Knight, Duggan named Patty Kaz Finalists

Thursday Wisconsin forwards Meghan Duggan (pictured) and Hillary Knight were announced as top 10 finalists for the 2011 Patt Kazmaier Award.

According to the release, "This year marks the 14th annual presentation of the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given annually to the top player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey. Selection criteria includes outstanding individual and team skills, sportsmanship, performance in the clutch, personal character, competitiveness and a love of hockey. Consideration is also given to academic achievement and civic involvement."

Duggan, a senior forward was also honored on Thursday by the WCHA as it's Player of the Year. Duggan, a member of last years USA Olympic team which picked up a silver medal in Vancouver led the WCHA in scoring with 61 points in 28 games for a 2.18 point per game clip. Duggan won the league scoring race by 10 points over teammate and line mate, Sophomore Brianna Decker. Duggan's 79 total points this season are tied for first nationally.

Knight, a junior forward is putting goals on the board at an insane rate this season. Her 46 goals this season are 11 more than the next highest goal scorer (Duggan). Knight's 46 goals this season are also more than 4 Division-1 women's teams scored the entire season. Knight was also honored by the WCHA on Thursday being announced as a first team All-WCHA forward. This is the second time Knight has been a finalist for the Patty Kaz.

According to UWBadgers.com, 10 UW women's players have been finalists for the award: Sara Bauer (2006, 2007), Duggan (2011), Molly Engstrom (2005), Meghan Hunter (2001), Knight (2009, 2011), Erika Lawler (2009), Carla MacLeod (2005), Meaghan Mikkelson (2007), Bobbi-Jo Slusar (2006) and Jessie Vetter (2009).

Sara Bauer won the award in 2006 and Jessie Vetter won the award in 2009.

Here are the Badges honored by the WCHA on Thursday at the League Awards:

Hilary Knight-First team forward
Meghan Duggan-First team forward
Brianna Decker-First team forward
Brittany Haverstock-Third team defenseman
Brittany Ammerman-All Rookie team forward
Alex Rigsby-All Rookie team goalie
Mark Johnson-Coach of the year

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The Bowl was filled...and then some

Last night 10,668 Badger hockey fans filled the Kohl Center to watch Wisconsin defeat minnesota 3-1. 

Wow was that fun!  I've never been able to sit in the 2nd deck (my prefered place to sit) to watch the Women, but didn't have much of a choice getting there 20 minutes before the puck dropped.  It was amazing to grab a seat and already see 90% of the lower bowl filled, and then watch as the 2nd level filled and filled, while the KC had to even open the 3rd level.  This is no big deal for a Men's game, but after regularly watching a 1/3 full (at best) lower bowl at games, it was exciting to see so many people at a Women's game.

And those that came were treated to one heck of a game!  The Badgers came out firing early in the 1st period as Hilary Knight scored her 99th career goal (34th of the year) past the gopher's goalie Raty (one rodent knows another...) less than a minute in.  Great passing from Brittany Haverstock and Meghan Duggan.  Later in the first, WI native Brianna Decker took the puck shorthanded around the entire gohper team scoring a highlight reel goal to put Bucky up 2-0.

The Badgers controlled the 1st period, notching 22 SOG.  In the second, the gophers took some of the momentum back scoring a SH goal of their own on a Klubertanz like play on the blue line by the Badgers for a nearly uncontested breakaway.  The Badgers answered later in the 2nd on a nice goal by Carolyne Prevost, putting the Badgers up 3-1, and that was the way the game ended.

The Badgers did very well on the PK, the gophers went 0-6 on the man advantage.  The other star of the game for the Badgers was another WI native Alex Rigsby.  She made some big saves in net and it was easily one of her best games of the year.  A nice night for the freshman.

W/ a win and an shootout win (5 points total in WCHA Women's scoring) the Badgers have opened their conference lead to 16 pts over minnesota and 17 pts over North Dakota.  The Badgers only need one win in the next 6 games to finish the regular season as WCHA champs.  Looks tough for a team on a 14 game unbeaten streak...

