# 2016–17 Wisconsin Badgers women's ice hockey season

The Wisconsin Badgers represented the University of Wisconsin in WCHA women's ice hockey during the 2016-17 NCAA Division I women's ice hockey season. The Badgers appeared in the NCAA Championship Game, losing to the Clarkson Golden Knights 0–3.

## Offseason
### Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Notes |
| Alyson Baldwin | Goaltender | United States | Hails from Richmond, Texas |
| Presley Norby | Defense | United States | Played high school hockey in Minnesota |
| Maddie Rowe | Forward | United States | From River Falls, Wisconsin |
| Alexis Mauermann | Forward | United States | Stands 5 ft 2 in (157 cm) |
| Nikki Cece | Goaltender | Canada | Competed in the PWHL |

## Regular season
### News and notes

On Sunday, November 6, 2016, Ann-Renee Desbiens broke Noora Raty’s for most NCAA career shutout records. In a 6-0 shutout victory against the Bemidji State Beavers, Desbiens would log career shutout number 44.

## 2016-17 Schedule

| Date | Opponent$^#$ | Rank$^#$ | Site | Decision | Result | Record |
| Regular Season |||||||
| September 23 | at St. Cloud State | #1 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 6–0 | 1–0–0 (1–0–0) |
| September 24 | at St. Cloud State | #1 | Herb Brooks National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 4–2 | 2–0–0 (2–0–0) |
| October 7 | Ohio State | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–0 | 3–0–0 (3–0–0) |
| October 8 | Ohio State | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | T 1–1 $^{OT}$ | 3–0–1 (3–0–1) |
| October 14 | at #7 Clarkson* | #1 | Cheel Arena • Potsdam, NY | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–2 $^{OT}$ | 4–0–1 |
| October 15 | at #7 Clarkson* | #1 | Cheel Arena • Potsdam, NY | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 4–1 | 5–0–1 |
| October 22 | at #9 North Dakota | #1 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, ND | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 2–0 | 6–0–1 (4–0–1) |
| October 23 | at #9 North Dakota | #1 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, ND | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 5–2 | 7–0–1 (5–0–1) |
| October 28 | at Minnesota State | #1 | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–0 | 8–0–1 (6–0–1) |
| October 29 | at Minnesota State | #1 | Verizon Wireless Center • Mankato, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–1 | 9–0–1 (7–0–1) |
| November 5 | Bemidji State | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 5–0 | 10–0–1 (8–0–1) |
| November 6 | Bemidji State | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 6–0 | 11–0–1 (9–0–1) |
| November 18 | at #4 Minnesota-Duluth | #1 | Amsoil Arena • Duluth, MN | Nikki Cece | L 1–4 | 11–1–1 (9–1–1) |
| November 19 | at #4 Minnesota-Duluth | #1 | Amsoil Arena • Duluth, MN | Nikki Cece | W 4–1 | 12–1–1 (10–1–1) |
| November 25 | Cornell* | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Nikki Cece | W 3–0 | 13–1–1 |
| November 26 | Cornell* | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Nikki Cece | W 5–2 | 14–1–1 |
| December 3 | #2 Minnesota | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | L 0–2 | 14–2–1 (10–2–1) |
| December 4 | #2 Minnesota | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 8–2 | 15–2–1 (11–2–1) |
| December 9 | at Ohio State | #1 | OSU Ice Rink • Columbus, OH | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 7–0 | 16–2–1 (12–2–1) |
| December 10 | at Ohio State | #1 | OSU Ice Rink • Columbus, OH | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 5–0 | 17–2–1 (13–2–1) |
| January 6, 2017 | at Lindenwood* | #1 | Lindenwood Ice Arena • Wentzville, MO | Nikki Cece | W 5–1 | 18–2–1 |
| January 13 | St. Cloud State | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 9–0 | 19–2–1 (14–2–1) |
| January 14 | St. Cloud State | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 2–0 | 20–2–1 (15–2–1) |
| January 21 | North Dakota | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 3–2 | 21–2–1 (16–2–1) |
| January 22 | North Dakota | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 2–1 | 22–2–1 (17–2–1) |
| January 27 | Minnesota State | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 5–0 | 23–2–1 (18–2–1) |
| January 28 | Minnesota State | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 6–1 | 24–2–1 (19–2–1) |
| February 3 | at Bemidji State | #1 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 6–1 | 25–2–1 (20–2–1) |
| February 4 | at Bemidji State | #1 | Sanford Center • Bemidji, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 4–2 | 26–2–1 (21–2–1) |
| February 11 | #2 Minnesota-Duluth | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | T 1–1 | 26–2–2 (21–2–2) |
| February 12 | #2 Minnesota-Duluth | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 8–0 | 27–2–2 (22–2–2) |
| February 18 | at #4 Minnesota | #1 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | T 1–1 $^{OT}$ | 27–2–3 (22–2–3) |
| February 19 | at #4 Minnesota | #1 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN | Ann-Renée Desbiens | T 0–0 $^{OT}$ | 27–2–4 (22–2–4) |
| WCHA Tournament |||||||
| February 24 | Minnesota State* | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI (Quarterfinals, Game 1) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 7–0 | 28–2–4 |
| February 25 | Minnesota State* | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI (Quarterfinals, Game 2) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 6–0 | 29–2–4 |
| March 4 | vs. North Dakota* | #1 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Final Face-Off Semifinal Game) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 2–1 | 30–2–4 |
| March 5 | vs. #2 Minnesota-Duluth* | #1 | Ridder Arena • Minneapolis, MN (Final Face-Off Championship Game) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 4–1 | 31–2–4 |
| NCAA Tournament |||||||
| March 11 | #8 Robert Morris* | #1 | LaBahn Arena • Madison, WI (Quarterfinal Game) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 7–0 | 32–2–4 |
| March 17 | vs. #4 Boston College* | #1 | Family Arena • St. Charles, MO (Frozen Four National Semifinal) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | W 1–0 | 33–2–4 |
| March 19 | vs. #2 Clarkson* | #1 | Family Arena • St. Charles, MO (National Championship) | Ann-Renée Desbiens | L 0–3 | 33–3–4 |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. |||||||

## Awards and honors

* Emily Clark, WCHA Player of the Month (December 2016)
* Ann-Renee Desbiens, WCHA Offensive Player of the Month, January 2017
* Ann-Renée Desbiens, WCHA Defensive Player of the Week (Week of February 14, 2017)
* Alexis Mauermann, WCHA Rookie of the Week (Week of January 31, 2017)
* Abby Roque, WCHA Rookie of the Week (Week of February 7, 2017)
* Abby Roque, WCHA Rookie of the Week (Week of February 14, 2017)
* Baylee Wellhausen, WCHA Offensive Player of the Week (Week of February 14, 2017)
* Ann-Renée Desbiens - 2017 Patty Kazmaier Award recipient
* Ann-Renée Desbiens - WCHA Goaltending Champion
* Abby Roque, Forward - WCHA Rookie of the Year
* Ann-Renée Desbiens, Goaltender - All-WCHA First Team
* Annie Pankowski, Forward - All-WCHA First Team
* Jenny Ryan, Defense - All-WCHA First Team
* Sarah Nurse, Forward - All-WCHA Second Team
* Emily Clark, Forward - All-WCHA Third Team
* Abby Roque, Forward - All-WCHA Rookie Team
* Mekenzie Steffan, Defense - All-WCHA Rookie Team

### All-America honors

* Sarah Nurse, Second-Team All-American (2016–17)
* Annie Pankowski, Second-Team All-American (2016–17)
* Jenny Ryan, Second-Team All-American (2016–17)