Blugold women's hockey alumnae jumps to next level in Germany

MANNHEIM, GERMANY — After one of the most decorated careers in Blugold women’s hockey history, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire alumnae Sophie Rausch has signed a professional contract with the Mannheim Mad Dogs of the Deutsche Fraueneishockey-Liga or DFEL, also known as the German Women’s Ice Hockey League. The team is part of the EKU Mannheim sports club located in Mannheim, Germany.

Rausch is the second Blugold in women’s hockey program history to sign a professional contract after Elizabeth Bauer ‘20 signed with Minnesota of the PWHA during the 2021-22 season.

The Blugold grad was named a three-time finalist for the Laura Hurd Award, given to the top player in NCAA Division III women’s ice hockey, Rausch finished as UW-Eau Claire’s leader in career goals, career points, single-season goals and single-season points. She was a three-time CCM/AHCA All-American, claiming first team honors in 2023 and 2024, after earning first team status in 2022. Rausch also received first team honors from U.S. College Hockey Online in 2023 and 2024. She was a two-time All-WIAC first team selection and was selected the conference’s co-Player of the Year in 2023.

Rausch’s Blugold story was featured in a late February 2024 edition of the Leader-Telegram.

In it she discussed the trajectory that led her to Eau Claire and her love for the sport.

An excerpt from that feature interview noted that It’s not lost on her that the sport has grown exponentially for women who aspire to play and there have been trailblazers who paved the way for others like her to flourish in what they love doing.

“I was lucky enough to be in a town where they had leagues for 10 and under and 12 and under girls,” she said, noting that “there are so many opportunities now” for women to play hockey both in college and at other levels of the sport than there were when even she was a child taking her first, uncertain steps on the ice in her hometown.