Wisconsin Women's Hockey 2025-2026

[Timothy A]

N/C schedule came out....***is 2024-2025 record, not that a prior year's performance is a great indicator of the future. I do like that they play a team from every other conference.

Maine at home 10/3 & 10/4***11-21-3
Vermont away 10/17***9-25-2
Union away 10/18 (one team is intentional)***13-23-11
Mercyhurst away 11/29***20-16-2
Stonehill away 11/30***14-19-5

Still have one bye 11/8 and off 12/13 - 1/8. It turned out to be a pretty tight schedule, which I like.

 

[Ooftah]

Who is the 4th line center? I'd love to be sitting in on faceoff practice during preseason training.

 

[Gargoyle]

Who is the 4th line center? I'd love to be sitting in on faceoff practice during preseason training.

Maybe Nicole Gorbatenko? I found an article in which she was identified as a "left-handed shooting center."

Skating Sisters: Gorbatenko Trio Building Their Game Playing In Illinois

Nicole, Rachel & Kelly Gorbatenko Will Be Teammates Starting Next Fall At The University of Wisconsin

www.ahai.org

 

[Timothy A]

Who is the 4th line center? I'd love to be sitting in on faceoff practice during preseason training.

I want to know who's centering all the lines. I would guess that Picard stays third line center. Maybe Scannell jumps to the first line or does Hall? Does Pieckenhagan or ASAP rocket up there? Has either played center before?

 

[Ooftah]

Maybe Nicole Gorbatenko? I found an article in which she was identified as a "left-handed shooting center."

Skating Sisters: Gorbatenko Trio Building Their Game Playing In Illinois

Nicole, Rachel & Kelly Gorbatenko Will Be Teammates Starting Next Fall At The University of Wisconsin

www.ahai.org

As I recall, there were others in the recent past who were given a chance at faceoffs and they included K Gorbatenko. The current three centers are right-handed shooters. It would be great to see Kelly and/or Nicole playing center and giving the team left-handed faceoff options. Even if they are not the best at it, the opposing coach would have something else to think about.

 

[robertearle]

As I recall, there were others in the recent past who were given a chance at faceoffs and they included K Gorbatenko. The current three centers are right-handed shooters. It would be great to see Kelly and/or Nicole playing center and giving the team left-handed faceoff options. Even if they are not the best at it, the opposing coach would have something else to think about.

The stats page at the WCHA web site shows the 30 players in the WCHA who took the most faceoffs, along with won-lost totals and percentages. Four Badgers on the list for last season - O'B, Hall, Pickard, Scannell, in that order, with Scannell taking the fewest of the four, 224 total taken (O'B took 877, for comparison).

The team stats page at the UW web site doesn't show anything about faceoffs, but if you click on an individual player from there, you get a pop-up box that does list faceoffs won and lost per game. If I did the adding up correctly, Kelly G took 64 faceoffs, winning 33 of them. That's a .516 percent won. All four of the Badgers listed at the WCHA web site had better percents than that, Scannell the lowest at .527. Scannell's percent was still 11th best in the conference. A .516 percent would have been good enough to be 13th in the conference, if Kelly G has taken enough to 'qualify' to be on the list.

(With three Gorbatenkos on the team, making clear who we're talking about at any point will be a 'task'. And writing it as Kelly G reminds me of Kelly J, aka Kelly Jaminski, defender on the 2010-2014 teams.)

 

[Timothy A]

As I recall, there were others in the recent past who were given a chance at faceoffs and they included K Gorbatenko. The current three centers are right-handed shooters. It would be great to see Kelly and/or Nicole playing center and giving the team left-handed faceoff options. Even if they are not the best at it, the opposing coach would have something else to think about.

Fascinating idea. It almost makes my head hurt thinking about how that would look in the faceoff circle.

 

[Ooftah]

Fascinating idea. It almost makes my head hurt thinking about how that would look in the faceoff circle.

Exactly.

Other people are thinking about it.

