I like the idea of giving little updates about how formers Badgers are doing in the NHL but instead of rattling off some updates about how some of our former athletes…err…student-athletes are doing in the big-boy league, I thought I’d touch on something that I didn’t think of until now…or at least since I last had to put something into words for you guys.
Have you all noticed the new profiles displayed on the jumbo-screen at the Kohl Center before men’s hockey games? If my memory serves me correctly, the screen was littered with some local advertisements, some news, maybe some scores from other events from around the county, and whatever the gameday operations the team wanted to throw up on the screen. This year, though, there seems to be an idea that I think is quite the Badgerly attraction.
Before games, there is a rolling feed of Badgers who have moved onto professional hockey, along with where each player is and any helpful stats and updates. At first, I just passed it off as giving people in attendance a casual update of players who once roamed the ice (Fan in the stands: “Oh, yeah? That’s how Bourque is doing lately over in Calgary? I loved watching him play in the early 2000s. Good to see he’s doing well”), but then I started to think that it might have another purpose entirely than just providing news to the fans.
What about potential Badgers that may be visiting the Kohl Center for a recruit visit? This is the perfect opportunity for the Badger hosts to make sure a visiting recruit is able to spot the roll of Badgers enjoying a professional hockey career. I’m sure the recruit does not mind seeing where playing at a big time hockey program can take him. Most players envision playing in the higher ranks and want to be placed where there will be ample opportunity to move up to the play-for-pay status. Think that other DI hockey programs don’t use this tactic for potential student-athletes (there are those words again) to join the program? I would be very surprised if every recruit everywhere in every potential program does not receive a recruit packet stuffed with former student-athletes who are now lacing it up for dollar bills. Can’t hurt, right?
Just like what was mentioned this past week during the Badger football game – offensive lineman want to come to programs where they’re going to have the best chance to move onto the NFL. If a recruit comes to UW, he’s going to have running backs behind him picking up yards and he’s going to have other big-uglies around him to share the blocking load. Again, I’m sure all 6’4″ 270-pound high school linemen in the state are contacted and provided the names of Mark Tauscher, Joe Thomas, and Gabe Carimi along with all the great academic opportunities and clubs around campus. Or, as one of the greatest defensive lineman in NFL history put it, “everyone knows our degree in college was ‘eligibility.’ You need the grades to play before you can get paid to play.”
Back to hockey….the NHL kind. I never thought I would see it after the 2010 Winter Olympics, but Ryan Miller is looking rather ordinary as of late. Just last week, he got yanked from the game in less than four minutes after “giving up” three goals. I say “giving up” because the pucks just seemed to find the slightest creases to sneak by him and he did give up one fat rebound for a goal. It was still rather odd to turn to the backup goalie so soon. Who is the backup goalie in Buffalo? Jhonas Enroth? Yup, that Jhonas.
Don’t look now (or do), but Enroth is 4-0 this season with a .952 save percentage coming into Tuesday night. And even looking back at last season for Buffalo, he was an impressive 9-2 with a tad less impressive .907 save percentage. I’m not going to dig too deep into what this could mean for Mr. Miller, but the 23-year old Enroth is starting to gain some ladder rings on the 31-year old Miller. Keep an eye out for how much the playing time is continually split in Buffalo.
Because I did some Christmas shopping this past week, I am debating on what I want to put on my NHL Christmas list, either gifts to me or gifts to NHL fans. Maybe I’ll save this idea for a future column, but I will start chiding my siblings and mother about some items I would not mind unwrapping when we do gifts. Maybe there will be a discount on NHL Center Ice by December? Or maybe I will keep thanking the NBA for not showing up so hockey can keep getting its due. We shall see.