The 10,668 fans in attendance set a new NCAA record for a Women's Hockey game.  The previous record from Camp Randall last season was 8,263 fans.  Immediately following the game at center ice, Becker Law Office presented Second Harvest w/ a check for $10,668, in addition to all the non-perishable goods fans had donated on their way into the KC.  Hats off to Becker Law Office for the generous donation.  I'm hoping UW does this again next year, it was the prefect storm to get fans in the KC.  Men's team on the road, and no television for those games, no football and no UW basketball in prime time.

While I've had fun at Men's games this season, this was the most fun I've had at the Kohl Center this year.  The Women's team gave the fans in attendance a very entertaining game, and for the "no checking = no hockey" crowd there was a lot of physical play on both sides.  Brooke Ammerman even ignited the crowd after leveling gopher post whistle.

While I don't expect to see big crowds every game for the Women, I hope those in attendance enjoyed the game, and make it a point to catch a few games yet this season, next season and beyond.  At $5, its the best deal in UW sports for the quality of the product on the ice.

I didn't include any pictures, but the links to uwbadgers and WSJ at the top have some nice photo galleries, check them out.

Women Sign Four for next season

Been awhile since I posted, but I was catching up on the Women's team and realized they signed four top recruits for the 2010/11 season last week. It is a small class, but one of the best in country. I don't follow Women's recruiting much, but I'd guess that Alex Rigsby, Brittany Ammerman and Madison Packer are three of the top 10 recruits in the country. Rigsby, a goalie, could probably earn a scholarship for some DI Men's teams from what I read. Don't know much about Kelly Jaminski, but she is from Wisconsin Rapids, and I didn't know anything Stepanie McKeough either and she has been one of the best defenders as a frosh. Nice work Mark Johnson and company!

This is a worthy cut and paste from uwbaders.com.

Brittany Ammerman, a 5-6 forward out of River Vale, N.J., will join her older sister Brooke, a current sophomore standout for the Badgers. Brittany is currently a senior at the North American Hockey Academy (NAHA) in Stowe, Vt. The senior captains the squad and is the current leading scorer for the NAHA White with 12 goals and 10 assists through 23 games. Most notably, she was a member of the 2009 U18 World Champion Team USA, which competed in Fussen, Germany. She scored the first goal in the gold medal game, leading her team to victory over Canada. From 2008-09, she was a member of the U-18 USA Select team that competed in a three-game series against Canada in Lake Placid (2008) and Calgary (2009).

As a junior, Ammerman was the leading scorer on the NAHA for the 2008-09 season, as well as an assistant captain. During her sophomore year, she was the youngest player on the team, ranking fifth on the team in points. This was also the first year she and her sister Brooke played together. Her team won the Junior Women’s Hockey League during her sophomore and junior years of high school. In Ammerman’s freshman year, she played on the U16 New Jersey Colonials team, where she was the leading scorer and, again, the youngest player on the team.

Ammerman is a four-time National Camp attendee. She made the all-star team and scored two goals at the 2009 edition of the camp. She was the leading scorer at the National Camp in 2008.

DeKeyser on Ammerman

"Brittany is a dynamic forward that brings great energy to the game and to those around her on the ice. Brittany should add another dimension to our offensive corps next season with her speed and playmaking ability."

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Alex Rigsby, a 5-7 goaltender from Delafield, Wis., joins the Badgers with an impressive resume. A member of the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals AAA Boys Midget Majors for the past three years, Rigsby was a member of the U18 Women’s National Team. She led the team to gold at the 2009 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships where she won the Top Goaltender award after stopping 38 shots in the 3-2 gold-medal win over Canada and collecting a .947 save percentage and a 1.28 goals-against average. As a member of the national team, she also participated in the 2008 and 2009 USA Hockey Women’s National Festival, as well as the 2008 and 2009 USA U18 Women’s three-game series against Team Canada. Rigsby participated in the USA Hockey National Development Camps from 2006-09 and the 2009 Warren Strelow National Goaltending Camp.

