While the Wisconsin men’s hockey team had reason for concern after a lackluster performance in the Badger Hockey Showdown, there has been little to complain about since. Two quality wins against St. Cloud State last weekend followed by two more wins this past weekend against Alaska-Anchorage have not only ensured that Wisconsin will remain atop the WCHA standings, but eased some of the doubt left after the Showdown debacle.
“We were disappointed with our performance at the Showdown, and we wanted to come back and show the folks at home that we can play at a higher level,” Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves said after his team thoroughly dominated UAA on Friday night. “It was important for our players to come back and get that momentum back at home.”
The Badgers certainly looked to swing the momentum in their direction as they out-shot the Seawolves 51-15 en route to a 6-1 victory. While Saturday night was a much tighter affair, one that Wisconsin won 3-2, it showed that the Badgers were playing at a high enough level of hockey where, even on an off night, they were capable of getting a win.
“We found a way to win when we weren’t playing our best,” Eaves said after Saturday’s contest. “That’s a good thing. That’s something you take as a positive. We learned our lesson, we move on.”
The lesson learned might be that this Wisconsin team has the kind of fortitude necessary to grind out a championship.
“We talked about being a championship-caliber team, and that’s what championship-caliber teams do,” junior defenseman Jeff Likens said. “They fight through the games where you come out and you’re flat, you’re dead, and that’s what we did.”
According to the players, the difference the past two weekends has been the intensity level in practice. With more players talented enough to play than spots to play them in, the battle for jobs has kept practice lively, and that has kept the Badgers sharp.
“Guys are battling hard. It’s like a game atmosphere in practice,” captain Adam Burish said. “Guys are out there battling for jobs.”
With three players — Likens, Jake Dowell and Ross Carlson — out during the Badger Hockey Showdown, but all back in action since, it seems that having the full complement of players is critical to the Badgers’ success this season. With the struggle to hold down a spot in lineup keeping practices intense, Wisconsin is reaping the benefits.
“When you practice well, you’re going to play well,” Burish said. “We’re starting to realize that, and we’re playing better on the weekends.”
Wisconsin has shown in its current four-game winning streak that it can play as well as any team in the nation. Talent-wise, the Badgers are as good as any college hockey team. However, like the Badger Hockey Showdown highlighted, when they lose focus, they can lose to any team in the country.
“There aren’t a lot of games, but it’s still a long season and we have to stay focused,” Dowell said. “That’s the biggest key for us.”
If the Badgers continue to practice hard, it will more than likely help them stay focused week in and week out, and then there is no telling just how far this team will go.