Tyler Dellow: Why faceoffs on the right side are kryptonite for Auston Matthews, Nazem Kadri

When Auston Matthews, a left-handed centre, takes an even strength faceoff on the left side of the offensive zone this year, the Leafs have outscored the opposition 6-2 (before he leaves the ice or the next whistle, whichever comes first). When Matthews takes a 5-on-5 faceoff on the right side of...

nyti.ms

From what I understand, being a left-handed shooter doesn't mean the player's left hand is dominant. In some cases, it might mean the opposite. That adds another layer of complexity which is a good thing if you are trying to keep the opposition guessing.

 

[Ooftah]

Eh?

https://n.pr/4mQLLLE

 

[Ditra]

Eh?

https://n.pr/4mQLLLE

So on top of tracking face-offs will the WCHA track broken sticks?

 

[Ooftah]

The stats page at the WCHA web site shows the 30 players in the WCHA who took the most faceoffs, along with won-lost totals and percentages. Four Badgers on the list for last season - O'B, Hall, Pickard, Scannell, in that order, with Scannell taking the fewest of the four, 224 total taken (O'B took 877, for comparison).

The team stats page at the UW web site doesn't show anything about faceoffs, but if you click on an individual player from there, you get a pop-up box that does list faceoffs won and lost per game. If I did the adding up correctly, Kelly G took 64 faceoffs, winning 33 of them. That's a .516 percent won. All four of the Badgers listed at the WCHA web site had better percents than that, Scannell the lowest at .527. Scannell's percent was still 11th best in the conference. A .516 percent would have been good enough to be 13th in the conference, if Kelly G has taken enough to 'qualify' to be on the list.

(With three Gorbatenkos on the team, making clear who we're talking about at any point will be a 'task'. And writing it as Kelly G reminds me of Kelly J, aka Kelly Jaminski, defender on the 2010-2014 teams.)

If you go back through WCHA stats in recent seasons prior to 2024-2025, you'll see other UW players who took faceoffs including K Gorbatenko, Eden, a former captain, etc. It confirms my recollection that somewhat recent faceoffs involved more than Casey and the current three centers.

 

[robertearle]

If you go back through WCHA stats in recent seasons prior to 2024-2025, you'll see other UW players who took faceoffs including K Gorbatenko, Eden, a former captain, etc. It confirms my recollection that somewhat recent faceoffs involved more than Casey and the current three centers.

Of course. When the center gets thrown out of the faceoff, one of the wings takes the face-off. But the numbers are a few dozen, and not the hundreds that a center will take.

For the record:
Eden in the 20-21 season took exactly one faceoff; in 22-23, 2 faceoffs; in 23-24, 59 faceoffs; and last year 41 faceoffs.

Kelly G in 23-24 must have spent some time as the 4th line center? 190 total taken, and a very good .632 win percentage. Her 24-25 numbers quoted above. That suggest that she could certainly play center, but would she 'displace' one of the other three? you wouldn't want to bury her on the 4th line.

 

[Ooftah]

Of course. When the center gets thrown out of the faceoff, one of the wings takes the face-off. But the numbers are a few dozen, and not the hundreds that a center will take.

For the record:
Eden in the 20-21 season took exactly one faceoff; in 22-23, 2 faceoffs; in 23-24, 59 faceoffs; and last year 41 faceoffs.

Kelly G in 23-24 must have spent some time as the 4th line center? 190 total taken, and a very good .632 win percentage. Her 24-25 numbers quoted above. That suggest that she could certainly play center, but would she 'displace' one of the other three? you wouldn't want to bury her on the 4th line.

Kelly G is a versatile player who provides the coaching staff a lot of options. I wouldn't pigeonhole her as a fourth line center. I also wouldn't keep her out of faceoffs because she is technically playing wing. Another consideration is where the faceoff is. Does a left hander's draw put the puck in a better place than a right hander's.

