Wisconsin Women's Hockey 2021-2022

[robertearle]

Not having seen the game, did the UMD goalie not play as well?

Goalies in women's hockey these days regularly put up save percentages in the .900 to .950 range.

Over the two nights, Chobak went five goals surrendered on 74 shots, a .932 percentage. There was nothing particularly different one night to the next, other than Friday the puck didn't want to go into the net, and Saturday it did. It's as simple as that. She was "due" to give up some goals.

 

[Gargoyle]

Goalies in women's hockey these days regularly put up save percentages in the .900 to .950 range.

Over the two nights, Chobak went five goals surrendered on 74 shots, a .932 percentage. There was nothing particularly different one night to the next, other than Friday the puck didn't want to go into the net, and Saturday it did. It's as simple as that. She was "due" to give up some goals.

Well, sure, but the save percentage on Friday was a lot higher than the save percentage on Saturday. "Regression to the mean" makes sense but still, she played better on Friday than on Saturday. It wasn't all chance.

 

[robertearle]

It wasn't all chance.

It was, and always is, to a great degree 'randomness'. If you want to try to make some sort of 'UW did this differently' or 'Chobak did this differently', be my guest. But I don't think you have to look any farther than 'randomness'.

(Daryll Watts says something similar in the Wi State Journal this morning, BTW.)

 

[Patricio]

The Badgers looked much better last night. Among the highlights for me:

• Their passing was much improved. Far fewer giveaways and ones to phantom teammates.
• Much better play on D. Posick continued to play her position solidly and demonstrated a “crisp” shot from the point that could prove beneficial in future games with a little more accuracy. She should work on it.
• I thought there was more focus on quality shots, and it paid off.
• All of Watts’ goals reminded me of vintage Watts. The first two showed creativity, the third great patience and control.
• Schneider had one of her best games. Her goal was outstanding – into upper left corner as she was losing her balance. She also attempted several passes to teammates that had potential for tip-ins or deflections. I want to see more of this.
• The team showed more energy, especially SS. If Shirley can sustain that level of energy, I think she soon may have a full personal resurgence.

So, I am anxious to see how the team performs against MNSt. Will last night prove to be a one-off event, or was it a harbinger of what lies ahead? If they sustain this level of play next weekend, the weekend in Columbus and games thereafter will take on a different look.

 

[Timothy A]

Yes, SS looked really good, she could have scored about 4 goals. I listened to Reid Magnum's interview with her on the way home Saturday and her confidence is in a bad place and it's dragging her down.

Schneider was fantastic all weekend.

I really did not see any difference between UW and UMD in terms of wanting it more on Saturday.

UMD scores their only goal from basically on top of Blair on a rebound, so later in the game she absolutely decks a UMD player in the same position trying the same thing right after the whistle. Like she's saying "enough of the shit". I don't recall a female goalie ever taking such a blatant roughing call like that before. On the one hand I like the spunk, on the other hand you don't want to see your goalie loose composure.

Stick tap to Posick who looked very at home out there all weekend. They did not shy away from her playing against the superline. I don't think I've seen a UW player who has evolved to the degree she as since I've been following closely for 10 years. I think she'd exceeded Maddy Rowe in that department and her development was fantastic.

Helgeson did get a few shifts Saturday.

I'm getting those sadness pangs in the tummy telling me the home season is winding down. Sigh.

 

[Timothy A]

The ulimate goal is to finish in the top 3 nationally to get a cupcake in round 2 of the ncaa's. With 4 games vs OSU/UM/UMD (making assumptions), they can control that. They are fighting for their NCAA lives against Kato and OSU.

 

[robertearle]

The ulimate goal is to finish in the top 3 nationally to get a cupcake in round 2 of the ncaa's. With 4 games vs OSU/UM/UMD (making assumptions), they can control that. They are fighting for their NCAA lives against Kato and OSU.

I assume that the 'cupcakes' of the CHA and NEWHA auto-bid winner will be the #10 and #11 seeds, and will play #6 and #7 seeds in the first three games. I also assume that there won't be any re-seeding at that point, because the scheduling and logistics of that would be pretty difficult for everyone. #1 is going to play the winner of the #8/#9 game, #2 gets the winner of the #7/#10 game, and #3 gets the winner of the #6/#11 game.

Right now, the difference of Wisconsin being #2 or #3 or #4 would mean the difference of playing (assuming no upsets in the first three games) Yale or Northeastern or Harvard. And at least in terms of their RPIs, that is not much difference at all.

