Last season, depth was the buzzword surrounding the Wisconsin hockey program.
This year, however, deep is the perfect way to describe WCHA rival North Dakota.
UW’s youth will once again be tested this weekend as the No. 13 Badgers (6-2-2-) prepare to take on the 10th-ranked Fighting Sioux (5-4-1) at the Kohl Center.
UND boasts an experienced lineup complete with 16 NHL draft picks. The Sioux can generate scoring from all four lines and have arguably the deepest defensive corps in the conference, if not the nation.
“You said it, it’s basically their depth,” UW head coach Mike Eaves said. “They are an upperclassmen team with some good depth and they have the experience that can help them get to a high level.”
Preseason WCHA player of the year and team captain Chay Genoway leads the Fighting Sioux as one of the top defenseman in the country. Genoway missed all but nine games due to post-concussion syndrome last year, but the fifth-year senior is back and working his way toward top form.
“In watching video, [Genoway] is skating well, he’s got confidence with the puck and he brings a lot to his team,” Eaves said.
“They have Genoway back and he’s a real good defenseman and they have some good depth back there,” sophomore forward Derek Lee said.
First-round pick Derek Forbort joined UND this year and the freshman brings even more talent to the Sioux blue line.
UND’s forwards enjoy similar depth and they’ll look to attack the Badger defensemen from the get go. Senior forward Matt Frattin leads the team with eight goals and Corban Knight is the top point-getter with 11.
But along with all that skill, North Dakota is known for its physical brand of hockey. After a rigorous series last weekend against the Gophers, the Badgers are expecting more of the same from UND.
“It’s going to be physical,” Eaves said at his press conference Monday. “They are all about taking time and space away as a lot of good teams, as we try to play.”
“We know it will be physical out there,” junior defenseman Jake Gardiner said. “But we’ve been physical, getting a lot of hits all year. That’s been big for us.”
As Gardiner said, the Badgers aren’t about to shy away from a battle, and UW knows a thing or two about scoring goals as well.
In fact, Wisconsin leads the country in goals scored this season. UW has netted 43 goals in just 10 games despite so much inexperience up front.
The men tasked with slowing down the Badger offense are goaltenders Brad Eidsness and Aaron Dell. Eidsness entered the season as the No. 1 goaltender, having played over 80 games in his career, but after a shaky start, Dell stepped in and played both games for UND last weekend against Minnesota Duluth.
But regardless of who is in the opposing net, the Badgers’ mindset won’t change.
“I’m sure whoever they put in the net is going to be a good goaltender for them,” Lee said. “We’re not too worried about that. We know both guys are good goaltenders.”
This series always tends to bring out a little more intensity at the Kohl Center as fans and players feel the excitement when North Dakota comes to town.
It’s early, but these two powerhouse programs are currently tied for third in the WCHA standings.
The Badgers are still forming their identity in these early stages of the season and they are looking forward to seeing how they measure up against a preseason Frozen Four favorite and conference rival.
“This is what you play for. You want to play against the best competition. This series is going to be a battle,” Lee said.
“We get excited because it’s a tremendous measuring stick for us,” Eaves added. “You know you are going to see tremendous competition and that draws out the best that you have. That’s what’s so exciting about playing in the WCHA.”
