SPORTS
Badgers prepare for long layover
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Monday, December 10, 2001
With an impressive sweep over North Dakota this past weekend, it appears the Badger men’s hockey team is getting back on track. After one of the most impressive comebacks in team history on Friday night and a hard-fought victory on Saturday, the Badgers find themselves in sole possession of fourth place in the WCHA, only one game behind third-place Minnesota.
So what’s next for this rejuvenated hockey team with a seemingly newfound sense of confidence and momentum? How about a 17-day layoff before their next game? The Badgers won’t take the ice again until Dec. 27, when they face-off against Brown in the Bank One Badger Hockey Showdown in Milwaukee.
While this two-and-a-half-week break provides the Badgers ample time to relax and prepare for the second half of the season, many contend that its arrival is rather ill-timed. Momentum gained in a series such as last weekend’s doesn’t come around too often.
“I really think we gained a lot of confidence with this series,” UW head coach Jeff Sauer said on Monday. “It would be nice to be playing next weekend.”
Nevertheless, the Badgers do relish the opportunity to nurse some of their recent injuries and hope to head into the Showdown at full strength. Minor injuries to captain Andy Wheeler and assistant captain Kent Davyduke will benefit from this extended break, and both should be 100 percent when the puck drops against Brown.
After two disappointing weekends prior to North Dakota, a sweep of this magnitude sends the Badgers cruising into the holiday season. Sauer commented on the significance this series plays in the mentality of his players.
“We gave ourselves a Christmas present this past weekend,” he said. “We’re in pretty good shape heading into the holidays.”
Equally as important as the confidence instilled in the Badger players is the excitement that was finally brought to the Kohl Center. The Badgers had struggled at home up until this weekend and the eager fans had yet to see an exciting series to stimulate a passionate feel for Badger hockey. As anyone in attendance last weekend can attest to, the hockey season is definitely upon us.
“We needed a series like that in the Kohl Center,” Sauer said. “The fans haven’t seen something like that here, and that generates excitement.”
UW (6-3-1, 8-7-1 overall) sits alone in fourth place of the WCHA, only a few games behind the Nos. 2 and 3 teams in the country, Minnesota and Denver. Heading into this season with the question marks and doubts that many hockey analysts pinned on UW, the Badgers are certainly turning some people’s heads as the new year rolls around.
Through the first 16 games, Brad Winchester leads the team in points (17) followed by Matt Hussey (16) and Kent Davyduke (13).
Freshman Alex Leavitt has proven extremely effective, netting six goals thus far, and sophomore Dan Boeser leads defensemen in scoring with three goals and nine assists. Scott Kabotoff and Bernd Bruckler continue to share time in net, combining for a .929 save percentage.
The pieces are falling in place for the Badgers, and the second half of the season promises to be entertaining. UW hopes to use this past series to catapult themselves to the top of the conference and screaming into the postseason.
“It’s imperative that we keep this confidence going and get it built up,” Sauer said. “We’ve got our destiny in our hands.”
