Men’s D-I: Big Ten

Phil Kessel: Something To Prove?

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Phil Kessel was indisputable college hockey’s hottest incoming commodity a year ago. Saturday, the Minnesota sophomore-to-be saw his stock drop a bit, Jim Connelly reports.

Miller Departs Michigan State For AHL

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Michigan State hockey captain Drew Miller has signed a professional contract with Anaheim of the NHL. Miller, who was drafted by the Mighty Ducks in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, will forego his senior season of eligibility and leaves after three seasons at Michigan State. Terms of the contract … Read more

Chucko Third Gopher To Leave For Pros

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First it was Ryan Potulny, then Danny Irmen. Now it’s Kris Chucko who will depart Minnesota’s men’s hockey team early. Chucko said he signed a three year, $900,000 contract with the Calgary Flames. He also said he will stay and finish the semester at Minnesota before going to Calgary in September to try out for … Read more

Chucko Latest Gopher To Leave Early

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The annual exodus of underclassmen to the professional ranks continued to hit Minnesota hard over the weekend, as sophomore Kris Chucko became the latest Golden Gopher to hang up his college jersey for an NHL contract. Chucko, a first-round draft pick (24th overall) by Calgary in 2004, signed a contract with the NHL’s Flames and … Read more

Michigan’s Berenson Signs Contract Extension

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Michigan head coach Red Berenson has signed a three-year extension, athletic director Bill Martin announced Saturday during the Wolverines’ year-end banquet. “I didn’t want to lose him. It’s pretty simple,” Martin was quoted in the Ann Arbor (Mich.) News. “Great coach. Great team. Great assistant coaches. Red’s still got that fire, discipline and passion for … Read more

Frozen Four MOP Earl Leaves Badgers

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One week ago, he was the Frozen Four’s Most Outstanding Player. Friday, Wisconsin junior Robbie Earl became the latest high-profile underclassman to leave school early for the pro ranks. Earl, a native of Los Angeles, announced at a news conference at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., that he has signed a contract with the … Read more

Future Bright For Wisconsin Men’s Program

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Though the celebration is still continuing for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, it is never too early to look into the future. And gazing into that crystal ball, the future of UW hockey looks good. When questioned whether or not he thought that the Badgers could repeat as champions without him during Sunday’s Championship Rally … Read more

Wisconsin’s Eaves To Coach U.S. At World Championships

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Wisconsin bench boss Mike Eaves has been named head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team, USA Hockey announced. “Mike is one of the outstanding young coaches in our game today,” said Paul Holmgren, general manager of Team USA and assistant general manager of the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers. “He’s an excellent teacher of … Read more

Mike Eaves: A Matter Of Trust

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It was Oct. 11, 2002, and Rensselaer had just beaten Wisconsin, 5-1, in the opening game of that year’s Ice Breaker Invitational, hosted by the Badgers in Madison. “They capitalized on every opportunity,” UW head coach Mike Eaves told USCHO’s Jayson Moy after the game. “Every chance they had, they took advantage.” That was what … Read more

Robbie Earl: Most Outstanding Player

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With three goals and an assist on the weekend, everybody in the state of Wisconsin knew that junior forward Robbie Earl would be the Frozen Four’s Most Outstanding Player. Everyone, it seems, except Earl. “I didn’t even know until we got the locker room when coach told me. It’s a great honor. But there’s so … Read more

Battling The Building

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“LET’S GO RED! LET’S GO RED!” The crowd, a sea of Wisconsin red with only tiny islands of Boston College gold, was determined to be the potentially decisive seventh man. “LET’S GO BADGERS!” The Wisconsin band blared. The students jumped up and down in unison. The electric atmosphere pulsed with excitement and throbbing decibel levels. … Read more

Championship Notebook

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Tonight’s win gave Wisconsin its sixth NCAA title, the fourth-most of any program. Only Michigan’s nine, and North Dakota and Denver with seven, top the Badgers. Wisconsin finishes with its seventh 30-win season and the first since 1999-2000. Title IX: Two Titles Wisconsin is the first team to have men’s and women’s national championships in … Read more

Role With It

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Most everyone in the WCHA may know Ryan MacMurchy and Jack Skille, but if you’re a college hockey fan who lives east of Milwaukee, chances are that when you think “Badger hockey,” you think “Brian Elliott.” If you’re a diehard college hockey fan, you may even know the play of sophomore Joe Pavelski, junior Robbie … Read more

The Long Road

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When the Wisconsin Badgers walked into their locker room for the first time at the start of the 2005-06 season, they were greeted with an assortment of hardware. There was the Pettit Cup from the 2002 Badger Hockey Showdown, representing the last time Wisconsin took its own home tournament, as well as a WCHA playoff … Read more

Pump Up The Volume

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Once Wisconsin qualified for the Frozen Four, the home-ice advantage was obvious. The Badgers would play for their fourth national championship in their home state. But some things have to be heard to be believed. Thursday evening, the crowd reverberated every time a Wisconsin player touched the puck. The compact Bradley Center shook when Brian … Read more

Validation

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Wisconsin’s instant-classic win over Cornell was the culmination of a long road for the Badgers — and for Nicholas Jon Wood.

Last Chance For Glory

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The postseason is a time for stars to shine, heroes to emerge and, unfortunately for some, careers to come to a close. When Wisconsin squares off against Maine Thursday in the Frozen Four, each team will boast a special senior class, one of which will see their collegiate careers stopped short of a national championship … Read more

Semifinal Notebook: Wisconsin

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It’s typical that the day before the Frozen Four starts, most of the players and coaches are still pretty loose, pretty relaxed, having a lot of fun. Mike Eaves oversees the Badgers’ Wednesday skate at the Bradley Center (photo: Melissa Wade). According to Wisconsin captain Adam Burish, that enjoyment is something that was part of … Read more