SEPTEMBER 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM
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ife is in transition for Wisconsin
forward Kelly Gorbatenko.
The fourth-year player has finished her under-
grad work in finance, investment and banking
and has started a master's program in applied
security analysis.
Her sisters, Nicole and Rachel, joined
her in enrolling at Wisconsin last year,
but both were red-shirted. Now this
upcoming season is the first time the
three will play together on the ice as Badgers.
Wisconsin has won the last two national championships and
will be looking to complete a three-peat. However, they'll have
to do it after graduating a generationally talented class.
But as the second oldest of seven siblings, Gorbatenko is
used to chaos.
The Badgers enter the 2026-2027 season with a roster likely
featuring seven freshmen and a transfer player. Wisconsin's
highest returning scorer from last season (28 goals, 22 assists
for 50 points) and the only
member of last year's leader-
ship group not to graduate,
Gorbatenko has spent the
summer preparing for the
season by building strength,
working on her skating and
helping get new players inte-
grated and comfortable.
"Coming into the summer
my focus (was) on the next
eight weeks and being the best leader I can, being in the best
shape I can and developing my skills," she said.
L
Last
season
doesn't
matter.
That's
in
the
rearview."
