Geoffrion’s recent success sparks UW

by Michael Bleach

Thursday, November 20, 2008 00:00

Losing streaks are always difficult. Losing the leading goal scorer from the previous season to injury is even more difficult. Trying to lead that team as the only captain? It is certainly a less than enviable position.

Wisconsin men’s hockey captain Blake Geoffrion was thrust into that role, however, when senior co-captain Ben Street was lost for an indefinite period of time with a knee injury. On top of that, the team was suffering through a seven-game winless streak.

“Losing a guy like Street, obviously that is tough,” Geoffrion said. “He is a senior and our leading goal scorer coming back on this team. It is tough to lose a great guy like Street, especially when we weren’t playing so well.”

While many factors contributed to the Badgers’ early struggles — namely a shaky defense and pedestrian goaltending — Geoffrion’s lack of scoring stood out. The junior captain only recorded one goal through the first seven games as the team stumbled to a 0-6-1 record.

Head coach Mike Eaves admits a new role on the team may have hindered last season’s second-leading point scorer.

“He was trying to do everything,” Eaves said of Geoffrion early in the season. “I think it is just a natural process. When you are thrust into that role it is done so for certain reasons, but there is definitely an adjustment period.”

Geoffrion, however, disagrees with that assessment.

“I just wasn’t playing well early on,” Geoffrion said. “I had chances to score, and I wasn’t burying them. It wasn’t so much adjusting to the a new role, just bottom line, I wasn’t burying them.”

The Badgers bounced back though, winning four of the next five games to give the team a respectable 10 points in the WCHA. As the team improved, so did Geoffrion’s ability to lead.

“There has been a steady, quiet growth on his part,” Eaves said. “I don’t know if it was because [Street] was removed from that, or it is just the natural course of things, but there has been a maturation on his part that has been fun to watch.”

“I think our whole team stepped up,” Geoffrion added. “Everyone took on a larger role, started working harder and having more fun. So I think that is the biggest reason we have turned it around.”

During the five-game undefeated streak, Geoffrion has found the back of the net more then any other Badger, totaling six goals in the five games.

“He is definitely coming into his own with his role,” assistant captain Jamie McBain said. “He is going to the net, standing hard in front of the net, and his goals aren’t all pretty, but he is in the right area. He is taking away the goalie’s eyes and that has been huge for us.”

For Eaves, Geoffrion’s improvement on the ice has allowed him to develop as a leader.

“His play is elevated,” Eaves said. “And it is always more comfortable to speak from a position of authority when you are playing well.”

Besides leading with his play on the ice, Geoffrion has never been afraid to express his opinion outside the rink.

“I am a guy who loves to have fun,” Geoffrion said. “I am real social, and I never really shut up. So yeah, I would say that I’m vocal.”

With both McBain and the injured Street being prone to lead by example, Geoffrion’s vocal style creates a positive contrast the team can feed off of.

“We are kind of regarded as two opposites and completely different people,” Street said. “When you lose that one half, it leaves a pretty big void. He has done a great job filling it though, both on the ice and off the ice.”

“I am kind of the same way that Street is,” McBain added. “I try to lead more by example. Blake takes care of the vocal part pretty well, so I just try to get the guys going through my play.”

For Geoffrion, playing the part of captain took a little getting used too, especially without the senior Street to lean on.

“I haven’t been a captain since I was a Termite,” Geoffrion said. “It’s a little different role for me, but I am just trying to be myself, and when things need to be said I say them.”

While Geoffrion is happy with his increased stats, he shoots down the notion that his scoring equates to wins.

“Hockey is a team sport, not just one guy that makes you win,” Geoffrion said. “Our team is playing better, and as a result, I am playing better.”