Wisconsin Women's Hockey 2025-2026

[Timothy A]

I'm a HUGE McNaughton fan, but I find it hard to believe she's the 3rd best US goalie. Hensley and Rooney both have PWHL and Olympic experience. Philips has PWHL experience, Frankel seems to be the top dog. Am I missing anybody?

 

[MaybeMintz]

Yep - that was slight tongue in cheek but I don't enjoy watching her play. I enjoy the results.

She appears to be coasting an awful lot out there and doesn't seem to have a second gear when needed. I'm constantly frustrated when I see her gliding whether at forward or defense.

Part of that is an optical illusion as she is longer and taller than almost all of the other players, so she looks slow and plodding in comparison. Part of it is not.

She could be unstoppable if she was a better skater.

I am absolutely pulling for her to be successful, but that doesn't mean I will ignore what my eyes are seeing.

And yeah... elite scoring ability is something that only a select few have and they play ahead of players who maybe do other things better or skate harder or play a 200' game. I've seen it at every level of play. It happens in the NHL too.

Edwards is a funny one to me because she'll look like she isn't trying and then immediately scores.

She doesn't have the skating of Harvey or the dangles of Simms or the energy of Eden. Her game is more about positioning and reading the defense then unleashing an absolutely disgusting shot.

She isn't slow (she's not fast, but she isn't slow), but she looks slow because she's already in the position that she wants to be in and is just waiting for the play to inevitably progress to the point where that position is advantageous.

I think her second gear is way better than you're giving her credit for, but she just never needs it.

 

[MaybeMintz]

I'm a HUGE McNaughton fan, but I find it hard to believe she's the 3rd best US goalie. Hensley and Rooney both have PWHL and Olympic experience. Philips has PWHL experience, Frankel seems to be the top dog. Am I missing anybody?

She's definitely not the third best US goalie, but I think HockeyUSA sees her as a big part of the future and wants her on all (or at least most) of these rosters so that she'll be ready when the time comes.

 

[Gurth 2.0]

Edwards is a funny one to me because she'll look like she isn't trying and then immediately scores.

She doesn't have the skating of Harvey or the dangles of Simms or the energy of Eden. Her game is more about positioning and reading the defense then unleashing an absolutely disgusting shot.

She isn't slow (she's not fast, but she isn't slow), but she looks slow because she's already in the position that she wants to be in and is just waiting for the play to inevitably progress to the point where that position is advantageous.

I think her second gear is way better than you're giving her credit for, but she just never needs it.

No... I've watched her allow others to skate away from her with the puck over and over and don't see urgency to catch them or to back check.

Forwards have defensive responsibilities and I don't see her committed to it.

Whatever... plenty of forwards including in the NHL don't play a 200' game. Bedard comes to mind but he's getting better.

She'll make a great living and career with what she has so she gives a crap about what this defensive minded asshat thinks.

 

[Timothy A]

Yep - that was slight tongue in cheek but I don't enjoy watching her play. I enjoy the results.

She appears to be coasting an awful lot out there and doesn't seem to have a second gear when needed. I'm constantly frustrated when I see her gliding whether at forward or defense.

Part of that is an optical illusion as she is longer and taller than almost all of the other players, so she looks slow and plodding in comparison. Part of it is not.

She could be unstoppable if she was a better skater.

I am absolutely pulling for her to be successful, but that doesn't mean I will ignore what my eyes are seeing.

And yeah... elite scoring ability is something that only a select few have and they play ahead of players who maybe do other things better or skate harder or play a 200' game. I've seen it at every level of play. It happens in the NHL too.

I agree 100%. She has no idea the force she has inside of her just waiting to be unleashed is she could just push through to daylight. I was hoping her development by this time would have unleashed the best of her. There's so much potential there. Maybe it will come together in the PWHL for her. By it "coming together" for her I mean be dominant like Jordan or Gretzky in their prime - she has those kinds of tools. Just like KK, there was only 1 made, then they broke the mold.

 

[Gurth 2.0]

I agree 100%. She has no idea the force she has inside of her just waiting to be unleashed is she could just push through to daylight. I was hoping her development by this time would have unleashed the best of her. There's so much potential there. Maybe it will come together in the PWHL for her. By it "coming together" for her I mean be dominant like Jordan or Gretzky in their prime - she has those kinds of tools. Just like KK, there was only 1 made, then they broke the mold.

Yep... one minute I'll think she's pulling a sled out there and the next my jaw will hit the ground when she does something unbelievable with the puck.

She could end up being the best of her time. I hope it happens but it's in her hands.

 

[MaybeMintz]

No... I've watched her allow others to skate away from her with the puck over and over and don't see urgency to catch them or to back check.

Forwards have defensive responsibilities and I don't see her committed to it.

Maybe we're thinking of different plays, but in most of those, there was another defender (usually Harvey) already in front of the play in a better position to stop the rush.

Also, after rereading, I think you were more thinking defensively and I was thinking more offensively.

I do agree that her defense could use some work (though I still do think it's better than you're giving her credit for, especially with her having spent most of this year playing a different position than normal)

 

[Gurth 2.0]

Maybe we're thinking of different plays, but in most of those, there was another defender (usually Harvey) already in front of the play in a better position to stop the rush.

