SPORTS
Hockey ready to start rivalry with Minnesota State
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Friday, March 8, 2002
The Kohl Center’s ice sheet is set and waiting for the beginning of the festivities associated with the first round of the WCHA playoffs.
With only eight games in the history books between the Wisconsin and Minnesota State hockey squads, the WCHA foes are about to take a serious turn in the creation of a rivalry.
The puck is ready to separate the contenders from the pretenders, and UW is poised to extend Jeff Sauer’s emotional farewell tonight in the best-of-three series against MSU.
The Badgers and the Mavericks are polar opposites when it comes to WCHA history. It is an understatement to say Wisconsin has dominated under Sauer in the first round of WCHA playoffs. In the past 19 years UW (14-18-4 overall, 12-13-3 WCHA) has hosted 17 series at home, succumbing to defeat only once, sweeping opponents 15 times.
On the contrary, Minnesota State, moving from the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association, instigated their inaugural season in the fall of 1998 with the WCHA. MSU has seen action in only four WCHA postseason contests, leaving victorious only once. As Mavericks head coach Tony Jutting has found, the league can be very cold to newcomers.
With the past behind and this year’s playoff picture yet to be painted, MSU can hope for anything. Placing all of its eggs in one basket, Minnesota State (16-18-2, 11-15-2) relies on a team run primarily by underclassmen.
“It’s [been a] different year for us than the last two,” said Jutting. “We’ve been senior-oriented during that time. In some ways, this [is] a rebuilding year for us.” An astonishing 17 players are either freshmen or sophomores. The Mavs’ offense weighs on the shoulders of sophomore forward Shane Joseph, who leads the team in goals with 15, and freshman defenseman Steven Johns, the team’s top assist man with 13. In the prior meeting of the season, which ended in a split, it was Joseph who carried the team on his back, scoring four times.
Minnesota State’s chief attribute is its ability to obtain and sustain leads. The Badgers can ill-afford to fall behind during the series due to MSU’s 11-2-0 record after leading in the first period, 14-0-1 record after leading through three and 11-5 record when lighting the lamp first.
“Hopefully we’re not behind,” said Sauer. “All the games that we’ve played against them have been close. I don’t expect anything different this weekend.”
The biggest question surrounding the series will be the Badgers’ offense. Before the Badgers creamed UMD by scoring eight times, getting a puck past the goaltender was like pulling teeth. MSU’s sophomore net minder, Jason Jensen, hasn’t seen playoff action in his short career, leaving the Badger offense searching for ways to rattle the youngster.
“He’s a good goaltender,” said forward Brad Winchester. “We’ll just have to try to get some shots and some guys going to the net.”
The Badgers saw their lost offense resurface last weekend and aim to keep the defenders on their heels with the likes of Brad Winchester and David Hukalo. Winchester snapped out of his funk for a pair of scores and an assist against UMD, while Hukalo notched five points (two goals, three assists) versus MSU in January.
Goaltenders Scott Kabotoff and Bernd Bruckler will most likely split the labor between the pipes, with Kabotoff earning the start tonight. Kabotoff played the entire Minnesota State series and allowed six goals, but signs of his past injury may linger, allowing Bruckler, who has yet to face the Mavs, playing time the following night.
“Kaby’s going to play Friday,” said Sauer. “We’ll make the decision on Saturday. We’ll just have to wait and see how the game goes; he’s ready to go.”
With MSU and UW splitting four of five series all-time, this weekend should figure differently. UW, on a two-game winning streak, an impressive scoring run, and most importantly at home with the Kohl Center crowd, should shake off the Mavs and punch their ticket to St. Paul.
“All year we’ve played better at home,” said senior Matt Murray. “To play in front of the home crowd — they’re always up for the games. It’s just nice to be here.”
With the odds stacked against MSU, not only will the WCHA be a little more inhospitable, but the hopes of a newfound rivalry will be quickly dashed.
