MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin women's hockey program and head coach Mark Johnson announced the addition of five student-athletes for the 2020-21 season on Friday.
 
Goaltender Jane Gervais (Valcourt, Quebec), along with forwards Casey O'Brien (Milton, Massachusetts), Makenna Webster (St. Louis, Missouri) and Maddi Wheeler (Erinsville, Ontario), and defenseman Mayson Toft (Lowry, Minnesota) will join the Badgers in fall of 2020. 

"It's a strong group we're bringing in," Johnson said. "Most of them have some great international experience, whether it's playing for Hockey Canada or USA Hockey at the under-18 level. They all are very talented, are good students and come from great families."
 
Jane Gervais
A goaltender from Valcourt, Quebec, Gervais played with Team Quebec in 2017 at its under-16 development camp and in 2018 and 2019 at its under-18 development camp. She played her freshman year at the Harfangs du Triolet Bantam AAA minors (24-4-2 regular season). She helped her team to gold medals at the Bantam Sherbrooke International Tournament and the Trois-Rivieres Bantam Tournament. Gervais earned the Best Goalie Duo Award in the provincial league, was a finalist for the Best Student-Athlete Award in the league and was nominated for the provincial female athlete of the year at École secondaire du Triolet. Starting her sophomore year, Gervais played for her high school's Stanstead College Varsity Girls Hockey team (NAPHA & U19) helping her team to win the NAPHA Playoff Championships. Matching her junior year at Stanstead with a repeat gold at the NAPHA Playoff Championships, Gervais enjoyed a goals-against average of 1.00. During her senior year, Gervais posted a 26-12-2 record, had a .812 GAA and 14 shutouts. 
 
Personal: Daughter of Cathryne Brisson and Renaud Gervais … has an older brother, Charles, and a younger brother, Mathias … catches left … started playing hockey at age 8 … played for Quebec All-Stars girls team in 2016 for the Quebec Pee-Wee Tournament … played basketball and tennis in high school … earned academically Best Average in grade 9 Advanced English and Sciences, the Sybil Galambos Prize for Français in grade 10, Academic Achievement with Great Distinction in grades 10 and 11 … tutored at Phelps Helps in grade 10 and helped with Big Sister Program in local elementary schools in grade 12 … cites Caroline Ouellette as role model … like riding motocross, ATVs, snowmobile and jet skis … likes to cook and read … likes the atmosphere of Madison, and the location reminds her of Quebec City … likes grilled salmon, Pink and Bob Bissonette, Home Alone, Suits but in French and District 31 … favorite pro athlete is Marc-André Fleury … best memory is of her Quebec Pee-Wee Tournament.
 
Head Coach Mark Johnson: "She's young, has great side and is a natural in net. She's actually eligible for Team Canada next year at the U-18 level. She's only 17 coming in. She's fundamentally sound and has great upside. Good demeanor, work habits, athletic - all the traits that go into the makings of a good goaltender."
 
Casey O'Brien
A forward from Milton, Massachusetts, O'Brien suited up for Team USA in 2018 and 2019 at the IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships in Dmitrov, Russia and Obihiro, Japan. O'Brien played a crucial part in helping Team USA win gold at the 2018 tournament, posting three goals and two assists in five games and was named the U.S. Player of the Game after a shootout win over Canada. In 2019, she helped Team USA to the silver medal in 2019, tallying one goal and two assists in Japan. 
 
O'Brien has enjoyed a great prep hockey career as she led Noble and Greenough School to gold at the New England Championships her freshman year thanks to a 42-point season. She joined fellow Badger recruit Makenna Webster at Shattuck St. Mary's her sophomore year and O'Brien led her team in points with 80 (37G-43A) in 56 games played and earned a spot on the USA Today All-USA Girls Hockey Third Team. She was named the USA Today High School Player of the Year her junior season after posting a team-best 96 points (52G-42A) in only 49 games. During her shortened senior year, she posted 48 points in only 23 contents for SSM. 
 