 

[Timothy A]

Of course. When the center gets thrown out of the faceoff, one of the wings takes the face-off. But the numbers are a few dozen, and not the hundreds that a center will take.

For the record:
Eden in the 20-21 season took exactly one faceoff; in 22-23, 2 faceoffs; in 23-24, 59 faceoffs; and last year 41 faceoffs.

Kelly G in 23-24 must have spent some time as the 4th line center? 190 total taken, and a very good .632 win percentage. Her 24-25 numbers quoted above. That suggest that she could certainly play center, but would she 'displace' one of the other three? you wouldn't want to bury her on the 4th line.

It's hard to ignore KG's faceoff numbers. No reason why she couldn't be a top 2 center.

 

[Timothy A]

Exactly.

Other people are thinking about it.

Tyler Dellow: Why faceoffs on the right side are kryptonite for Auston Matthews, Nazem Kadri

When Auston Matthews, a left-handed centre, takes an even strength faceoff on the left side of the offensive zone this year, the Leafs have outscored the opposition 6-2 (before he leaves the ice or the next whistle, whichever comes first). When Matthews takes a 5-on-5 faceoff on the right side of...

nyti.ms

From what I understand, being a left-handed shooter doesn't mean the player's left hand is dominant. In some cases, it might mean the opposite. That adds another layer of complexity which is a good thing if you are trying to keep the opposition guessing.

So if you win more than you lose from your strong side, why not have a wing take the face-offs on their strong side instead of the center on their weak side?

 

[Lindsay]

So if you win more than you lose from your strong side, why not have a wing take the face-offs on their strong side instead of the center and their weak side?

Sounds like that might be an option for KG. But the average college winger is a winger in part because they can’t win faceoffs at the college level. So maybe you’re better off with a real righty center on their weak side than a lefty winger taking a face off on their strong side who can’t win face offs at all?

Whether the other center is on their strong side or not also impacts winning percentage I believe.

Wisconsins roster is so good I’m not sure any of it matters lol. No right handed d in the top 2 pairings either from what I can tell. KK will hold down one spot. Do you think Bickett or jones (2 righties) will be in a top pairing or will it be 4 lefties?

 

[robertearle]

We're also talking as if MJ sets lines and sticks with them.

I know this one because I've watched it a couple thousand times by now: during the OT of the championship game, Pickard gets tossed out of the faceoff. Which winger goes in to take the draw? Scannell. LOL.

(I think I can squeeze in one more viewing right now, before Brewers-Cubs starts.)

 

[Timothy A]

Wisconsins roster is so good I’m not sure any of it matters lol. No right handed d in the top 2 pairings either from what I can tell. KK will hold down one spot. Do you think Bickett or jones (2 righties) will be in a top pairing or will it be 4 lefties?

I do not see Bickett of Jones in the top 4. Top 5 will be Harvey, Jungles, Venusio, Potter, Murphy. I'd guess Jones will be #6.

 

[TJ77]

Surprised there hasn't been any chatter about the 3 game USA-Canada Collegiate Select Series. Badger women had a good series, except maybe the shootouts. Shootouts not included in point totals.

USA
Potter - 2G,2A 1 for 1 SO
Scannell - 1G,5A 1 for 5 SO
Hall - 2G,1A 0 for 2 SO
Gorbatenko - 2G,1A 0 for 1 SO
Jungles - 1A

Canada
Venusio - 2A

 

[Ooftah]

Surprised there hasn't been any chatter about the 3 game USA-Canada Collegiate Select Series. Badger women had a good series, except maybe the shootouts. Shootouts not included in point totals.

USA
Potter - 2G,2A 1 for 1 SO
Scannell - 1G,5A 1 for 5 SO
Hall - 2G,1A 0 for 2 SO
Gorbatenko - 2G,1A 0 for 1 SO
Jungles - 1A

Canada
Venusio - 2A

The Canada-USA women’s hockey rivalry would be vanilla without good-natured Badgers internecine warfare. Looking forward to when Badgers from outside North America have a more prominent role in international play.