The Wisconsin men’s hockey team faces its toughest task of the year this weekend on its first road trip of the season. Head coach Mike Eaves looks to take the challenge by the horns as UW takes the ice against No. 4-ranked Boston College Friday, before traveling a short distance across town Saturday to take on the Northeastern Huskies.
Eaves achieved one of his pre-conference goals by playing every player on the roster in an attempt to evaluate every player and the team from top to bottom, making every team member work for time at their position. Eaves believes that both challenges will allow the team to solidify and gel before heading into WCHA play.
“We got everyone into a game,” Eaves said. “Going on the road will be a test for us in terms of seeing how we react to that. Getting on the road is always good for your team because you bond a little bit and go through a couple of wars together — that’s what brings you together.”
Saturday night UW faces Northeastern (1-1-1), which has struggled in its first three games of the season. The Huskies’ schedule contributes to the woeful start by the perennial powerhouse. Northeastern tied Vermont and lost to WHCA-member Denver, getting a 10-1 win over Connecticut between the two games. The real interest however, lies in the Boston College contest.
As if being away wasn’t enough for UW, Eaves makes his first road appearance against a highly ranked BC team that has Eaves’ two sons leading the way. Freshman Patrick Eaves was named Hockey East’s rookie of the week for the third consecutive week and leads the potent Eagle squad that has scored 18 times in three contests. Ben Eaves, a junior, leads the team in assists, having a hand in seven scores. However, BC (3-0) doesn’t revolve solely around the brothers. Dave Spine, with four goals, and Tony Voce, with three goals, have both made significant contributions on a team that doesn’t lack firepower.
“We are going into this weekend thinking about a heck of a Boston College team,” Eaves said.
Wisconsin’s offense has seen nine different players net goals, though they lack a player that has tallied more than two scores this year. Junior Rene Bourque has been the Badgers’ most dangerous offensive weapon. Bourque, who has scored twice, ranks first on the team in shots taken with 19 and has missed many shots by merely a few inches. The Badgers will rely on junior Brad Winchester and sophomore Alex Leavitt to create scoring chances, not only for themselves but the respective lines they anchor. With Bourque, Winchester and Leavitt, UW has three players who, when on the ice, have outscored their opponents this season.
In order for the Badgers to taste success this weekend, a hard-nosed defensive effort will be required. Because UW doesn’t possess the scoring threat that its opponents bring to the table, the Badgers will need to rely upon their defense, which was questionable in the third period in the Alabama-Huntsville series, allowing three goals.
“We need to have a group of five people that are pretty sound defensively,” Eaves noted. “This is a huge test for us. Playing these two teams will really help us in the long run. We are getting to that point and getting closer to knowing what we have.”
After a weekend away the UW hockey team hopes to return with a set roster and an understanding of what Eaves wants to achieve in the WCHA. For Eaves, this is his last practice test before the examination.
