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Wisconsin women's hockey shuts out Minnesota State, gives coach Mark Johnson 600th win

mark stewart, milwaukee journal sentinel
·2 min read

The Wisconsin women’s hockey team wrapped up its second straight shutout Friday night and in the process Mark Johnson made history.

Again.

The 9-0 victory over Minnesota State at LaBahn Arena in Madison was No. 600 for the Badgers coach. He is the first women’s coach to reach the milestone and only one of nine college coaches to win as many games..

"It's not about me,” he said. “It's a number, obviously been around a long time, and I got great support staff. I got great assistant coaches. We've got a lot of good players and we've had a lot of good teams, and what I like is the relationship that we've created between our fans, the community and our hockey team.”

Box score: Wisconsin 9, Minnesota State 0

Johnson has acheived success at multiple levels

Here is a look at Johnson's resume:

  • Owns a 600-113-53 mark (.818) and seven national championships.

  • Guided U.S. Olympic team to silver medal at 2010 Games.

  • Helped Wisconsin win the 1977 NCAA national championship while playing for his father, Bob., and finished his UW career as the program’s second-leading scorer.

  • Won gold medal in the 1980 Games. Johnson scored twice in the “Miracle on Ice” semifinal win over the Soviet Union and recorded the winning goal in the gold medal game against Finland.

  • Played 11 seasons in the NHL, including an all-star season in 1983-84.

Wisconsin women's hockey coach 0Mark Johnson won his 600th game Friday. He owns a 600-113-58 record.
Wisconsin women's hockey coach 0Mark Johnson won his 600th game Friday. He owns a 600-113-58 record.

Johnson's Badgers are off an impressive start

This season Johnson’s team is the unanimous No. 1 in the country. The victory over Minnesota State raised UW’s record to 6-0. The Badgers have outscored their opponents, 54-6, in those contests.

Sophomore Kirsten Simms and junior Marianne Picard scored twice for the Badgers. Simms, senior Britta Curl and sophomore Caroline Harvey had four-point nights Friday.

"If we're sharing the puck, moving our feet and playing at a certain pace and tempo, then eventually we'll end up getting some scoring opportunities like we did tonight,” Johnson said. “That's what I'm happiest about is the ability to share the puck."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin women's hockey coach Mark Johnson reaches 600 wins