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Wisconsin Women's Hockey 2024-2025
- Thread starter BadgerPete
- Start date
First, a few comments on the goalie situation.
The Badgers have not signed a goalie off the transfer portal as yet, seeming to suggest that Ava and Chloe will be the goalies for the coming season. Since Baker has not logged ANY playing time, Bucky’s experience with major injuries the past two seasons makes me a bit nervous. To wit:
Lastly, I wonder how others are viewing the prospects for the Badgers obtaining Nela Lopusanova’s commitment to the 26-27 class? She did cite interest in the UW after her arrival at BK, but she likely will be courted with tempting offers from most of the prominent teams. The arrival of Finley McCarthy this coming season will make 4 BK recruits in the past 3 years, and McCarthy did play with her on one of BK’s lines. Definitely would be nice to see the connection continue.
The Badgers have not signed a goalie off the transfer portal as yet, seeming to suggest that Ava and Chloe will be the goalies for the coming season. Since Baker has not logged ANY playing time, Bucky’s experience with major injuries the past two seasons makes me a bit nervous. To wit:
- Buchbinder tore an achilles in a pregame locker room incident ending her 2022-23 season early.
- Enright had an ACL and Vasseur a shoulder injury that never was clearly explained (though I may have missed it) prior to last season starting.
- KK was lost for a stretch of games during last season with a knee injury.
Lastly, I wonder how others are viewing the prospects for the Badgers obtaining Nela Lopusanova’s commitment to the 26-27 class? She did cite interest in the UW after her arrival at BK, but she likely will be courted with tempting offers from most of the prominent teams. The arrival of Finley McCarthy this coming season will make 4 BK recruits in the past 3 years, and McCarthy did play with her on one of BK’s lines. Definitely would be nice to see the connection continue.
Baker's online stats show her playing a period against Bemidji at LaBahn on 10/21/23 and appearing in some capacity in both games the following weekend at STU. I did not attend the away games but recall that she did okay in limited action against the battered Beavers.
Thanks to Ooftah for catching my oversight of Baker's time against Bemidji. she did play the entire 3rd period in the game he cites with 0 goals allowed and 7 saves. A nice premiere.
The ISCHO stats for the SRU games show 0 minutes of ice time for both games. I assume this reflects having her suited in case there was an opportunity or need for her to play. So, the time against Bemidji is her total for the season. Not a big sample, but a positive one. The fact the Badgers have stayed pat on adding a G from the portal may indicate the coaches regard her as a reasonable option when needed. Have to wait and see.
They will most certainly add a 3rd goaltender over the summer. May not be a star, but they won't go into the season carrying just 2. Can't think of a time when a 3rd goalie ever played significant minutes, but too big a risk not having a 3rd on the roster
wheel snipe celly
New member
Although it has not been released publicly yet. I was able to confirm that Tosu goalie Quinn Kuntz will be joining the team. Also a bit of a curveball, Bemidji State Forward and Wisconsin Native Mckayla Zilisch will also be joing the team as well.
Windchill22
Member
Awesome- Thanks W.S.C! Welcome Mckayla and Quinn! Excited to see them and all the other skaters... Is it September yet?
Mckayla would make it 14 forwards on next years roster if my numbers are correct. I'm assuming this is strictly a depth add as Mckayla hasn't been a scorer at Bemidji. I hope there is not an unreported injury or departure for next year that necessitated the add. 14 forwards are: Eden, Gorbatenko, Edwards, Hall, Enright, Picard, Vasseur, Wozniewicz, O'Brien, Simms, Zilisch and 3 FR (Scannell, McCarthy, Halvorson)
robertearle
Well-known member
From Appleton! My hometown. And if I have the right family, maybe a mile or so from where I grew up.
I can’t say I am enthused about Kuntz and Zilisch being added to the coming season’s roster. Neither one has played significant time, so it is unclear to me if and how they will provide much help at their relative positions should injuries or other issues require them to do so.
There were forwards in the portal from OhST, Cornel, Clarkson and Quinnipiac (multiples), BC, and Colgate. All of these appeared to have had more experience and better stats than Zilisch. I think at least several of them would have been interested in playing for the UW through the coming season’s roster of forwards likely could limit one’s ice time.
Also, unless Zilisch and Kuntz will be playing on their own money, there appears to have been some $$ for Wheeler. Unless her reasons for transferring are personal in nature rather than a lack of available financing, keeping a F of her caliber was a no brainer. She will make playing the Buckeyes more difficult.
To sum it up. I hope that McNaughton remains free of injury though Bucky’s recent history for injuries is a source of anxiety for me on that score. Wheeler's loss is unfortunate, but I am confident that the Badgers will be fine at F and D given the incoming class and the returns of Enright and Vasseur. It should be an enjoyable season.
Hockeybuckeye
Well-known member
I don't have anything negative to say about Quinn especially given the time she's put in at Ohio State but you are right to have concerns, there's a reason she never got playing time here. Even though she received great training I'm very surprised MJ didn't go for a proven goalie with top stats, a real head scratcher for sure!
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Is it worth speculating that these players came without getting a scholarship? One will be a graduate student and the other will be an in-state student-athlete who might have been willing to provide a hometown discount. Zilisch might also have been enticed by the possibility of a future scholarship if she proves herself. How likely that is is another matter.
BadgerPete
Active member
I find it almost certain that Zilisch is walking on if there wasn't a scholarship for Wheeler. I think we sometimes forget that these are humans as well as hockey players; going to UW for college and getting to play some hockey along the way may have been a life decision as much as a hockey decision when it comes to a young woman from Appleton.
robertearle
Well-known member
I still don't see how she has any eligibility remaining. If she is indeed coming to Madison for the coming season, I hope somebody - Todd Milewski, maybe - can explain it.
Hockeybuckeye
Well-known member
I don't recall what the exact situation is on that but I'm sure someone can do the research to come up with the answer.
Kuntz has had 5 years at OhSt. One was the covid year and one was a redshirt. Thus, she has 1 year left. While her goal tending apparently did not progress to Muzerall's satisfaction (which I think is worth noting since I do consider Muzerall to be a very good coach), she has done well with school having progressed through at least one year of grad school. Perhaps MJ feels he has found a proverbial diamond in the rough. Simply have to wait and see.
robertearle
Well-known member
Trust me, I've done "the research". And in other contexts with other players, hockey and volleyball, I've read the rules and seen examples of how they were applied (and how they've changed over the years).
robertearle
Well-known member
She took the ice and played in at least one game in each of the years 2019-20 and the three between 2021 and 2024. That precludes any red shirt year. In two of the years, she played in only one game in each of those years, and played early enough that there is the POSSIBILITY that one of those years MIGHT have turned into a medical hardship year. But there is no evidence or report that I've seen of any injury. And I've even looked at video of games in the second half of those two years, and seen her dressed and on the bench during games in the second half of those years. Which would seem to preclude an injury and a medical hardship.
(Interestingly, the one year she DIDN'T take the ice was the year that it wouldn't have counted against her, 2020-21. But she was on the roster for the year, and so qualified for COVID "consideration" and a fifth year. That fifth year was 2023-24.)
I can go through year by year and cite specific games, if you'd like.
As I said, I don't see how she has eligibility. I would love to hear the explanation for why she apparently does.