As the Badgers’s men’s hockey season opener is rapidly approaching, one thing is clear: the players are hungry for a winning season.
On Monday, the leadership team of captain Luke Kunin and alternate captains Grant Besse and Cameron Hughes met with the media to discuss the upcoming season and the implications of the new coaching staff.
“I think we got some great coaches, obviously,” Kunin said. “I think we have the best coaches in college hockey now and I think that’s only for the better.”
When asked whether the new coaching staff had any influence on Kunin staying another year with the Badgers, Kunin made it clear that it was one of the things he took into consideration.
“Yeah, I think that was definitely a part of it,” Kunin said. “These coaches have obviously all coached pro at some point, and Tony [Granato] played and coached in the NHL for a while and that’s where I want to be and to play for him here… everything about it makes me want to stay here.”
Kunin was drafted 15th overall to the Minnesota Wild in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Hughes had a similar outlook, stating that the team is excited to have a fresh start with a new coaching staff.
“[With] the new coaches in, it’s a fresh start and everyone is kinda looking forward to that—getting off on a new foot and kinda getting into our own kinda chapter with new coaches,” Hughes said.
“Some guys were having some issues with their confidence and that doesn’t make for a good player or a good team,” Besse said. “To play this game you have to have confidence in yourself and the organization and the coaching staff… When coach Granato came in we know he’s gonna give us 100% effort so we have to match that.
“[Granato]’s a hard-nosed player, got to the net, he wasn’t afraid to go to the hard areas, that’s something I think he’s gonna try to instil in us and something that will help us win some games.”
With the possibility of a new, more aggressive style of play, the Badgers are also taking a more aggressive approach at how to win more games.
“The energy is good now. When I came in I didn’t expect to go through some of the things we did but I think it was beneficial for myself and the other guys because we’re hungry to get back at it and kinda change the script,” Hughes said.
When asked about the Badgers being ranked fifth within the Big Ten conference, Hughes shrugged the rankings off.
“For us, we’re gonna earn everything we’re gonna get,” Hughes said. “I think it’s a good thing for us that we can not look too much into those rankings at all and earn everything we get. So, if they want to put us there it’s awesome, whatever, we’ll just make our own rankings.”
Besse, on the other hand, felt differently.
“On a personal level I would put us higher, but based on the last two years I can understand why maybe that ranking is where it’s at,” Besse said. “So I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily surprised but I would say I disagree with it.”
Frustrated with how the last two years have ended, Kunin is determined to make a change.
“We’re hungry to win and hungry to make a difference,” Kunin explained. “You know, these past two years have been unacceptable for Wisconsin hockey. We’re a winning program and we’re hungry to turn that around and win.”
As the captain of the team this year, Kunin feels prepared and is humbled to take on this new role.
“I’m very humbled and honored [to be named the captain]… for me it doesn’t change anything. I still gotta go out and do the things I did last year and compete every night,” Kunin said. “I thought I was a leader last year… I’ll just do the same things I’ve been doing my whole career.”
The Badgers are a team predominantly made up of underclassmen, with 15 of the 26-man roster being sophomores and freshmen, but to Hughes this doesn’t make a difference.
“I think you just go into every weekend trying to win and you work hard throughout the week. I don’t think being young is really an excuse anymore,” Hughes said. “It’s time to just start putting some good weekends together… we’re just excited to get going”
The Badgers will be hosting a luncheon with coach Tony Granato and Badger Men’s Hockey alumnus Adam Burish on Wednesday at the Kohl Center. The Badgers have their first home exhibition game on October 1st at 7:00 against the University of Victoria.
Click here for the Wisconsin men’s hockey schedule.
The team’s first regular-season game is on October 7th against Northern Michigan University in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the first regular-season home game will take place on October 14th at 7:00 against Boston College.
For full interviews of Kunin, Besse and Hughes, watch the videos below courtesy of Badger Broadcast Television.