[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]

Two
members of the men’s hockey team were held out of Saturday night’s game against
Michigan Tech.

Podge
Turnbull and Michael Davies sat out the Badgers’ 4-2 victory over the Huskies
after the two didn’t put forth the effort head coach Mike Eaves was expecting
following two weeks of preparation. He hopes that the benching will not only
motivate Turnbull and Davies to play better, but get the team to up its
intensity as well.

“Being a
young team, knowing that we want to be a successful team and knowing that the
foundation of that success has to be built on the hard part of the game, this
was a message to the team and to these young men that they’ve got to step it up
a little bit,” Eaves said during a press conference Monday. “So if I was in
their shoes, I’m probably going to have the best practice of my career
(Monday).”

Sophomores
Zach Bearson and Andy Bombach skated in their place. Save the rust of not
having played at all this season prior to Saturday, Eaves thought they gave the
team some good minutes.

“They did
pretty good. They gave us what their strengths were,” Eaves said. “There were
shifts they came out for — they knew that had slipped a little bit, but that’s
to be expected [because] they haven’t played a lot lately.

“They had
some good practices, and we needed to shore up the other side, so the time of
all this was good.”

In five
games this season, Davies had scored four points in five games and Turnbull has
tallied three.

Final year means big year

Representing
one-fourth of the 2007-08 senior class, defenseman Kyle Klubertanz has asserted
himself both on the ice and in the locker room. His presence has been vital in
the development of the three freshmen blue liners.

“I think
he took a step this summer when he was elected an assistant captain and wanting
to be a leader,” Eaves said.

It’s
Klubertanz’s final season, and he’s trying to make the most of it. That notion
has showed in his preparation this summer and in his practice routine.

“I think
there’s external motivation beyond that in terms of he’s a senior,” Eaves said.
“He knows that if he wants to do something at the next level, he has to have a
big year.

“And his
training this summer was the best he’s ever had, and it’s showing in the way he
plays.”

Thus far,
Klubertanz is having a career year. Already, he has tied his personal best with
four goals and is on pace to set a new mark in points by midseason.

Smith’s still getting defensive

As
impressive as freshman blue liner Brendan Smith has been with the puck this
season — scoring a goal and adding five assists through six games — he is still
learning his role as a defenseman.

The first-round
selection by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft made the switch
to defense about two years ago. It has showed as Smith has been caught several
times this season below the tops of the offensive circles — meaning that he’s
getting too far up.

However, what’s
positive about the entire situation, according to Eaves, is that it’s much
easier to teach a player defense than the skill set needed on offense.

“Defensive
things that you’re talking about are things that you can learn,” Eaves said.
“The things that we can’t teach are his offensive skills and his ability to
take what’s given and be creative with the puck in a tight situation. He can
make something out of nothing.”

Given
assistant coach Mark Osiecki’s success at transitioning former forwards into
solid defensemen, Smith should only get better.

“He’s in a
good situation, and I have no doubt that at some point, it’ll all come together
for him,” Eaves said.