36 // VARSITY March 13, 2014
B
rittany Ammerman responded in short,
meaningful bursts; not unlike one of her
shifts on the ice for the Wisconsin women's
hockey team.
Excitement. Passion. Adrenaline. Do-or-die. UW's
leading scorer reeled off the words in staccato fash-
ion. And she could be talking about only one thing:
postseason hockey.
"It's the best time of the year,"
she elaborated. "You just have
to win a few games and then
you're at your end goal, which
is what you work towards your
entire year."
When the No. 2-ranked Bad-
gers face No. 6 Harvard in an NCAA quarterfinal
game Saturday night at LaBahn Arena, Ammerman
knows that it will be unlike any previous experience
during the regular season.
"Totally different game," said the 21-year-old ju-
nior from River Vale, N.J. "It's faster. People are bear-
ing down more ― being smarter. Every mistake you
make can make the difference in the game."
As a true freshman, Ammerman skated on a pow-
erful Wisconsin team that won 37 games and the
fourth national championship in six years under
head coach Mark Johnson.
Ammerman, who accounted for 13 goals and 12
assists, couldn't help but learn
from future U.S. Olympians like
Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight
and Brianna Decker.
"Everything I know about
postseason hockey, I adopted
from them," said Ammerman. "I
had a lot of great leaders. Hilary
and Megan had won (NCAA titles) once and twice
before (respectively)."
In particular, Duggan, the gritty senior captain,
influenced how Ammerman looked and felt about
chasing and winning championships. It was so im-
pactful that it has stuck with her ever since.
"I THINK WE CAN BEAR DOWN,"
AMMERMAN SAID. "WE WERE NO. 2
FOR A REASON ALL YEAR. SATUR-
DAY IS A NEW SLATE FOR US."
DAVID
STLUKA
