Wisconsin women's hockey loses All-American to injury; wins Ice Breaker
For the second time in a week, one of Wisconsin women's hockey's best players suffered an apparent lower-body injury
With a pair of victories, Wisconsin women’s hockey improved its unblemished record to 8-0-0, but not without another loss to injury. One week after the Wisconsin Badgers lost first-team All-American Laila Edwards “for a little while” due to an MCL injury, another UW All-American limped off the ice on Saturday.
Kirsten Simms did not return after a first-period injury. The two-time first-team All-American required assistance from teammates exiting the ice after a collision with Union Garnet Chargers forward Reanna Loberg sent Simms into the boards. As she departed, Simms appeared unable to put any weight on her left leg.
The apparent lower-body injury threatens to sideline another Badger who has led the country in goals. Edwards was the nation’s goal-scoring champ in 2024-25; Simms held that title two seasons ago.
Wisconsin’s 4-0 victory over Union, the tournament championship, and the Hall family reunion all take a bit of a backseat to the fallout from an injury to another of UW’s Olympic hopefuls.
Who steps up with Kirsten Simms injured?
Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson’s deep lineup shallowed a bit on Saturday. Although the Badgers typically rotate through four lines of forwards, that was cut closer to three when Simms did not return. Sophomore Finley McCarthy and rookie Charlotte Pieckenhagen received the majority of the playing time in Simms’ place beside center Adéla Šapovalivová and right winger Lacey Eden at five-on-five, preserving some continuity in the rest of Wisconsin’s lineup.
In a pre-game radio interview last week, Johnson highlighted Pieckenhagen as a player who has stood out early in the season. The winningest coach in the history of Division I women’s college ice hockey said Pieckenhagen, “plays hard, plays aggressive. It’s a good sign.”
Badgers center Cassie Hall, who scored first in Saturday’s championship game, added to her team-high eight goals, noted after Wisconsin’s 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs earlier this month that Pieckenhagen “is a tank. She can move. She can go in the corner. She can make plays. She’s a gritty forward, so it’s really nice to have and then to be able to play with her. She can go in those corners, get the puck, and then find whoever’s high slot or something for a shot. It’s good to have players like that.”
Pieckenhagen’s performance earned her an expanded opportunity on the power play, Saturday. The Ontario native slotted in to one of the net-front positions on the PP unit, while Eden slid over to the flank spot typically occupied by Simms. Notably, however, Johnson sent out what is generally his second power play grouping to begin Wisconsin’s time on the advantage in multiple instances against Union.
With Simms and Edwards both sidelined from the PP1, perhaps the consistency of the Hall, Vivian Jungels, Ava Murphy, Kelly Gorbatenko, and Maggie Scannell line gave it a slight edge. After all, that group of five tallied UW’s lone power-play goal on its four opportunities.
Bella Vasseur figures to be the next player in Wisconsin’s lineup of 12 forwards if Simms misses time. The junior appeared in six games last season, recording one shot on goal against the St. Thomas Tommies. Rookie Nicole Gorbatenko may also be tapped to make her collegiate debut.
Wisconsin women’s hockey continues getting balanced scoring
Although Simms is tied for a team-high 14 points with Eden, several of their teammates are not far behind. Six Wisconsin skaters have already logged double-digit points through eight games, providing a plethora of scoring options if Edwards and Simms both miss extended time.
Following her two-goal performance in Saturday’s championship game, in which Eden recorded a career-high 12 shots on goal, the fifth-year received Tournament MVP honors, living up to her mantra stated earlier this week that “anytime there’s something that you can win, you’re gonna want to win it.”
Defender Caroline Harvey saw her four-game goal streak come to an end, but tallied another assist, giving the senior her 150th career point. Harvey is already the Badgers’ program record holder for most points by a defender, and is opening up a wide lead on Sis Paulsen’s second-most 130 points. The Wisconsin captain’s 13 points and five goals lead all defenders in the country.
Hall’s eight goals in as many games are not far off the national lead. The junior now sits in a tie for the third-most in the country after picking the top left corner against Union goaltender Monja Wagner. Hall has recorded at least one point in all but one game this season.
Throw in Gorbatenko and Scannell, who each recorded a point in Saturday’s win, and although Wisconsin will undoubtedly be challenged if Simms is sidelined, it might not fall far from its national-best 5.71 goals per game.
Up next for the Wisconsin Badgers
The Minnesota State Mavericks visit Madison next weekend for a two-game WCHA conference series against Wisconsin women’s hockey. MSU was swept by the No. 4 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs this weekend.
UW and MSU meet at 2 p.m. Central on Saturday, October 25th, and Sunday, October 26th.
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