Personal: Daughter of Erika and James O'Brien … has two older brothers, Jack and Max … shoots left … started playing hockey at age 4 … helped U14 hockey team to gold medal at national championships … played soccer, lacrosse and track in high school … earned high distinction and high honors academically in high school … coached Faribault's youth kids, tutored underprivileged students in elementary and middle school (Boston) and managed Shattuck hockey's social media … cites Kendall Coyne as role model … likes playing guitar, surfing and snowboarding … can juggle … likes steak, AC/DC, Kicking & Screaming and Black Mirror … favorite pro athlete is Connor McDavid … best memory is of winning World's in Russia in 2018.
 
Head Coach Mark Johnson: "I think she's someone who just brings a lot of energy. Every shift, she's very consistent. She also has strong work habits and is a smart center. She'll be playing down the middle, and she's somebody who is very capable of setting up other players and making those around her better. But she can also finish."
 
Makenna Webster
A forward from St. Louis, Missouri, Webster has extensive international experience for Team USA, as she's won a pair of gold medals at the IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships. At the 2018 IIHF U-18 World Championship, Webster earned all-tournament honors and led the U.S. with nine points while helping them. capture gold. At the 2019 event, Webster again led the U.S. with with six points during Team USA's silver-medal performance. In 2020, Webster was named an alternate captain for the U.S. and led the team to gold at the 2020 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship. 
 
A teammate of O'Brien at Shattuck St. Mary's, Webster helped her team to third place at nationals her freshman year before leading Shattuck to a title her sophomore year. Her team earned Two Nations champions both freshman and sophomore year in which Webster was named MVP both years. Junior year, she helped her team to a silver medal at nationals while posting 61 points for SSM. Webster earned All-USA Girls Hockey First-Team honors from USA Today her sophomore and junior seasons. During her senior season, Webster tallied 84 points off 39 goals and 45 assists, which ranked second on the team. Webster also has international touring experience; she began playing in Latvia, Prague and Helsinki in 2012, 2013 and 2014 with the Boys Bauer Selects as well as in Prague, Finland and Italy with the Girls West Coast Selects.
 
Personal: Daughter of Dave Webster and Sunny Hilliard … has an older brother, McKade Webster, who is a 2020 hockey recruit for the University of Denver and was a seventh-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2019 NHL Draft  … shoots right … started playing hockey at age 6 … cites dad and previous coaches as role models … played field hockey, lacrosse and frisbee in high school … loves field hockey the most playing for U17 Women's Field Hockey National Team 2018-19 … was named MAX Field Hockey's top 10 players in USA in class of 2020 for three years straight (2017-19) … was College Connection's USA field hockey all-star game at Boston College MVP … was a member of the Spirit leadership group and student government in high school … likes to ski, go to the beach, cook and go to the movies … likes the natural beauty of Madison with its two lakes … likes watermelon, Harry Potter, All American … favorite pro athlete is Mitch Marner … best memory is of winning her first national championship.
 
Head Coach Mark Johnson: "She was one of the captains of the U.S. under-18 team this year and is someone that is very athletic and quick. She reminds me a bit of Erika Lawler as she's feisty, aggressive on the puck, is a good skater and puck handler and is extremely competitive. She's also a tremendous athlete, as she is also an elite field hockey player. I'm anxious to see her grow during her time at Wisconsin."
 
Maddi Wheeler
A forward from Erinsville, Ontario, Wheeler also has international experience as she's starred for Hockey Canada at the under-18 level. Wheeler delivered gold to Hockey Canada at the 2019 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championship when she scored the game-winning goal in overtime in the gold-medal game against Team USA to cap off a six-point performance at the tournament. In 2020, Wheeler helped Canada earn silver after a three-point tournament.

