Wisconsin women’s recruit Shirley not reporting, will play season in CWHL

The Wisconsin women’s hockey team won’t have one of its freshmen this season as originally planned.

Forward Sophie Shirley will instead play the 2017-18 season with the professional Calgary Inferno, the team that drafted her in the third round of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League draft on Aug. 20.

In a report from the Wisconsin State Journal, Shirley will maintain her collegiate eligibility “by accepting only what the NCAA calls ‘actual and necessary expenses’ from the pro team,” according to Inferno GM Kristen Hagg.

The Badgers intend to have Shirley enroll for the 2018-19 season.