The goals, IMO, are to get a home game, and avoid it being against Duluth.

 

[ARM]

I assume that the 'cupcakes' of the CHA and NEWHA auto-bid winner will be the #10 and #11 seeds, and will play #6 and #7 seeds in the first three games.

It's my understanding that the NEWHA doesn't yet have an autobid this season. This is only their second season as a 6-team league, and I think you have to have two seasons with a set lineup of six core members before you are awarded an auto bid for subsequent seasons. Unless there was some waiver of that with the expansion to 11 teams that I'm forgetting?

 

[robertearle]

It's my understanding that the NEWHA doesn't yet have an autobid this season. This is only their second season as a 6-team league, and I think you have to have two seasons with a set lineup of six core members before you are awarded an auto bid for subsequent seasons. Unless there was some waiver of that with the expansion to 11 teams that I'm forgetting?

I was assuming that the expansion to 11 teams in the 'rushed' way it is being done was a response to the NEWHA getting an autobid; if not, why the rush? But no, I do not know for certain, one way or the other.

 

[ARM]

I was assuming that the expansion to 11 teams in the 'rushed' way it is being done was a response to the NEWHA getting an autobid; if not, why the rush?

It's also possible that the NCAA decided that it wasn't NEWHA's fault that they didn't play last year due to Covid, so they're getting grace (and an earlier auto bid). My thinking was just along the lines of this story:
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/ncaa-tables-proposal-to-expand-womens-hockey-tournament

... the NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Committee, sought to expand the tournament from eight to 10 teams right away starting with the 2021-22 season in anticipation of the New England Women’s Hockey Alliance (NEWHA) postseason champion receiving a possible auto bid starting with the 2022-23 season.

 

[robertearle]

It's also possible that the NCAA decided that it wasn't NEWHA's fault that they didn't play last year due to Covid, so they're getting grace (and an earlier auto bid). My thinking was just along the lines of this story:
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/ncaa-tables-proposal-to-expand-womens-hockey-tournament

Four weeks from RIGHT NOW, we'll be sitting here studying the bracket, and 'directors of operations' will be making flight and hotel arrangements. I sure do hope the coaches and players know more about what it's all gonna look like than we do!

 

[Patricio]

I read a summary of last night’s game with Canada and at the conclusion it mentioned that Curl would be taking the vacancy created by Decker’s injury. To quote: “The US is expected to add Britta Curl to its lineup later this week to replace Brianna Decker, who broke her left ankle in the tournament-opening 5-2 win over Finland.” This surprised me since I thought teams included an extra 5 players to cover unexpected losses in personnel whatever the reason as well as to provide occasional games off.

If this proves to be accurate, it may explain where Curl and Eden have been – waiting with the team in some form of reserve capacity rather than having returned to campus, off spending time with families, or doing something else. It also raises some questions:

1. Is referring to players like Curl (and Eden?) as “cut” a fair description?
2. Has the US lost other players to injuries, Covid, or other illnesses and no longer has any reserves at F in the original 25 team members?
3. If not 2, and Curl is seen as a better choice to fill the vacancy, why wasn’t she included on the initial 25-person roster?

 

[Bonzo]

I read a summary of last night’s game with Canada and at the conclusion it mentioned that Curl would be taking the vacancy created by Decker’s injury. To quote: “The US is expected to add Britta Curl to its lineup later this week to replace Brianna Decker, who broke her left ankle in the tournament-opening 5-2 win over Finland.” This surprised me since I thought teams included an extra 5 players to cover unexpected losses in personnel whatever the reason as well as to provide occasional games off.

If this proves to be accurate, it may explain where Curl and Eden have been – waiting with the team in some form of reserve capacity rather than having returned to campus, off spending time with families, or doing something else. It also raises some questions:

1. Is referring to players like Curl (and Eden?) as “cut” a fair description?
2. Has the US lost other players to injuries, Covid, or other illnesses and no longer has any reserves at F in the original 25 team members?
3. If not 2, and Curl is seen as a better choice to fill the vacancy, why wasn’t she included on the initial 25-person roster?

Curl was at the Badger series in LaBahn arena both Fri and Sat and then flew to LA for processing and Covid testing on Sunday. Supposedly flying to Beijing today. Apparently teams were allowed a "taxi squad" in Beijing but the US surprisingly didn't have one, thus the need to scramble to get Curl to get to the games.

 

[Patricio]

Thanks, Bonzo, for the info about Curl.

