SPORTS
Wisconsin faces first WCHA opponent of ‘04
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Also by Tom Ziemer:
- Much maligned UW defense rebounds to pitch shutout (September 12, 2005)
- Williams attracts 'special' attention in loss (October 10, 2005)
- Badgers run over in Happy Valley (November 7, 2005)
- Young UW defense steps to forefront in intra-squad contest (April 18, 2005)
- Williams making noise for UW's return team (September 13, 2005)
Related Stories:
- Recognition for Badgers' hockey team may come after Michigan Tech (November 14, 2001)
- Mercyhurst 1st on docket for UW (October 15, 2004)
- Sauer's squad prepares to take advantage of home ice (November 12, 2001)
- Underclassmen stepping up (December 11, 2001)
- Badger men's hockey releases 2001-02 schedule (July 14, 2001)
by Tom Ziemer
Friday, October 22, 2004
The Wisconsin men’s hockey team (2-0-0) opens WCHA play tonight at home against Michigan Tech (0-2-0). For a Badger team that played five freshmen during last weekend’s sweep of Mercyhurst, conference play will present a new challenge.
“I think a lot of them know that it will be more intense, and they’ll figure it out during the practices this week,” sophomore Jake Dowell said. “There’s going to be higher expectations as we go along here.”
Wisconsin will be looking to continue its prowess on the power play, where it scored six goals against Mercyhurst.
“We put the puck in the net; we did some good things,” head coach Mike Eaves said, “but … it’s got to be finely tuned.”
The Badgers may be able to exploit their opportunities this weekend, as Michigan Tech yielded five goals on the penalty kill in its opening weekend against Minnesota-Duluth. The Huskies also ranked last in the conference and last in the nation in killing penalties last year.
Tech had a disappointing season in 2003-04, posting just an 8-25-5 overall record en route to a last place finish in the WCHA. However, things are looking better this year. The Huskies hosted Minnesota-Duluth, the coaches’ preseason pick to win the conference, and played the Bulldogs tough, losing 5-4 Friday before falling 6-3 Saturday.
“Well, I’ll tell you, seeing the score Friday night, it was 5-4 for Duluth, and Saturday night Duluth had them 3-1 going into the third,” Eaves said. “And I talked to the league commissioner, Bruce McLeod, this morning. He was up at Tech watching the games, and he just said they have a whole different attitude. They think they can win now.”
One thing the Huskies do possess is a talented offense, with two returning 30-point scorers in junior Chris Conner and senior Colin Murphy. Conner finished second to Wisconsin goaltender Bernd Brückler in preseason WCHA player-of-the-year voting after netting 25 goals a season ago. Conner totaled two assists in the opening weekend.
“They’ve got Chris Connor, who’s one of the more prolific goal-scorers around,” Eaves said. “And people are going to see some good hockey this weekend, that’s for sure.”
Murphy, who totaled 40 points two seasons ago and 32 last year, is once again off to a fast start. The Fort McMurray, Albany (Canada) native posted a pair of goals and an assist against the Bulldogs.
Tech will need to have a more diversified offense this season if the Huskies are to compete in the conference. Despite the contributions of Conner, Murphy and sophomore Taggart Desmet (26 points) last season, the boys from Houghton ranked last in the WCHA in goals per game (2.36).
Another Tech weakness is a defense that yielded 4.21 goals per game in WCHA play a season ago. Last season’s starting goaltender Cam Ellsworth returns, but sophomore Bryce Luker started in both losses to Duluth. Luker made 59 saves in two games but gave up 11 goals — a save percentage of just .843.
Ellsworth’s numbers from last season aren’t much better — a 5-14-2 record with a 3.85 goals against and a .888 save percentage. Freshman Kevin Hachey could also see time in net.
A bright spot on the Tech blue line in the opening weekend was the play of sophomore Lars Helminen in the offensive zone. The Brighton, Mich. native assisted on three of the seven Huskies’ goals.
Getting off to a quick start in conference play could prove large for the youthful Badgers, and securing a pair of wins against the improved Huskies would build plenty of confidence.
