So far, so good for Badgers
The Brock women’s hockey team head into the Christmas break on a high.
The Badgers won their last three games to reach the .500 mark at 6-6 after experiencing a three-game losing streak earlier in the season.
“Happy with it but not satisfied,” head coach Margot Page said. “I always look at it at the start of the year if I thought our team would be at .500 right now, I would be happy because we had so many young players.
“When I started seeing our potential and some of the games you squander, we could have been better. In general, I think we’re pretty happy with it and we’re hoping to do as well, or better, in the second half.”
Page feels the Badgers will need to continue to improve to qualify for one of the eight playoff positions.
“That’s what we’re hoping because a .500 record is not going to get you to playoffs,” Page said. “It’s really tough to make playoffs and our league is so very, very close.
“We definitely have to be above .500 if we want to control our destiny a little bit in terms of getting one of those eight spots. Can we? Ya, absolutely. Obviously, we’re going to meet some adversity in the second half and hopefully we can deal with it appropriately as well.”
Page feels a playoff berth would be a great way for the young Badgers to continue to develop, although it’s not a necessity.
“I think even just experiencing our league is a tough thing,” she said. “It is so hard. You just can’t show up and just play. University hockey is an elite level sport. You have some very high level and elite athletes that are well trained.
“Either way, you are going to learn, but making the playoffs that’s what we’re wanting to do because you’re going to learn other things too because now you get into series. I think everybody knows we can compete with the best teams. We did just beat the best teams in the league the last few games.”
Page has been impressed how the younger players have meshed with the veterans.
“I think the first-year players are very confident now and gotten a lot of playing time. They’ve been trusted in so many situations — power play, PK, starting games, end of games — so I think they should be confident enough now in the second half to drive that forward and continue to improve.
“It’s a tough adjustment to for our older players because we have such a younger group. I think they’ve gotten used to it and are seeing the progress as well.”
Page pointed to a couple of her key veterans as a big reason the Badgers turned things around.
“I think in the last little while our key players have been our key players,” she said. “Our veteran players are starting to turn it on bit then our first and second-years are contributing as well.
“Annie Berg is finally scoring. She’s starting to get some goals. Her getting a point a game is something important because she does log a lot of ice. Jensen Murphy (goalie) had a little bit of a slow start and now she’s on the money. She’s dialled right in and playing outstanding.”
The Badgers return to action Friday, Jan. 3 in a game postponed from December due inclement weather.
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