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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
Wisconsin’s instant-classic win over Cornell was the culmination of a long road for the Badgers — and for Nicholas Jon Wood.
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
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
Wisconsin vs. Maine Thursday, 7 p.m. CT, Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wis. For one team in the second semifinal Thursday in Milwaukee, it’s a chance to reclaim past glories. For the other, it’s a familiar experience. Wisconsin’s season can be parsed neatly into three pieces: an incredible run to the top of the polls, followed by … Read more
After two days off, the UW men’s hockey team met to practice Wednesday for the first time since its thrilling triple-overtime win against Cornell. No one was ready to say the team had fully recovered. “You can still tell that some of the guys are a little wiped,” head coach Mike Eaves said. “It’ll take … Read more
Denver junior defenseman Matt Carle, Boston College senior forward Chris Collins and Wisconsin junior goaltender Brian Elliott make up the 2006 Hobey “Hat Trick,” announced Wednesday by the Hobey Baker Foundation. Carle, Collins and Elliott were selected from among the original list of 10 finalists announced two weeks ago; one will win the 2006 Hobey … Read more
Wisconsin is on its way to the Frozen Four after surviving three overtimes against Cornell. Matt Lewis sees how the instant classic brought out a different kind of game.
Joe Pavelski showed his mettle Saturday with a starring performance to send Wisconsin to the Midwest Regional final, Eric Schmoldt says.
No. 2 seed Wisconsin’s NCAA final opponent Minnesota fell to the Badgers four of five times in the regular season en route to the WCHA regular season and postseason titles so the Badgers would seem to be a strong favorite for the Sunday 3 p.m. CT contest. Yet Minnesota’s chances are better than those results … Read more
When she leaves the rink, Wisconsin’s Bobbi-Jo Slusar takes on a different set of responsibilities working with autistic and other special-needs children. Dave Starman can relate.
For most of the season, Wisconsin goalie Brian Elliott was perhaps the nation’s best collegiate goalie, posting an 18-2-2 record with his name mentioned first and loudest in any Hobey Baker conversation. Then came a leg injury in practice in mid-January which caused Elliott to miss eight games. He struggled to play consistently coming back … Read more
UW netminder Brian Elliott made bouncing back from losses a habit this season. That, says Todd D. Milewski, was no different Saturday against Minnesota.
CHA champion Mercyhurst and WCHA champion Wisconsin both seek their first Frozen Four berth in Saturday’s 7 p.m. CT NCAA quarterfinal broadcast.