semifinals on Friday. They’ll play rival Minnesota for the National title today in Duluth, Minnesota.