SPORTS
Hockey inconsistent at midpoint
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Tuesday, January 22, 2002
Nothing has been predictable about the men’s hockey team’s season thus far.
On Jan. 9, Jeff Sauer unexpectedly announced his plan to retire at the end of the season, and the play of the team on the ice has been off and on.
Before heading into winter break the Badgers were 8-7-1 overall, 6-3-1 in the WCHA. Since then, the team has gone 2-5-1 in the past month.
Taking a break from WCHA action at the end of December, Wisconsin fell to Brown 1-2 Dec.27. The Badgers then rebounded from the loss the next night when they tied Colorado College 3-3.
Wisconsin made a poor return to regular WCHA action Jan. 4. The Badgers lost to Denver 0-3 on the first night and 1-5 the next. The 0-3 loss Jan.4 marked the second time this season UW was shut out on their home ice. In Saturday’s game Rene Bourque scored the lone Wisconsin goal of the series, recording his eighth score of the season.
The Badgers came back from the Denver sweep with a win against the Gophers Jan.11, downing Minnesota 8-3. Matt Hussey started the UW’s offense with a goal at 7:34 in the first period. Adding to Hussey’s score, three other Badgers (Matt Murray, Andy Wheeler and Alex Leavitt) scored two goals each.
Minnesota showed its offensive skills the second night of the series, beating UW 6-2. The two Wisconsin goals were tallied by Hussey and Kent Davyduke.
The Badgers continued to skid again last weekend when they opened their series with Mankato State with a 1-3 loss. This marked the third-straight road game Wisconsin dropped.
However, UW came back Saturday night, recording a 5-4 win over MSU. Brad Winchester netted two goals and an assist. Matt Doman scored the game-winning goal at 4:06 in the third period. The other two Badger goals were tallied by Dan Boeser and Murray.
Last weekend’s split with Minnesota State left the Badgers 10-12-2 overall, 8-7-1 WCHA, and in fifth place in the conference.
— Compiled from staff reports
