Crease Creatures unite! With the Wisconsin Men’s Hockey team’s first game of the season tomorrow, Friday, October 9, at 7:00pm vs. Northern Michigan, we were fortunate enough to gain media access to their practice this past Saturday afternoon. Following a disappointing football game, a loss at the hands of the Iowa Hawkeyes, fellow SST hockey correspondent Charlie Kaplan and I attended the Badgers’ afternoon hockey practice, and noticed a few things that should give Badger fans a reason for optimism this winter.
#1. The Staff
After a disappointing showing last season (4-26-5), the program was in dire need of a change-of-pace, and they sure got one. Returning only head coach Mike Eaves for his 13th season at the helm for the Badgers, there is an entirely new coaching staff underneath him. From the looks of it, this new influx of knowledge, individual coaching styles, and personality has positively impacted the Badger locker room thus far.
#2. The Culture
It is no secret that the Badgers had it rough last season. The unexpected exit of standout freshman defenseman Keegan Ford, who quit the Badgers mid-season in 2014 to return to juniors because he “wasn’t having much fun,” is just one of many examples which help accentuate the issues of the Badger locker room last season. Moreover, cries for the “Era of Eaves” to come to a close were not far behind Ford’s departure, or the dismal rest of the season.
Yet, there is new hope for this year’s squad. Eager to forget the turmoil of last season, the locker room has appeared to mesh well together thus far, and is in fact, having fun. One must not underestimate the power of attitude, and the Badgers sure have made one heck of an adjustment to theirs. Practice Saturday evening was equal parts intense as it was loose. As an outsider looking in, it wasn’t hard to tell that this team has developed a unique relationship, one that extends off the ice. In a short interview with freshman Badger Jake Bunz, he emphasized that the team, “spends a lot of time together” both on and off the ice and genuinely “enjoys each other’s company.”
#3. Young Guns
With the Badgers sporting 11 true freshmen players, the team possesses a youthful exuberance. Following the lead of the locker room’s three seniors, the freshmen have embraced the culture of excellence expected here at Wisconsin and have brought a fresh pace and aggressive playing style to the team. Practices are both competitive and loose, the mark of a confident team. This year’s team possesses the poise of a team ready to compete for supremacy in the Big Ten this season and beyond.
The season opener is tomorrow at The Kohl Center at 7:00pm. We hope to see you there!
Follow us on Twitter @SconSportsTalk and hockey correspondent Charlie Kaplan @charlie_kaplan.