The Wisconsin men’s hockey team, amid a season-best four-game unbeaten streak, will put the finishing touches on what has turned out to be a turbulent regular season in its concluding appearance at the Kohl Center this year.
Seniors Brian Fahey, Mark Jackson, Scott Kabotoff, Erik Jensen and Brad Winchester will be honored Saturday night during an intermission ceremony.
Having played its most complete hockey of the year in the past two weeks, UW (7-15-4 WCHA, 13-19-4 overall) will bid farewell to its five seniors against No.11 North Dakota, currently on a seven-game winless streak, in a series that will parallel a playoff-type atmosphere.
“I’m glad we’re playing [UND],” UW head coach Mike Eaves said. “We’ve got something going right now, and playing a (rival) opponent that’s above us (in the conference standings) is going to draw that out.”
Sweeping the Badgers in late November, North Dakota (12-9-5, 22-9-5) is battling three other teams for the final two home playoff births after a scintillating 21-2-3 start and now faces a must-win situation to secure home ice.
Wisconsin, during a difficult past month, has shown unprecedented resilience as the team has out-muscled opponents and capitalized on its power-play opportunities en route to a 5-2-1 record the past 30 days.
The biggest difference in the UW hockey organization has been the emergence of the Badgers’ seniors whose play has suffered with Eaves taking the coaching reigns from former head coach Jeff Sauer.
“Coming down the stretch here, I think [the senior class] has found a groove,” said Eaves, who has seen seven goals by seniors in the last four games. “All of them have contributed recently and are feeling pretty good.”
Jensen, since returning Feb. 21 after being a healthy scratch for three games due to undisciplined play, has rededicated himself and is showing an offensive side not seen before. Registering a point in four of his past five games, Jensen credits his newly found focus on recent conversations with alumni players.
“My [career] here is winding down as a Badger,” Jensen said. “I just want to leave on a positive note and do everything I can to take this team to the next level.”
After two goals in his first 31 games another senior, assistant captain Fahey, has notched two goals in his past four games, including the game-winner against Michigan Tech last Friday.
“(We’ve improved) more so because the season is coming to an end,” said Fahey. “There’s not a whole a lot of time left.”
Having served a two-game suspension, Winchester, the team captain, will make his first appearance since being arrested for assaulting a Madison police officer Feb. 23.
A strong showing is needed from the Badgers or the team’s season is in serious jeopardy when the post-season arrives. With no hope of making the NCAA tournament with an at-large bid, UW will need to win the WCHA conference tournament, which begins just one week from today, and earn the automatic birth.
“One of the great things about athletics is that you play the game because there are no guarantees,” said Eaves. “By playing our best hockey (at the end of the season), we give ourselves a good chance going (to the playoffs).”
For the first time in six years, the Badgers, regardless of this weekend’s results, will have to travel next weekend for opening round play.
“(The UW/UND rivalry) in itself is going to set us up for the following weekend no matter who we play,” Eaves noted. “It’s a good stepping stone for us.”
Bidding the senior class farewell while facing on the Badger’s biggest rivals, tonight’s series opener will be highly charged with emotion.
