Wisconsin women’s hockey: Daryl Watts named WCHA Player of the Month

The No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team have won four straight games, only giving up five goals while scoring 25 (!!!). One of the main reasons for the dominant stretch has been the play of senior forward Daryl Watts so it makes perfect sense that Watts was named the WCHA Player of the Month for January.

Defenseman Grace Bowlby, whose eight assists led all NCAA blueliners, goalie Kennedy Blair, who posted a league-best seven wins during the month of January while posting a .949 save percentage and a 1.30 goals-against average, and freshman forward Lacey Eden, who scored four points in her first four games, were all named honorable mention for their respective monthly awards.

Watts had an electric month of January, scoring 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in eight games. Her 10 goals led the NCAA while her eight assists ranked second in the league behind linemate Sophie Shirley. The Badgers were 7-1 in January, including taking three of four games from ranked teams.

Watts had three points in a series split with Ohio State and six points in a sweep of Minnesota, who was No. 1 at the time. Watts’ +13 plus/minus rating during the month led the WCHA and ranked No. 5 nationally. She scored in seven of her eight games, including her first UW hat trick against St. Cloud State, in January and enters February with a six-game goal streak.

The top-ranked Badgers head to Minneapolis to take on No. 2 Minnesota this weekend at Ridder Arena. Puck drop on Friday is at 6 p.m. while Saturday’s game begins at 4 p.m.