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UW hockey in good hands with Street, Geoffrion
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Also by Tyler Mason:
- Drewiske finds home after UW (April 14, 2008)
- Big Ten fans get taste of fast pace (April 7, 2008)
Related Stories:
- Sophomores to play for U.S.A. (December 6, 2007)
- Geoffrion keeps it simple (November 30, 2007)
- Geoffrion plays different game (March 14, 2008)
- Hockey team defeats self in scrimmage (October 4, 2001)
- Badger forward steps into role (February 19, 2008)
by Tyler Mason
Monday, April 21, 2008
One’s a soft-spoken junior. The other’s an outspoken sophomore. But together, Ben Street and Blake Geoffrion are captains in the waiting for the UW men’s hockey team.
The Badgers had their end-of-the-year awards banquet Friday, recognizing members of the team for their performances during the 2007-08 season. While the event was a chance to reflect on the season that was, the focus of Mike Eaves’ squad has already shifted to next year.
For the first time since 2003-04, Wisconsin will have two captains and no assistant captains — a change of pace from the most recent season, in which senior Davis Drewiske donned the “C” on his sweater, with Street and senior Kyle Klubertanz serving as assistants.
On its surface, the decision to name co-captains might be a bit of a strange one. Instead of having one true team leader in the locker room and on the ice, the Badgers now have two.
In Street and Geoffrion, though, the talented UW team that came within one goal of the Frozen Four should be in good hands.
Either one could have earned the title of Mr. Reliable. Street played in all 40 of Wisconsin’s games, and never went more than three games without recording a point. Meanwhile, Geoffrion missed just four games while playing in the World Juniors and had only one stretch of more than two games in which he was held scoreless. The duo trailed only Kyle Turris in scoring, finishing in a tie for second on the team with 30 points (Street notched 13 goals and 17 assists, while Geoffrion added 10 and 20).
Production like that — as well as the dependability — is definitely something fans want to see in their team leaders.
But captains can’t be fully identified by stats alone. Whoever takes on the added responsibility needs to have a sense of maturity and an innate ability to lead.
Street has shown he’s got these characteristics already, serving last year as an assistant captain under the tutelage of Drewiske; Geoffrion continues to exhibit his comfort with the team, and has had plenty of family history to draw on for leadership (his dad, grandfather and great-grandfather all played in the NHL).
Mix their personalities together, and you’ve got the recipe for success.
Street is not the most vocal member of the team, preferring to speak softly and let his play do the talking — much in the way Drewiske carried out his captain duties. Geoffrion, on the other hand, is a whole different story.
Perhaps the loudest member of the Badgers, Geoffrion is not afraid to get in your face both verbally and physically — especially if you’re a member of the opposing team. His game is all about annoying the opponent, getting under their skin and taking advantage of a flustered foe. In some ways, he’s like the A.J. Pierzynski or Charles Barkley of college hockey.
With such contrasting styles of play, it might seem somewhat of an anomaly that they’ll be leading the team in tandem. Looking closer at the situation, however, one might find the move much more strategic than it appears.
Aside from what they do on the ice, the Street/Geoffrion regime will provide balance to a team that looked inconsistent at times this past season. The calmness and consistency of Street should keep the Badgers grounded and level-headed, while the physical play of Geoffrion will give the team an added level of intensity both in the locker room and on the ice.
Last season, Drewiske was looked up to by a very young UW roster that boasted nine freshmen and nine sophomores. Now that they have developed and matured with a year of experience under their belt, the team is ready to make the leap.
Street and Geoffrion are just the guys to make that happen.
Tyler is a junior majoring in journalism. Let him know what you think makes a perfect captain by e-mailing him at tmason@badgerherald.com.
Anonymous (April 21, 2008 @ 2:19am):
What makes a perfect captain?
If his name is Tyler Mason, and his game is Sports Editor of the Badger Herald.
Anonymous (April 21, 2008 @ 1:27pm):
Mason,
Stop pumping yourself up with these comments
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