The Wisconsin Badgers are back-to-back NCAA national champions!
On today’s hockey-focused episode of The IX Sports Podcast, host Maya Smith is joined by Dylan Nazareth, who has been covering the Montreal Victoire for the Ice Garden this season, to discuss the Badgers’ epic championship run, where they met the Ohio State Buckeyes in the finals for the fourth straight time and won, 3-2.
Caroline Harvey, who plays for Wisconsin, took home the Patty Kazmaier Award for Player of the Year.
“What can you say about her at this point?” Nazareth said. “She’s named Olympic MVP. She’s, she wins the Patty Kazmaier [Award], she leads her team to another NCAA championship. She’s incredible, she’s generational. I’m really excited to watch her jump to the pros, and everything I’ve seen from her in college has been just absolutely incredible.
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They then discuss what the championship win and award means for the PWHL next season.
“Everybody’s convinced that whoever, I guess it’s not really tanking in the PWHL now, but whoever wins the Gold Plan will take her first overall,” Smith notes, later adding: “She really adds something for any team, even if they are pretty strong defensively. I don’t think we’ll see Boston end up with that opportunity, but they are a team that is very strong defensively and has a strong goaltender, but I think you would still take the take the chance on her.”
Then, Dylan breaks down where the Montréal Victoire stand as they get closer to the playoffs, the injuries to Marie-Philip Poulin and Erin Ambrose, and if they have a chance to make the championship. Lastly, Maya and Dylan talk about the battle for first place, which is a close race between the Boston Fleet, Montréal Victoire, and Minnesota Frost.
Can all three teams keep up the winning as the playoffs get closer? Listen to hear their thoughts:
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