In May 2009 she was drafted by the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL), becoming the first female ever drafted into the league. The USHL is one of the top Tier I junior leagues in North America. Its teams identify and select top teenage prospects from the U.S. and Canada, then set them on a developmental course for NCAA Division I programs and, in some cases, the NHL.

DeKeyser on Rigsby

"Playing for the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals in such a competitive hockey league, Alex should be well prepared for the college ranks next season. She is a gifted goaltender and we expect great things for Alex during her career at Wisconsin."

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Kelly Jaminski, a 6-foot defender from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., will join the squad as one of two players from the Girls Under-19 AAA Little Caesars Hockey Team. Jaminski will spend the final duration of her senior year at Grosse Pointe North High School (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) and will serve as assistant captain of the Little Caesars team, alongside fellow Wisconsin signee Madison Packer.

Like Ammerman, Jaminski also attended the National Development Camp from 2006-2009. Before moving to Michigan to pursue her hockey career in 2007, Jaminski competed on the Boys Central WI AAA Hockey Team, Wisconsin Rapids Boys AAA Bantam Hockey team (where she was co-captain) and the Girls U-19 Madison Capitals AAA Hockey team.

DeKeyser on Jaminski

"We are excited to have yet another Wisconsinite join the Badger squad in Kelly Jaminski. Kelly has played the last two seasons with the Little Caesars organization alongside fellow incoming freshman Madison Packer. We expect Kelly to be a physical presence on the blue-line, while contributing offensively as well."

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Madison Packer is a 5-9 forward out of Birmingham, Mich., who brings a lot of experience to Wisconsin. In her final season with the Little Caesars U19 girls’ team (Mich.), Packer is the team captain with Jaminski, who serves as an assistant captain.

Packer was part of the first U.S. Women’s National Under-18 squad that won a gold medal in Calgary in 2008, tying for 11th in tournament scoring with nine points (5-4). She attended four USA Hockey Player Development Camps from 2005-08 and was a selection for the USA Hockey Women’s National Festival in Lake Placid, N.Y. Packer went on to help the U.S. pick up two wins in a three-game series against Canada in 2008. During the three-game series Packer notched a goal under head coach Mark Johnson while also skating with current Badgers Alev Kelter and Brianna Decker. UW signees Ammerman and Rigsby were both on the team as well. That same team went on to win gold in her second IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship. Serving as an alternate captain, she tallied 11 points in five games (6-5).


DeKeyser on Packer

"Madison has proven to be a powerful offensive threat, with notable puckhandling skills and a great vision for the game. She is a hard-working hockey player who should make a significant impact at the college level."

Women's U18 Series G3: CAN 3 - US 1

In the final game of the U18 Series, Canada defeated the US 3-1 today to win the series 2 games to 1. Brittany Ammerman had 1 assist; Alex Rigsby made 19 saves.

Game recaps: usahockey, hockeycanada

Women's U18 Series G2: CAN 4 - US 2

Brittany Ammerman picked up as assist in the US U18 team's 4-2 loss to Canada last night. Alex Rigsby did not play, as Kerrin Sperry got the start.

From US head coach Katie King:

"We weren't able to capitalize on our opportunities tonight. Although the outcome wasn't in our favor, the team played very hard, and will able to learn and improve their game moving forward."

Game recaps: usahockey, hockeycanada

Next game: Today at 3:30 CT

Women's U18 Series G1: USA 4 - CAN 3

Future Badger Alex Rigsby made 37 saves en-route to a 4-3 USA victory over Canada in the Women's U18 Series. Brittany Ammerman, also representing the Badgers on the US team, was held off the scoresheet. (No Badgers on CAN, at least not that have committed yet. I don't know of any potential recruits, but I'm not really in the loop.)

