[media-credit name=’DEREK MONTGOMERY/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Last year the message was clear for the defensemen on the Wisconsin men's hockey team: Just weather the storm.

The Badgers had lost blue-liners Andy Wozniewski and Dan Boeser to graduation and Ryan Suter, after just one season, to the NHL. The corps of defensemen — at that point just one junior, two sophomores and five freshmen — would have to do the best they could, with many of them just being thrown into the fire.

The young defensive corps weathered that storm just fine, helping UW back to the NCAA tournament. Now, with a full year under its belt and every defenseman back from last year, the unit is confident and it is showing.

"The biggest [thing] is you've got to have the confidence and I think our guys are starting to have confidence," assistant coach Mark Osiecki said. "I think they've got to the point where they can play hard and play within our system."

While the entire corps continues to work hard at improving, the biggest jump in confidence has come from sophomore Joe Piskula.

Piskula was one of those rookies thrown right into the fire. He notched six assists as he played in all but one game last season.

He is already off to a steady start this year, tallying one assist and his first career goal two weeks ago against Anchorage. But more than his numbers, it is the improvement of the little things that he has shown on the ice.

"He's improved incredibly," Osiecki said. "His physical tools are there — he's always been able to skate and shoot. But it's understanding the small aspects of the game and I think that's where he's really progressed."

"His confidence, his ability to see the ice better and his awareness on the ice has improved tenfold," senior Tom Gilbert said.

It helps that he has been paired up with the standout veteran Gilbert as a defensive partner.

"When you play with a guy like Tom Gilbert, it's going to bring your level up," Osiecki said. "They just have a certain chemistry that takes it to another level."

Gilbert, an assistant captain for the Badgers, was there last year to hold the group together along the way, and his steady play has rubbed off on his younger teammates.

"He's a good role model to watch out there and just does a lot of good things that we pick up on," Piskula said.

The Antigo, Wis., native's effort has not gone unrewarded. He has seen an increase in ice time, including shifts with both the power play and penalty kill units.

Piskula hasn't been alone in the improved success of the young Badger defense.

While it is Piskula who has made the biggest step, fellow sophomore Kyle Klubertanz has played well consistently from day one.

The Sun Prarie, Wis., native, who had 18 points as a freshman, has five assists through eight games playing alongside junior Jeff Likens this season. He hasn't missed a game since he joined the team.

"[Klubertanz] has been consistent all of last year and this year, whereas Joe has taken a step," Osiecki said.

While he may not dazzle fans with shifty moves or blazing speed, Klubertanz is reliable when the puck comes his way.

"[He] probably has the most puck poise of anyone on our team," Osiecki said. "Right now we're just trying to get him to settle down and not worry so much about being the perfect player."

Another sophomore who has played in every game this year is Davis Drewiske. Head coach Mike Eaves mentioned him at the beginning of the season as having been one of the most improved players over the summer.

He played in 34 games last season and, thanks to an incredible work ethic, has nowhere to go but up.

"He works out like a madman," Osiecki said. "I think the best thing about his game is that he has kept it very simple. He's provided a role for us to be able to go in at any given time and play very solid."

The duo of Drewiske and junior Matt Olinger gives the coaching staff a strong third option, allowing the all of the blue-liners to keep fresh legs throughout any given game.

While fans may not notice Drewiske and Olinger on the ice as much as they might Gilbert and Piskula, Osiecki said that is a good thing.

"As a coach, you're going to ask yourself after the game is over, 'did we notice those guys?' Osiecki said. "If we're not talking about them then they did their job. That's how we look at those guys."

While junior goalie Brian Elliott deserves a large part of the credit for Wisconsin being the top defense in the WCHA, don't take anything away from the Badgers' defensemen.

"We know we have some talent," Piskula said. "Every day we have to work hard and play with heart and we'll give ourselves a chance to win."

It's not about weathering the storm this time around. It's about helping carry the team to another level.

"They're all playing like they've been here for three years and we can't ask for any more," Gilbert said. "I'm impressed with the way we've stepped up this year from last year."