Also, after rereading, I think you were more thinking defensively and I was thinking more offensively.

I do agree that her defense could use some work (though I still do think it's better than you're giving her credit for, especially with her having spent most of this year playing a different position than normal)

I'm talking about defensive responsibilities as a forward.

I've already stated ad nauseam that she's not a D imo.

But even if KK is already there, her pair needs to hustle back in case something goes awry. You never leave it up to another player to cover the entire play. A rebound could happen or another opponent could jump into the play and you need to be there for that and you're too late if you wait for it to already be happening to react.

 

[MaybeMintz]

I'm talking about defensive responsibilities as a forward.

I've already stated ad nauseam that she's not a D imo.

But even if KK is already there, her pair needs to hustle back in case something goes awry. You never leave it up to another player to cover the entire play. A rebound could happen or another opponent could jump into the play and you need to be there for that and you're too late if you wait for it to already be happening to react.

I'll leave it at that.

For her to get rebounds and cover other players entering the play, she shouldn't be trying to catch up with the player on the rush. She does need to drop back a little bit, let the other defender cover the first player, and put herself in a better position to make the second defensive play if needed.

 

[Gurth 2.0]

For her to get rebounds and cover other players entering the play, she shouldn't be trying to catch up with the player on the rush. She does need to drop back a little bit, let the other defender cover the first player, and put herself in a better position to make the second defensive play if needed.

Again... that was about back checking as a forward.

Forwards can and should apply back pressure on the puck carrier between the blue lines if everything else is covered.

As a D, you get back asap no matter what and face whatever else is coming on the rush or cut off the player if they get by the first D. At least stop them from taking it in front of the net. The goalie will take the shot if it's from the side while that second D looks for others joining the rush, passing lanes, rebounds etc.

Never said that the second D should also attack the puck carrier.

There are so many plays where players are watching the play instead of getting into position and then it's too late. If you're only reacting, you're too late and you aren't doing your job correctly.

 

[eastcoastgopher]

She's definitely not the third best US goalie, but I think HockeyUSA sees her as a big part of the future and wants her on all (or at least most) of these rosters so that she'll be ready when the time comes.

I think given that future expansion of the PWHL is inevitable, McNaughton and Annelies Bergmann could join the PWHL in 2027-28 and immediately be starters on their teams. With Hensley now into her 30s and Rooney being, shall we say, inconsistent, I'd rather move past the two Frost goalies and see what could be there in the future.

Also with the four American pros being smaller and goalie size trending upward, McNaughton gives a different look in practice.

 

[Lindsay]

Again... that was about back checking as a forward.

Forwards can and should apply back pressure on the puck carrier between the blue lines if everything else is covered.

As a D, you get back asap no matter what and face whatever else is coming on the rush or cut off the player if they get by the first D. At least stop them from taking it in front of the net. The goalie will take the shot if it's from the side while that second D looks for others joining the rush, passing lanes, rebounds etc.

Never said that the second D should also attack the puck carrier.

There are so many plays where players are watching the play instead of getting into position and then it's too late. If you're only reacting, you're too late and you aren't doing your job correctly.

nice to read all the additional perspective. Thank you.

She has gentle giant vibes which further complicates things. I think D I think mean and nasty, also I assume she looks a bit like big Mario did who also never looked like he was skating hard. Canada did not look good in the rivalry series so maybe it all works out. Who knows. In the mean time keep sniping!

 

[Lindsay]

I’m a little unfazed by the switch to D also because USA hockey did the same thing Gigi Marvin and Monique Lamoureux. Keller was touted as being a real offensive D; not sure how much it’s come to fruition at the national level.

Jaques is the best in my book of the offensive d, although Laila seems to be right there. Jaques too, is considered that she need to be better in her own zone.

 

[eastcoastgopher]

I’m a little unfazed by the switch to D also because USA hockey did the same thing Gigi Marvin and Monique Lamoureux. Keller was touted as being a real offensive D; not sure how much it’s come to fruition at the national level.

Jaques is the best in my book of the offensive d, although Laila seems to be right there. Jaques too, is considered that she need to be better in her own zone.

Back in the day they did the same thing with AJ Mleczko.

There's probably something to be said about that, how defense/defensive players may be undervalued on the women's side of USA Hockey and always has been, but I think Edwards is the best RHD in the pool at this moment.

 

[Ditra]

Here is Ian Kennedy's take on it.

Olympic roster

 

[BuckyB]

Ian Kennedy is the perfect example of “Any coverage is better than no coverage”
He copies and pastes like a mad man and his opinions are often very uneducated and down right ridiculous.

 

[Lindsay]

Kennedy should know it’s only a 23 person roster right? The guy yesterday wasn’t as big a name in women’s hockey.

I liked the Sami Jo and Megan’s roster they did on the last rivalry series intermission

 

[BuckyB]

Again, Ian Kennedy is a sorry excuse for a reporter but at least he tries to give something to women’s hockey.
Often misinformed and flat out wrong.

 

[Ooftah]

The forum is working again - as you have noticed by now.

 

[Gargoyle]

The forum is working again - as you have noticed by now.

I actually reported it this morning and received a response right away. The server was showing up as working on their end and no one had contacted them otherwise until I did, presumably. Glad it's back up and running!