With the appointment of new team captains, Wisconsin men’s hockey head coach Mike Eaves has opened the gates of communication between the coaching staff and players in hopes of solidifying a positive relationship. The resulting discussions have allowed for both players and staff to speak their thoughts and concerns openly.

Meeting on a weekly basis with the team’s leaders, captain Brad Winchester and assistant captains Brian Fahey and Dan Boeser, Eaves has been able to gain a fuller understanding of what the players are going through physically and mentally, allowing for the his staff to address situations appropriately.

“There are more lines of communication now than at the beginning of the year,” Eaves said. “[The captains] let us know [the team’s] concerns and how they are feeling. There are things going on there that are very positive.”

Eaves, whose team is currently between back-to-back road trips to Colorado, canceled the regular Monday morning weight training regimen and afternoon practice, instead opting in favor of weight lifting and a light run during the afternoon. The coaching staff hopes that a less demanding weekly schedule will prevent physical and mental wear and tear, especially when traveling is involved.

“I think physically [the coaching staff] can do some things to help [the players] out,” Eaves said. “The type of practices we run, they are getting shorter. As the year goes on you need to change things up.”

These meetings have also been important from an emotional standpoint. Considering both the new hockey philosophy installed by Eaves and the struggles to win hockey games, the Badgers have been able to use the “leadership group” as a sounding board.

“[The captains] take what we talk about in the meeting with the coaching staff and then go in the locker room and through the locker room they bring stuff to the coaching staff,” reported Eaves. “We are well into the season with this group of players, but we are still young in terms of our relationship.”

The physical portion has been the largest matter addressed thus far. However, there is no concern small enough for the coaching staff to over look, including attire. The “leadership group” voiced their opinion on the subject and the team is now able to wear sweats to morning practices and on the bus.

“Little things like that,” Eaves said. “They feel like they have more stock in [the team] and we’ve been at that point since Christmas. The communication lines are open.”

Injury update: Freshman Adam Burish, selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in last year’s draft, is making strides toward recovery after suffering a broken collarbone in the Jan. 10 contests against Alaska-Anchorage. Burish is still not able to tolerate contact and has been prohibited from skating. His return is currently indefinite after original reports of four to six weeks.

A strained groin injury has kept freshman Tom Gilbert off the ice for the past four days, including Saturday’s 0-5 loss to Colorado College. The injury, which is comparable to a pitcher’s sore shoulder, needs to be fully nursed before Gilbert can resume practice. A solid tug to the area could further sideline the nation’s top blue line rookie for up to six weeks.

WCHA tops in America: The WCHA has been represented well this year in the USA Today hockey poll, with six of the conference’s ten teams in the top fifteen, thanks in large part to outstanding players. North Dakota, behind out-of-this-world freshman Zach Parise, sits atop collegiate hockey while Colorado College, with the nation’s leading offensive and defensive players, is ranked third. Minnesota is ranked seventh, Denver sits at the ninth spot and St. Cloud State resides at No. 14. Minnesota State, once the laughing stock of the WCHA, has catapulted into the No. 15 slot via an eleven game unbeaten streak.

Heatley shines: Former Badger and current Atlanta Thrasher Dany Heatley has found his niche in the NHL, and it has only taken a season and a half. After receiving the Calder Trophy (given to the league’s top rookie), Healtey has been selected to play in this Sunday’s All-Star game. Opting to leave Wisconsin after his sophomore campaign, Heatley now leads Atlanta in points (49) and has registered two hat tricks in the past sixteen days. A modest Heatley told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “[The selection] surprised me.”