Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

[wwhyte]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Incoming freshmen is the biggie for me. Also some analysis about the wcha foes and how many pts are returning, lost and notable recruits per team.

FWIW, I did some analysis at the start of last season on returning points in Hockey East, and it's a very poor predictor of performance in the next season. In Hockey East it singled out Providence as a team to watch and they ended up 6th.

 

[frozenfeet]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

FWIW, I did some analysis at the start of last season on returning points in Hockey East, and it's a very poor predictor of performance in the next season. In Hockey East it singled out Providence as a team to watch and they ended up 6th.

For me the one true indicator is leadership. If you look at the top 10 teams, both... Clarkson …and Minnesota had strong senior classes with leadership skills, same with Wisconsin. Not sure about Mercyhurst, Cornell, Boston schools, but I know Harvard and North Dakota had very young teams which may explain the inconsistency and losses down the stretch.

 

[wwhyte]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

For me the one true indicator is leadership. If you look at the top 10 teams, both... Clarkson …and Minnesota had strong senior classes with leadership skills, same with Wisconsin. Not sure about Mercyhurst, Cornell, Boston schools, but I know Harvard and North Dakota had very young teams which may explain the inconsistency and losses down the stretch.

Not sure about that. Harvard finished fifth this year and fifth last year, with Dempsey and three Olympians. BC's senior class last year included Blake Bolden and Dru Burns, and their overall record this year was only slightly down from last year's. Cornell finished second both years running. Wisconsin lost Brianna Decker between seasons and finished better this season. I suppose the question is whether you can tell beforehand if the leadership's there or if it's only obvious in retrospect.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Couple of random thoughts...

Minnesota may have thought that their championship game was the semi-final with Wisconsin. Whether that is actually true or not I don't know, but at least it seems plausible to me. With that said for the first time the NCAA championship doesn't belong to the WCHA and I gotta say, It kind of ****** me off. I'm provincial enough to want a WCHA team to win it even if it isn't the Gophers.

So the WCHA as a whole has a little extra work to do for next season and that may not be a bad thing. It would be good for Minnesota if Wisconsin gets back to their dominant ways and pushes the "rodents" and likewise the it's good for both Wisconsin and Minnesota if they get stiff competition from the likes of UND and UMD. I think you will see Wisconsin step it up as they have some very talented recruits coming in plus Pankowski. Certainly MInnesota losses a great senior class but also brings back Kessel and Stecklein plus 4 talented recruits as well.

 

[THEWIZARD]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Badgers will be strong next year. After having seen Rigsby play a few times not sure she is all she's cracked up to be...good but not great.

 

[NMH]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Incoming freshmen is the biggie for me. Also some analysis about the wcha foes and how many pts are returning, lost and notable recruits per team. I want to get a really good picture of the balance of power in the coming season.

I'd love to talk to the recruits, but it'll be totally dependent on their availability and openness - there's getting information and then there's creeping on teenagers and it's a fine line.

A look at the rest of the conference is a great idea. I'll add it to my list.

I'm hoping to get to all of these things, what with the whole 6 months of offseason to fill, but this is my first one, so I make no promises since I have no idea what it will shake out like.

 

[NMH]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

With that said for the first time the NCAA championship doesn't belong to the WCHA and I gotta say, It kind of ****** me off. I'm provincial enough to want a WCHA team to win it even if it isn't the Gophers.

In my homery little heart, I totally agree with this. I wanted the WCHA and "the West" to still own that exclusivity - but I can't begrudge Clarkson bc they played such an amazing game. In the end, I feel like my inner curmudgeon "won" either way. Either the WCHA wouldn've retained and I'd have still had my smug or the Gophers lost. Both things sit well with me

An east coast school winning it is good for the overall sport and the growth of women's hockey. It's also good for the overall argumentative process of these boards - we can't be smug and sit on our high horse and point scoreboard anymore. We have to put in a modicum of effort in the east/west debate now, at least.

 

[robertearle]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Minnesota may have thought that their championship game was the semi-final with Wisconsin. Whether that is actually true or not I don't know, but at least it seems plausible to me.

It crossed my mind that if they'd beaten Minn on Friday, the Badgers would have to gather themselves after that big upset, and come back to play Clarkson on Sunday; and I wondered how well they'd do at that.

I was comforted, though, in the knowledge that there's a guy on the UW staff with some experience with that sort of thing

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

It crossed my mind that if they'd beaten Minn on Friday, the Badgers would have to gather themselves after that big upset, and come back to play Clarkson on Sunday; and I wondered how well they'd do at that.

I was comforted, though, in the knowledge that there's a guy on the UW staff with some experience with that sort of thing

No question about that and I think Minnesota's staff certainly had to deal with that last year especially going through an undefeated season. This may have been the cumulative affect of losing just once in over two years going into this game. Very difficult to not let that go to your head. The coaching staff can talk about it until they're blue in the face but ultimately it comes down to the actions of the players on the ice.

 

[granddaddyscout]

Badgers will be strong next year. After having seen Rigsby play a few times not sure she is all she's cracked up to be...good but not great.

Sadly I think you may be right. Looking back she was solid behind very good to great teams during her 4 years at UW, but never really stepped up to steal a game that I am aware of. Her record against Minny, UND, & UMD show that UW lost a number of times when favored especially in "key" games. Looking back at the 2012 Championship & 2014 Semi Final games it is hard to not recall a couple of Soft goals in each. Lots of personal recognition, but in the end it is a team game. I think they will be solid with AR the next 3 years though as long as they continue to recruit well.

