MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin women’s hockey team returned home after winning their seventh national championship on March 19.
The unseeded Badgers were able to upset the number one seeded and defending national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The win was not taken lightly, as hundreds of fans waited to greet the team at a welcome home celebration hosted by the University of Wisconsin.
Lori Bindl Zahorik has been a Badgers hockey fan for most of her life and she said there was no doubt in her mind that the Badgers were going to win it all this season.
“They were so good against Minnesota on Friday,” said Bindl Zahorik. “It was like, I think it’s their time that they’re going to really be a team and Cami, our goalie, she has been really hot and really good during the playoffs. So we were expecting to win the championship.”
The win broke a tie with Minnesota for the most ever national titles and left team captain and forward Britta Curl in disbelief.
“I just I can’t wrap my head around it for some reason. I think it was just so like emotional and difficult,” said Curl. “Now, to just have it lifted off our shoulders, it’s like hard to believe. ”
The seven-time national champion head coach, Mark Johnson, was also left in disbelief after the win.
“We probably said to each other 20, 30, 50 times, ‘I can’t believe this one happened,’” said Johnson, referring to talks he had with his wife.
Curl said she’s happy that the seniors on the team got to end their college hockey careers on such a high note.
She said she’s also humbled to be a part of the Badgers hockey legacy.
“Look at the other players that have come through this program and done some amazing things,” said Curl. “Just to be able to contribute to that legacy a little bit, it’s something that I’ll definitely hold close to my heart and be proud of for the rest of my life.”
Curl and her team plan to spend the next few months celebrating and reflecting on their championship season.
She said next season they plan to come back and do it all over again.
“I think the next few years are going to be really cool to see these players grow, I mean they just helped us win a national championship,” said Curl. “For the freshman, it is a good start because when you come back from the offseason you are more hungry. Once you get that taste, you don’t want to be on the other side of it.”