Wheeler played hockey regularly for both her high school team the Napanee District Secondary School Golden Hawks for four years as well as club hockey for the Nepean Jr. Wildcats U19 for club hockey for three years. Her senior year she also played for the Kingston Junior Ice Wolves. During her freshman year, she was named the Rookie of the Year for the NDSS Golden Hawks while helping the Nepean Junior Wildcats to tournament wins at Stoney Creek and Two Nations. During her sophomore year, she was named the MVP of the Golden Hawks thanks to a 50-point performance in only 15 games. She also helped the Nepean Junior Wildcats to a bronze medal showing at the PWHL Final Four. In 2018-19, she was once again named team MVP of the Golden Hawks and helped the team win the Kingston Area Secondary Schools Athletic Association (KASSAA) title while posting 20 points for the Nepean Wildcats. During the 2019-20 season, she posted 25 points for the Kingston Junior Ice Wolves in only 15 games while also recording nine points for the Nepean Wildcats in regular-season action. 

Personal: Daughter of Dave and Maureen Wheeler … has an older brother, Zack … intended major in Kinesiology … shoots left … started playing hockey for Timbits at age 3 … cites older brother Zack as role model … loves playing tennis outside of hockey … played tennis and softball in high school … earned high school honor roll … volunteered for Relay for Life and Canadian Cancer Society … likes the outdoors, ATVing, Spikeball and traveling … loves the feel of Madison's campus right near the lakes … likes ice cream, Taylor Swift, The Heat and Grey's Anatomy … favorite pro player is Patrick Kane … best memory is scoring in overtime versus the US in the gold medal game at worlds last year.
 
Head Coach Mark Johnson: "She reminds me of Sydney McKibbon a little bit as she's a smart, steady player who makes those around her better. Maddi does a great job setting up other players, she sees the ice really well and can play both at center or as a winger. Every time I've seen her with Team Canada, she's getting better and has scored some big goals for them."
 
Mayson Toft
Hailing from Lowry, Minnesota, Toft was a highly decorated high school varsity hockey player for Alexandria High School, earning Defensive Player of the Year all four years. During her freshman year, she recorded six points for the Cardinals while helping them to a Section 6A title and a fifth-place finish at the state tournament while also being named the team's Unsung Hero. Toft posted 19 points during her sophomore year and helped Alexandria to another Section 6A title and a third-place finish at state. She recorded 26 points in both her junior and senior seasons and was named to the Section 8AA Senior Classic Team and All-Section First Team in 2020.

Toft also played for the Minnesota Northern Elite and the Minnesota Northern Starzz Hockey Teams and competed in the Northern Starzz NAHA Tournament (2018 & 2019) and for the Premier Prep National Team (2018). She was a part of the Minnesota Hockey Performance programs playing in the Hockey Spring Festival for HP 14, HP 15, HP 16 and HP 17 while also participating in the HP 15 summer camp and the Final 54 Festival for HP 16 and HP 17. The defenseman also joined the USA Hockey National Select 15 and 16 development camps.

Personal: Daughter of Jody and Sean Toft … has one older brother, Ashton … intended major is nursing … shoots right … started playing hockey at age 4 … earned academic honors in National Honor Society, Honor Roll and Outstanding Academic Recognition (3.6-4.0) all four years … volunteered with National Honor Society and the Special Olympics Polar Plunge … competed in barrel racing … competed in volleyball (2016-17) and was softball team manager (2016-18) … cites McKenzie Revering and Hilary Knight as role models … enjoys spending her time outside with family or working on hockey … hopes to have a challenging but fun year, working on developing her skills as a Badger her first season and hopes to grow as a player and person … loves the atmosphere of Madison and the campus and how close-knit the hockey program is … likes eating Chicken Alfredo, listening to Old Dominion and watching Miracle on Ice or Grey's Anatomy … favorite athlete is Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty … favorite hockey memory is going to the state hockey tournament her freshman and sophomore years of high school.
 
Head Coach Mark Johnson: "Mayson is a player with substantial upside. As she gets stronger and quicker she will become a very impactful player for us. She defends well, can clear out in front of the net and can create offense with her ability to get up the ice. She's helped lead her high school team as a two-year captain and participated in two Minnesota state tournaments."