robertearle
Well-known member
As best I can tell, she graduated from Appleton North High in 2022. Then was at Bemidji for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years. Then 2024-25 at UW, obviously.
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Wisconsin Women's Hockey 2025-2026
- Thread starter robertearle
- Start date
Originally committed to St. Cloud. Switched to Bemidji when SCSU wanted her to enroll a year later.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
It can be stable if you as a player want it to be stable. I'm sure Zillisch could have stayed at BSU if she wanted to.
My understanding of it is at Bemidji, Zilly went from regular ice time on the second line, to buried on the fourth line. Then the coach was fired.
I'm not privy to the conversations that took place with the new coach. Maybe she could have stayed there, or maybe not really. It's possible the new coach didn't want her. Kids get squeezed out of programs all the time when there's a coaching change (and sometimes even when there isn't a coaching change). Not saying definitively that's what happened here, but it's possible.
Regardless, I wouldn't describe the situation as stable.
robertearle
Well-known member
The numbers don't really bear that out.
In 2022-23, she played in 22 of 36 games, and registered 16 shots.
In 2023-24, she played in all 36 games, and registered 26 shots. Also took a couple hundred faceoffs, after taking almost none the year before.
Her playing time didn't go down, it went up.
(And now she has played on a national championship team.)
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
It's rather funny that the new coach would not want her yet MJ did! Usually when you get dumped by a team, you don't move UP the hierarchy, you slot into something the same level or a rung or 2 less.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
I read it as MJ was looking for an economical insurance policy for Olympics losses. Zilisch, being from WI, costs the program less with in state tuition, it's 75% less than out of state. Room and board appears to cost the same for in state and out of state. And as Robert points out, she had 58 games under her belt including playing center. Plus she worn the C for her HS team and team WI.
Do the players actually stay in university housing? I wouldn't think so but I have no idea what kids do these days.
I assume yes because there is no way those scholarship kids are paying for housing especially the foreign ones.
robertearle
Well-known member
I'm hesitant to post, because I'm likely to get accused of "cyber-stalking" (I'm joking, mostly), but a couple things I've seen, etc:
All the way back in 2010 - and the world has changed since then - I was working for the Census Bureau as a temp worker for the 2010 Census. And I was one who was assigned to a couple UW dorms, Ogg and Smith, "new" at the time. We spend a couple days in the lobby reminding students to fill out forms, and used lists etc to make sure that forms had gotten to where they needed to be, and were being returned. In Ogg Hall particularly, we spotted a discrepancy in our list vs what UW Housing provided; some room numbers were simply missing. When we asked, they told us that those rooms were on a "confidential" list, and wouldn't show in the 'normal' list. When we politely explained that we were working for the US Government, and they were *required* by Federal law to give us the full list, they did so. And the "confidential" rooms were occupied by some 'name" athletes - football players, mostly. but IIRC, also freshmen, mostly.
But...
I have also seen posts on social media - you click on one hockey or volleyball related post from a player, and TikTok and Instagram etc then 'present' more posts to you to click on - where it was obvious that groups of players were in private campus area apartments and houses, not University housing (able to tell, generally, where in the area, from the views they were showing from their balcony, etc.)
And once, 2012 or so, I happened to be out running (farther from campus than I might have expected) when I saw four women hockey players coming out of a house , getting into a car, and heading - presumably - towards campus.
So, I expect that they are much like 'regular' students; live in the dorms first year, then go out to private apartments, house, etc.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
Room and board is part of the scholarship package, I would assume they'd have to use UW housing, unless they get cut a check for the housing. I think they all get some sort of "credit" card preloaded with funds for food.
robertearle
Well-known member
They can also eat meals, 'healthy snacks', etc, provided in their locker room/training facilities, Much like "tech" companies will provide to keep you there spending "time on task", they can get something to eat while studying or watching game video, and such.
Yes maybe they get a check for housing.
Windchill22
Active member
I think when I was in school - back in the 90's - athletes were all in "The Towers" on state street - I assume as sophomore plus - but wouldn't be surprised if Freshmen too.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
I got this email tonight. Part of me just died.
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Thank you for requesting Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Season Tickets. All season ticket requests were reviewed based on availability, annual giving level, and priority points within annual giving levels as of August 18th, 2025.
Unfortunately, we were unable to fulfill your request at the General Admission level. Due to the recent success of the women’s hockey program, this year’s season ticket retention rate was one of the highest in program history. With the high retention rate and success of the team, only a limited number of season tickets became available. General Admission season requests from donors were filled through the Red & White Club ($250). Season ticket requests from donors in the Walk-On Club and non-donors were unable to be filled.
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Thank you for requesting Wisconsin Women’s Hockey Season Tickets. All season ticket requests were reviewed based on availability, annual giving level, and priority points within annual giving levels as of August 18th, 2025.
Unfortunately, we were unable to fulfill your request at the General Admission level. Due to the recent success of the women’s hockey program, this year’s season ticket retention rate was one of the highest in program history. With the high retention rate and success of the team, only a limited number of season tickets became available. General Admission season requests from donors were filled through the Red & White Club ($250). Season ticket requests from donors in the Walk-On Club and non-donors were unable to be filled.
Is this a response to renewal of season tickets, or a request for additional season tickets?
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
Renewal. I've been a season ticket holder since 2013.
robertearle
Well-known member
A friend of mine who has never had season tickets got the same letter. So, first thought is that that is a mistake; call the ticket office and talk to them, to double-check. Or maybe you missed the window to make your request back in July (IIRC)?
Second thought is a much worse one: they are converting the (IIRC) three sections behind the benches to reserved seating. Maybe enough of those seats went to new "big donor" buyers who have "priority" that it pushed the overall number past capacity, and landed X number of existing season ticket buyers "into the parking lot". If that is the case, and the number extends as far as season ticket holders from 2013, then you are likely far from the only one. And that's a story that needs to be told.
Contact Milewski, and tell him what's happening. Because that is all kinds of wrong.
(For reference, I've had tickets since the 2009-10 season, and - as far as I know - am OK for this coming year. The only 'donor points' I would have is from those women's hockey seasons, season tickets for volleyball since 2015, and the requried $100 "donation" that I've paid for VB the last two years. That doesn't add up to much, comparatively. Volleyball will do a "pre-sale" of "single game tickets", opening it up by priority, and my turn as always near the end of the line.)
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