Local Players Contribute to National Championship Hockey Teams

Dakota County athletes play key roles in NCAA title runs for Wisconsin and Wisconsin-River Falls

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:08pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action of a women's hockey game, with sharp planes of navy, green, and red overlapping to create a dynamic, abstract composition.Local hockey stars from Dakota County, Minnesota shine on the national stage, their talents fractured and reimagined through a cubist lens.Rosemount Today

Players from Dakota County, Minnesota had major roles in two Wisconsin teams winning NCAA women's hockey championships this season. University of Wisconsin senior forward Claire Enright scored the game-winning goal to lead the Badgers to their second straight Division I title, while junior forward Madison Kadrlik and her sister Makenna, both Farmington High School alums, helped Wisconsin-River Falls capture the Division III championship.

Why it matters

The success of these local athletes on the national stage showcases the strength of Minnesota's youth hockey development and the ability of players from the state to excel at the highest levels of college competition. Their achievements highlight the growing pipeline of talent coming out of the Twin Cities metro area.

The details

Claire Enright, a Lakeville South High School graduate, scored the go-ahead goal with 6 minutes, 18 seconds left as Wisconsin defeated Ohio State 3-2 to win its second consecutive Division I women's hockey title. Enright had 20 points (9 goals, 11 assists) this season and has 50 points over three years with the Badgers. Meanwhile, Farmington High alums Madison and Makenna Kadrlik played key roles in Wisconsin-River Falls' 4-0 victory over Nazareth University in the Division III final. Madison Kadrlik scored one of the Falcons' goals, while Makenna saw time at both forward and defense.

  • On March 22, the University of Wisconsin won the Division I women's hockey championship.
  • On March 29, Wisconsin-River Falls won the Division III women's hockey championship.

The players

Claire Enright

A senior forward for the University of Wisconsin who scored the game-winning goal in the Division I national championship game. She is a graduate of Lakeville South High School and Farmington High School.

Madison Kadrlik

A junior forward for Wisconsin-River Falls who scored a goal in the Division III national championship game. She is a graduate of Farmington High School.

Makenna Kadrlik

A junior who has played both forward and defense for Wisconsin-River Falls. She is also a graduate of Farmington High School.

Jim Walsh

A Rosemount native who has served as an assistant women's hockey coach at Wisconsin-River Falls for 19 seasons. He played college hockey at River Falls and was a member of the school's 1983 NAIA men's national championship team.

Charlie Stramel

A Rosemount native and forward who was recently signed to a three-year entry-level contract by the Minnesota Wild after playing at Michigan State University.

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What they’re saying

“Twenty-four of the 26 players on the River Falls roster are Minnesota natives, including Madison Kadrlik and her sister Makenna, a junior who has seen ice time at forward and defense.”

— Mike Shaughnessy, Author

What’s next

Charlie Stramel is expected to be ready for the Minnesota Wild's training camp in September after recovering from a broken ankle suffered in an NCAA regional championship game.

The takeaway

The success of these local athletes on the national stage showcases the strength of Minnesota's youth hockey development and the ability of players from the state to excel at the highest levels of college competition.