It's never too early for some hockey talk. Fresh off a 23-10-2 2012 campaign, Wisconsin announced the women's hockey schedule for the upcoming 2013-14 season on Tuesday. Among the highlights are a pair of non-conference gems vs. Northeastern and Boston University on Nov. 15-16 in Vail, Colo, as well as 28 WCHA games vs. the likes of Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth and North Dakota.
Even the exhibition slate gets a boost in intrigue -- the Japanese Olympic team comes to the LaBahn Arena on Sept. 24. Japan will make its second-ever appearance in the Olympics in 2014 with a former Badger on the bench in Carla MacLeod, who has been an assistant with the team since February 2012.
The regular season begins the weekend of Oct. 4 with a home series vs. Minnesota State, followed by a trip to Minnesota the following weekend to face the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota and Minnesota State also represent the last two regular-season series for Wisconsin, beginning with a home series vs. the former Feb. 14-16. The first round of the WCHA playoffs will be held Feb. 28-March 2, with the Final Face-off coming March 7-8 at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn. The full season will come to a close March 21-23 at the NCAA Frozen Four in Hamden, Conn.
2013-14 WISCONSIN WOMEN'S HOCKEY SCHEDULE | |||
Dates | Opponent | Location | Venue |
Sept. 24 | Japanese Olympic Team | Madison, Wis. | LaBahn Arena |
Oct. 4-6 | Minnesota State*# | Madison, Wis. | LaBahn Arena |
Oct. 11-12 | at Minnesota* | Minneapolis, Minn. | Ridder Arena |
Oct. 18-19 | St. Cloud State | Madison, Wis. | LaBahn Arena |
Oct. 25-26 | Lindenwood | Madison, Wis. | LaBahn Arena |
Nov. 2-3 | Ohio State* | Madison, Wis. | LaBahn Arena |
Nov. 15 | Northeastern | Vail, Colo. | Dobson Arena |
Nov. 16 | Boston University | Vail, Colo. | Dobson Arena |
Nov. 22-23 | at North Dakota* | Grand Forks, N.D. | Ralph Engelstad Arena |
Nov. 29-30 | at Minnesota Duluth* | Duluth, Minn. | AMSOIL Arena |
Dec. 6-8 | Bemidji State*# | Madison, Wis. | LaBahn Arena |
Jan. 3-4 | at St. Cloud State* | St. Cloud, Minn. | National Hockey Center |
Jan. 10-12 | North Dakota*# | Madison, Wis. | LaBahn Arena |
Jan. 17-18 | at Bemidji State* | Bemidji, Minn. | Sanford Center |
Jan. 24-26 | Minnesota Duluth*# | Madison, Wis. | LaBahn Arena |
Feb. 7-8 | at Ohio State* | Columbus, Ohio | OSU Ice Rink |
Feb. 14-16 | Minnesota*# | Madison, Wis. | LaBahn Arena |
Feb. 21-22 | at Minnesota State* | Mankato, Minn. | All Seasons Arena |
Feb. 28-March 2 | WCHA Playoffs - First Round | TBA | TBA |
March 7-8 | WCHA Final Face-Off | Bemidji, Minn. | Sanford Center |
March 15 | NCAA Quarterfinals | TBA | TBA |
March 21-23 | NCAA Frozen Four | Hamden, Conn. | TD Bank Sports Center |
*WCHA contests
#Actual dates TBA for two-game series