 

[96IllinoisDad]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Sadly I think you may be right. Looking back she was solid behind very good to great teams during her 4 years at UW, but never really stepped up to steal a game that I am aware of. Her record against Minny, UND, & UMD show that UW lost a number of times when favored especially in "key" games. Looking back at the 2012 Championship & 2014 Semi Final games it is hard to not recall a couple of Soft goals in each. Lots of personal recognition, but in the end it is a team game. I think they will be solid with AR the next 3 years though as long as they continue to recruit well.

You can debate adjectives all you want, but what percentage of UW's opponents are very happy Rigsby is no longer there ... 100%.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Sadly I think you may be right. Looking back she was solid behind very good to great teams during her 4 years at UW, but never really stepped up to steal a game that I am aware of. Her record against Minny, UND, & UMD show that UW lost a number of times when favored especially in "key" games. Looking back at the 2012 Championship & 2014 Semi Final games it is hard to not recall a couple of Soft goals in each. Lots of personal recognition, but in the end it is a team game. I think they will be solid with AR the next 3 years though as long as they continue to recruit well.

She did outright steal the Friday game @ the sue, it was on tv that night. She was awesome that game, the sue really dominated UW. I do recall 1 play where the puck squirted through and slowly slid toward the red line, but someone swept it out. In the shootout it was child's play for her agianst the sue. I'd also say she totally saved the Harvard game with that save of the century. If Harvard scores there, it might have been lights out for UW, Harvard had all the momentun at that point. I am sad to see her graduate, but I feel that ARD is every bit as good as Rigsby, and she will be even better once the dust settles on her college career. She won't have as many career wins, but her save % and gaa will be better.

 

[ARM]

Looking back at the 2012 Championship & 2014 Semi Final games it is hard to not recall a couple of Soft goals in each.

When Wisconsin has had excellent defensive teams, it hasn't allowed as many uncontested shots from prime scoring areas as were yielded in the games you cite. The only goal I'd really put on Rigsby was the Menefee goal where she put the rebound to a spot she thought was safe but ultimately wasn't. When the D allows opponents to dance around them and leaves gaping holes in the slot, a lot of goalies will look mortal.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

I think we should band together and really get on the AD about having the band at the home games. A month ago I email someone whose title was "Director of External Communications" (forgot the name, a lot has transpired in that month), and got no response, the first time someone from the UW hasn't responded to a comment of question from me, so I was a little bummed by that. In the next couple of days I'll run through the list of AD contacts and post some emails on here so whoever feels like it can jump in the boat and do some rowing with me. Perhaps the band dept should be contacted directly as well.

I really feel more strongly about this than ever since we had the band for the last 4 home games and it was so awesome, it's like night and day as far as the fan experience goes.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

It would be good for Minnesota if Wisconsin gets back to their dominant ways and pushes the "rodents"

Badgers didn't push the Gophers????

did you see game 1 at Ridder, or in Madison, or the NCAA semi final???

2nd game at Ridder and in Madison weren't exactly easy ones either

 

[pokechecker]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

When Wisconsin has had excellent defensive teams, it hasn't allowed as many uncontested shots from prime scoring areas as were yielded in the games you cite. The only goal I'd really put on Rigsby was the Menefee goal where she put the rebound to a spot she thought was safe but ultimately wasn't. When the D allows opponents to dance around them and leaves gaping holes in the slot, a lot of goalies will look mortal.

Menefee has a very nice backhand, I wouldn't put that goal on Rigsby

 

[ARM]

Menefee has a very nice backhand, I wouldn't put that goal on Rigsby

The one I mean was the second goal in this year's game at the FF, where Menefee scored on the forehand. The mistake Rigsby made was putting the rebound of Terry's shot to where Menefee could reach it.

 

[rangersrule]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Incoming freshmen is the biggie for me. Also some analysis about the wcha foes and how many pts are returning, lost and notable recruits per team. I want to get a really good picture of the balance of power in the coming season. There is a chance I may do some digging around on the foes thing pts wise, since open water fishing on WI lakes is weeks and weeks out yet. Thanks for your efforts this last season.

On the plus side of this offseason at least we won't be wondering for 5 months if injured players are coming back or not. That did get annoying, but after reading what they went through, one can see why the prognosis was very very grey.

Here is some news on the incoming freshmen coming in for the 2014 season. USA Today article! Wellhausen, Cianfirano, Rolfes...


American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Ice Hockey Team

USA TODAY High School Sports crowned Shattuck-St. Mary's (Faribault, Minn.) forward Baylee Wellhausen as its first American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Ice Hockey Player of the Year.

http://origin-www.usatodayhss.com/a...amily-insurance-all-usa-girls-ice-hockey-team

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Here is some news on the incoming freshmen coming in for the 2014 season. USA Today article! Wellhausen, Cianfirano, Rolfes...


American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Ice Hockey Team

USA TODAY High School Sports crowned Shattuck-St. Mary's (Faribault, Minn.) forward Baylee Wellhausen as its first American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Ice Hockey Player of the Year.

http://origin-www.usatodayhss.com/a...amily-insurance-all-usa-girls-ice-hockey-team

Interesting list...UW had 3, all 1st teamers. I'd say UW got the pick of the litter. The other schools....rodents 3, harvard 2, bu 2, q 1, bc 2, lw 1. There are 2 uncommitted upperclassmen yet, a gal from ND and some eastern goalie. I have been trying to dig up some info on the 2 Canadian recruits, I haven't made much headway yet.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

I have been trying to dig up some info on the 2 Canadian recruits, I haven't made much headway yet.

Here's some info on......Lauren Williams is a 5-10 165# D who scored 12 pts this last year for her Whitby Wolves team. She was one of 15 D invited to the Canadian U18 conditioning camp last year, so that puts her in some very good company. I do like her 5-10 frame, UW's returning D are 2 of @ 5-4, 1 of @ 5-5, and 1 @ 5-9. I like the large wingspan of a taller D, ala Jaminski who was 6-0. Rolfes is 5-7 FYI.