SPORTS
Despite records, rivalry still great
Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.
Also by Kevin Hagstrom:
- Wiconsin 'hungry' for win versus Minnesota (January 25, 2008)
- Wisconsin's sign off (February 8, 2007)
- UW, UT face off on New Year's (December 13, 2007)
- Family comes 1st for ex-Badger WR (December 11, 2007)
- Nothing special about UW power play (December 10, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Murray discusses life as the scourge of Minnesota (February 20, 2002)
- Ice Badgers to face off with Gophers (November 5, 2004)
- Wisconsin gearing up for border rival Minnesota (February 1, 2005)
- Badgers face month off (December 11, 2003)
- Penn State alone at the top (February 26, 2003)
by Kevin Hagstrom
Friday, January 25, 2008
Talk about anomalies. A WCHA title is, for now, too far off in the distance to fathom for traditional powerhouses Minnesota and Wisconsin. Sixteen points too far.
Three years have gone by since a team not named the Gophers secured the conference’s top spot, and not since the 1998-99 season did both Minnesota and Wisconsin fail to finish third or better.
As it stands now, the two teams are in a three-way tie for fifth place with identical 6-8-2 records in WCHA play. With 12 games left in the regular season, it is almost inconceivable that Minnesota will make it three straight atop the conference standings.
Yet the feeling isn’t of defeat or hopelessness. Frustration, maybe — on the part of Minnesota personnel and fans who expected the team’s No. 5 preseason billing to come to fruition — diversity, definitely. But not surrender.
“We’ve been through a lot this year; we’ve had a lot of things unexpectedly happen to us that have kind of set us back a little bit,” Minnesota forward Blake Wheeler said. “We feel pretty good about where we are right now based on some of the frustrations we’ve had — obviously not performing up to our expectations of what we would normally anticipate at this point in the season, but we’ve still got a long way to go.”
Even though these Gophers aren’t playing to the pace of their predecessors, and the Badgers have struggled to remain afloat for the second consecutive season with personnel overhauls occurring more frequently than at any high-risk factory job, one thing hasn’t changed: the Minnesota-Wisconsin rivalry.
“The rivalry is always there; it doesn’t matter where you are in the standings, whether they’re first, or we’re first, or they’re last, or we’re last,” UW head coach Mike Eaves said.
And why should it morph into something altogether uninspiring? Even a lost season can’t take away the sense of pride, the sense of satisfaction a team can inherit from defeating its bitter rival. This is especially true even when the game has little bearing on a team’s season. Case in point: Navy’s football team defeated Notre Dame’s this year for the first time in 44 years. So what if the ‘07 Irish were among the worst compilation of athletes the program has ever seen? The Midshipmen certainly savored the moment and exhaled a long-winded sigh of relief — to make up for half a lifetime’s worth of losses.
Last year, the Badgers upended the top-ranked Gophers to end their 22-game unbeaten streak. Based on the fan reaction following the game, it may as well have been for the NCAA Championship. That’s only the half of it. The players get every bit as much out of the rivalry as the fans.
“We always look forward to the Minnesota series, and the crowd, whether we’re here or playing at their place, is second to none,” UW senior forward Ben Street said. “This is such a good rivalry. The whole town sort of gets fired up for it so it’s an exciting time.”
“The emotion is spilling pretty hard because there’s always extra incentive on the line. It’s just really not a game anymore,” Wheeler added.
While this year’s matchup won’t nab either team a No. 1 ranking or launch them near the top of the standings, it does have some regional intrigue. Both teams are battling for a position in the upper-tier of the WCHA and an NCAA Tournament bid.
“To add that aspect to a rivalry series like this, where if we go in and have a good showing then we can boost our WCHA position up a lot, is huge,” Wheeler said.
For a couple individuals, the Minnesota-Wisconsin rivalry takes on a slightly different meaning.
Two prospects and lottery picks of the Phoenix Coyotes will square off for the first time this weekend.
The first time UW freshman Kyle Turris, the third overall pick at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and Wheeler, the fifth pick in 2004, met was during the Coyotes’ rookie camp this past summer. There, Wheeler offered the “really young, pretty skinny looking” kid some advice.
“I told him not to let things get out of perspective; he was drafted that high for a reason. It wasn’t just because he was a great hockey player but because he’s a humble individual as well — he’s a good person,” Wheeler said.
Needless to say it will be odd that the two will face off not as teammates Friday, but as rivals.
“We actually talked a little bit, and I told him to get out of my way because I don’t really stop too quickly, so he could be in my way and get into a little bit of trouble,” the 6-foot-4-inch, 216 pound Wheeler joked. “It should be a lot of fun.”
Toss in the fact that Phoenix is looking to piece together a team for the future — Wheeler has learned not to get caught up scoping out the crowd to see who might be watching — and this should be one helluva series.
So in the wise words of Street, I sign off with this: “If you’re not excited for the Minnesota series, you should probably check your pulse.”
Kevin is a senior majoring in economics and journalism. To discuss men’s hockey with the originator of “Tuesdays with Haggy,” send an e-mail to khagstrom@badgerherald.com.
Anonymous (January 25, 2008 @ 12:12pm):
It's Friday ... ain't got no job ... ain't got shit to do! 'Cept read Haggy's column.
Add a comment
We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.
Login...
Not registered? Sign up now.
It's quick, free, and the email address you provide will not be sold or solicited.
