After a disappointing weekend against border rival Minnesota, dropping a pair to the Golden Gophers, the Ice Badgers redeemed themselves and stunned the hockey nation by sweeping North Dakota, gaining two crucial conference victories. Head coach Mike Eaves addressed the media on Monday on the topics of Robbie Earl, the outstanding play of his freshmen and the upcoming schedule.

Hollywood

Without question, freshman forward Robbie Earl was the star of the weekend series against the Fighting Sioux. Earl became the first Badger to notch a hat trick since Dany Heatley scored three goals at Alaska-Anchorage in 2000, and the first ever to do so at the Kohl Center. Earl scored four goals during the weekend series, including the game winners on both Friday and Saturday night.

“We’ve all seen that potential within [Earl],” Eaves said. “He has been so close on so many nights, and I think that when he gets the puck, people get closer to the edge of their seats because they know something could happen. He has that ability and that potential, but this [weekend] he was able to finish off things that he’d started. For [Earl] now, he has that confidence level in which has now grown within him, and he now has to do that on a consistent basis.”

Earl is now third in the WCHA in freshman scoring, averaging .73 points per game in 22 games played.

Freshmen stepping up

Not only was Robbie Earl at the top of his game this past weekend but linemates Jake Dowell and Ross Carlson also played strongly at their respective positions. Dowell was credited with one goal and two assists in Friday night’s game and created scoring opportunities for Earl by making picks and going all out for loose pucks. Carlson, who had a career weekend, was credited with three assists on Friday night and an assist in Saturday’s contest.

“Jake (Dowell) is kind of a meat and potatoes guy,” Eaves joked. “He’s a thick body and his skill level is not the same as Robbie Earl’s, but what he gives Robbie is that physical presence on the ice by getting pucks for him … Ross Carlson is more of a kick-back player. He’s been a great addition to our locker room. He’s got this infectious laugh, he loves the game, and he’s brought that element to our locker room.”

A tough road ahead

With only six conference games remaining and the NCAA tournament lying just beyond the horizon, the Ice Badgers are in prime position to win the WCHA conference as they go into the bye week. While most coaches would dread a week off after any big victory, much less a sweep of the top team in the country, Eaves said that he was looking forward to the extra week off.

“I think the most important thing this time of year is to have a week off, regardless of what this past weekend would have produced,” Eaves said. “And with our remaining schedule coming up as tough as well, it’s good to have time to recover, rejuvenate and to get ready for the stretch run and the playoffs.”

The Badgers have plenty of time to prepare for the final three weeks of the season. After the bye week, the Badgers host No. 8 St. Cloud State, make the long trip for a weekend series in Anchorage and finish the season in a home weekend series against No. 6 Minnesota-Duluth. The Badgers were swept earlier in the year at St. Cloud State and have yet to play either Alaska-Anchorage or Minnesota-Duluth.