Saturday night signified more than just the first conference win for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team. Head coach Mike Eaves watched from the bench, in a casual manner, as his team took care of business amongst themselves, not relying upon the coaching staff, as had been the case the night before.
“We didn’t play as well Friday,” Eaves said Monday, after the series against
Minnesota-Duluth. “You have to read your team. We were a very different team
Saturday; we found a way.”
Having to take an additional period to settle the issue, UW senior Erik Jensen netted the go-ahead goal in overtime that registered the first win for Eaves in the WCHA. Wisconsin (1-3 WCHA, 5-5 overall) found that bench support was the key difference between the performances.
“We told them that we were tired, as coaches, of giving energy,” Eaves said. “We felt ‘You fellas have to step up.’ The bench was great; it was a pleasure.”
After watching the Bulldogs take the first game easily 4-1, a win that snapped a ten-game winning streak in Duluth, Eaves informed his team that the effort was unacceptable and would not be tolerated. The protégés took the words to heart and showed up Saturday with a vengeance.
“(The coaches) didn’t do much talking,” said Jensen. “(They) left it up to us.
We played hard as a team and got the win.”
Taking “more of the pie,” as Eaves stated, UW now looks to further their newfound teachings, taking it into the hostile environment presented by archenemy North Dakota, one of the hottest teams nationally.
“When you’re lively on the bench and you’re ready to go on the bench, you’re ready to go on the ice,” freshman Ryan MacMurchy said.
Injury update: Junior Dan Boeser, who was sidelined with a fractured hand against Alabama-Huntsville (Oct. 18-19), looks to make his first appearance back in practice this week. Boeser, who battled cancer during the off-season, will participate in non-contact drills and hopes to return to the lineup against Michigan and Michigan State in the Hockey Showcase (Nov. 29-30).
Head coach Mike Eaves stated that he would run Boeser through full contact drills the following week if all is well and expects to have him at his disposal for the Minnesota series in the first week of December.
Rivalry remembered: During Mike Eaves’ playing days for the cardinal and white, he remembers the ferocity of the UND/UW rivalry. While taking to the ice for warm-up drills, during the period where referees would not see the ice until it was time to drop the puck, a full-fledged fight broke out between the two teams. Since, referees have been present to defuse any sort of skirmishes that may take place.
“It’s two schools that have a rich tradition,” Eaves said. “(The rivalry) is going to be a great source of energy.”
Around the WCHA: The WCHA is represented well in the USCHO.com Men’s College Hockey Poll, with five of the ten squads represented. They are: Denver (3rd), North Dakota (4th), Minnesota (6th), Colorado College (8th) and St. Cloud State (14th).
Zach Parise, UND’s freshman forward, leads the nation in points per game, averaging 2.2 points. Peter Sejna, CC’s junior forward, is tied for the top spot in overall points with 23. Troy Riddle, Minnesota’s junior forward, ranks on top of the goal-scoring column with 12 goals.