Since she, likely Eden too, apparently did return to the states, Curl returning to the Olympics probably reflects a standing policy that permits teams to bring in a player to replace someone lost to injury or illness to maintain the roster limit of 25. Curl will not be replacing Decker per se but is slated for the reserve slot vacated by whomever was moved to complete the 4 O lines. This makes more sense.

 

[Timothy A]

So the men's team has another covid crisis and cannot play Thursday/Friday. Scuttlebutt is they will re-arrange the women's hockey schedule for this weekend to try and fit the men in Saturday/Sunday. Not out of the realm of possibility is moving the women's Sunday game to Friday. Hopefully it will be Friday night and not some stupid 2PM time where all of us working stiffs get screwed out of another home game, the last regular home series.

It being Sr weekend, but maybe not for all the Sr's like the ones who can get an extra year if they so choose: SS & LaMantia. I wonder if they have made their decisions about next year already? From a school standpoint, they know how many credits they need to graduate with the BA/BS, so that is not up in the air and they've also seen this coming for many months to know if they are going to do a post grad program or not. I have a feeling we won't know anything until we see the roster in September. The women's program is very tight lipped about injuries and personnel decisions, unlike the FB team where all the info is on the table.

It's kinda crazy that in my head it seems like SS has been at UW forever yet it feels like LaMantia just got here. I suppose a person focusses and thinks about F's way more than D's.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

I suppose a person focusses and thinks about F's way more than D's.

The fact that you can even focus at all with your thinner consumption is something.

 

[ARM]

What you posted:

It's kinda crazy that in my head it seems like SS has been at UW forever yet it feels like LaMantia just got here.

What I took away:
​​​​​​​

It's kinda crazy ... in my head ...

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

What you posted:

What I took away:

Without "that" seems more accurate.

 

[Patricio]

I really don’t see any need to adjust the schedule of any of the Badger teams this weekend except for men’s hockey. A solution that is not disruptive seems relatively simple.
First, the only required schedule changes are with the men’s hockey team. They seem to have violated adherence to its covid protocols for the second time this season. Since changing its schedule is avoidable, it should be responsible for developing a solution that eliminates any need to change the schedules of the other UW teams and those of their fans. When doing this, the following should be considered:

1. LaBahn has had many games at times when other events were scheduled at the Kohl Center. Usually, they started either earlier or later with sufficient gaps in time between other events to avoid any conflicts. If memory serves me well (which is debatable), there even were a few occasions with slight overlaps, also without any serious issues. After all, LaBahn’ s capacity is less than 15% of that the Center’s. Leave these games as scheduled.
2. The men’s BB game on Saturday is scheduled for TV. No way they are going to do anything that would disrupt a TV game with what is certain to be a capacity crowd. That would be shooting yourself in both feet.
3. The women’s BB game on Sunday is scheduled for 3PM and probably would finish by 5:30 at the latest. Interestingly it was set for 3PM even though the women’s game is scheduled for 1:00PM. The women’s game’s generally last slightly more than 2 hours, so some overlap was not viewed as problem in this case. I’ll leave it to the fans of women’s BB to raise any objections.

So, where does this leave us? I suggest that it requires only the men’s hockey games to be rescheduled. Saturday’s men’s BB game should finish around 3:30. If a men’s hockey game were scheduled at 8:00 or 8:30, there should be time to get the rink ready. The teams could warm up at LaBahn if needed. If the second game were scheduled for Sunday, that also could be an 8:30 start. Some have raised the matter of competition with the Super Bowl, but that could be addressed by scheduling the second game for Monday.

To summarize, let’s limit the number of teams and fans that would be affected by rescheduling by focusing just on men’s hockey. They earned that responsibility.

 

[Bonzo]

It being Sr weekend, but maybe not for all the Sr's like the ones who can get an extra year if they so choose: SS & LaMantia. I wonder if they have made their decisions about next year already? From a school standpoint, they know how many credits they need to graduate with the BA/BS, so that is not up in the air and they've also seen this coming for many months to know if they are going to do a post grad program or not. I have a feeling we won't know anything until we see the roster in September. The women's program is very tight lipped about injuries and personnel decisions, unlike the FB team where all the info is on the table.

Mark Johnson did an interview with Brian Posick where he thanks the senior class. While he doesn't mention them by name in this twitter post it appears 8 senior Badgers are shown in the photo (Posick, Pettit, Kennedy, Schneider, Watts, Bowlby, Nealy and Drake). Since LaMantia and S. Shirley aren't in the photo, one could speculate that they will most likely return.

https://twitter.com/BadgerWHockey/status/1491487059453829123