Despite a string of US penalties in the 1st period (looks like the girls figured things out after that, b/c they only had 1 penalty in the next 2 periods) and being reportedly outplayed and outshot (30-9) by Canada in the 1st 2 periods, the US was down by just 1 goal entering the 3rd period. In the 3rd period it was Canada's turn to take a string of penalties, and the US staged a comeback for the win.

From USA head coach Katie King:

"It was good for the players to get on the ice and see some competition coming out of camp," said Katie King, head coach of the 2009 U.S. Women's Under-18 Select Team. "I was proud of the team's resiliency and our ability to come back and capitalize on the power play."

Game recaps: usahockey, hockeycanada

Next game: Today at 8PM CT.

Alex Rigsby cut at Chicago Steel Camp

2010 Women's recruit Alex Rigsby recently attended the USHL's Chicago Steel's tryout camp. If you recall, she was the first female every drafted by a USHL team.

She did well at the camp, and made it to the all-star games at the end of the camping beating out several boys for that camp honor, but at the end there was not a spot on the roster for her for the coming season. Thanks to Illegal Curve for catching up w/ Alex after the camp.

Despite the fact that Alex was cut, she is a winner in this situation, and did Women's Hockey a small service as well. The experience she gained playing against some very good male junior competition can only make her a better hockey player. Sure she's been playing against boys w/ the Jr Admirals, but I'd guess the all star events in particular would be against much better competition. She's going to take what she learned and likely Mark Johnson will get an even better goalie in the Fall of 2010. As for Women's Hockey, she showed that a girl can play w/ the boys at the highest level of junior competition in the US, and gives young girls everywhere something more to strive for.

She isn't sure where she will land for the coming season; I think the Janesville Jets should give her a tryout for their new NAHL team.

More on Alex Rigsby

While Baggot hasn't reported on Tom Bardis yet, he did have a nice article about 2010 Women's recruit Alex Rigsby. If you recall, Alex made history earlier this summer by being the first female drafted by a USHL franchise. In addition, she was the backstop of the USA U-18 gold medal team coached by Mark Johnson. That team included two other 2010 recruits in Brittany Ammerman and Madison Packer.

She will be attending the Chicago Steel's camp this summer, and if the opportunities arises, could be the first female to ever play in the USHL.

According to WHKY Blogger on USCHO, the original name of the article was "Better than Vetter?" It sounds like she is going to be another great addition to the Badger Women, but I certainly wouldn't go that far until she wins a National Championship and get a bunch of shutouts.

Jessie will be the pillar every female goalie in the country looks up to for some time, I would venture.

3 Badger Women invited to National Team Goaltender Camp

1 current Badger and 2 future Badgers are among 36 goaltenders invited to the 2009 Warren Strelow National Team Goaltending Camp, May 28-31, in Ann Arbor, MI. The goaltenders chosen represent the top goaltenders eligible for international play in select age groups.

Jessie Vetter, 2009 recruit Becca Ruegsegger, and 2010 recruit Alex Rigsby have been invited to attend.

Badger Women 2010 recruiting class

I can't believe I missed this last week. Apparently forward Brittany Ammerman has committed to Wisconsin. Her commitment isn't a huge surprise, and I had speculated about it previously, but now it's actually been announced.

And the folks over on the uscho women's fan forum are indicating the goaltender Alex Rigsby has committed as well, but I don't have any links.

Ammerman and Rigsby join forward Madison Packer (again, no links, but listed in the fan forum) for the Badger's 2010 recruiting class. All 3 players won gold with Team USA in the U18 World Championship this January.

Tournament stats
Packer (5 GP) 6-5-11, 27 SOG, +13
Ammerman (5 GP) 5-5-10, 20 SOG, +16
Rigsby (3 GP) 1.28 GAA, .974 SV%

Rigsby split time with Corinne Boyles but got the nod for the championship game, in which she made 38 saves for the 3-2 OT win over Canada. She also received the Directorate Award for Best Goaltender in the tourney.

Rigsby's commitment will give the Badgers 3 goaltender for the 2010-11 season, as Nikki Kaasa will be a junior and Rebecca Ruegsegger will be a sophomore.