Wisconsin has hired Kevin Patrick as an assistant coach. Patrick will assume his duties beginning Aug. 23. Patrick leaves Bowling Green and replaces Troy Ward on the Badger staff under Mike Eaves. “It is a great opportunity to work with the University of Wisconsin hockey program and its history and tradition,” said Patrick. “I am … Read more
Wisconsin has fired associate head coach Troy Ward, per a report in the Wisconsin State Journal. Head coach Mike Eaves told the newspaper that the decision to fire his longtime friend was based on Ward’s continual inquiries into other jobs and no on his performance behind the bench and with the team. “In my mind, … Read more
When Mike Eaves was hired to coach his alma mater in 2002, two questions were raised. Could Eaves take Wisconsin back into national contention, and if so, would he stick around? The first question was answered in the affirmative when Eaves led the Badgers into the NCAA tournament each of the last two seasons. Now, … Read more
This time of year, intense focus is turned towards the PairWise Rankings, that mystic, sometimes incomprehensible, source of wisdom daring us to guess the NCAA tournament field in advance. Ofttimes, the results work out like a game of craps. Sometimes, you’re better off letting others roll the dice, while at other times, you want to … Read more
Phil Kessel, the 17-year-old highly-touted U.S.-born phenom, has set a news conference for Friday at the U.S. National Team Development Program headquarters in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he announce a decision on where he will play next season. The Friday news conference date is in contrast to an earlier report, in the Wisconsin State Journal, … Read more
The sudden spate of interest in outdoor college hockey games is close to reality in at least one place. The Wisconsin Badgers are in the process of hammering out final details with officials at Lambeau Field, home of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers, to play a game there next February. According to the Wisconsin State … Read more
The Big weekend in the WCHA is here, the Border Battle between Wisconsin and Minnesota. Another Border War features UNH hosting Maine (CSTV, 8 p.m.), and an in-state rivalry in Michigan, between the Spartans and Wolverines (tonight in Ann Arbor, tomorrow at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit) highlight a great rivalry weekend in college hockey. … Read more
No. 3 UMD swept No. 4 Wisconsin at the DECC back in November. The Badgers look to do better on their home ice at 2 p.m. CT Saturday.
No. 1 Minnesota hasn’t lost since hosting Wisconsin on Feb. 13, 2004. Can the Badgers do it again on their home ice Saturday afternoon?
Three of the nation’s top five women’s hockey teams converge at Bright Hockey Center this Thanksgiving weekend. USCHO will be there with live broadcasts, including a rematch of the 2004 NCAA final.
Minnesota-Duluth is the coaches’ preseason pick to win the WCHA, while Wisconsin goaltender Bernd Brückler topped voting for preseason player of the year honors. The coaches poll, conducted by the Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald, put the Bulldogs atop the rankings for the first time. UMD, which returns 73.5 percent of its scoring from last year’s … Read more
Everything didn’t go perfectly for Wisconsin last season, but it’s hard to ignore how close it got to an unexpected breakthrough under coach Mike Eaves. The Badgers had trouble finding consistent offensive production and had subpar special teams. But the reason they were just an overtime goal away from the Frozen Four is the same … Read more
Wisconsin’s Ryan MacMurchy had a suspension for his alleged involvement in a fight cut to one regular-season game Monday by an appeals committee. MacMurchy was suspended from practices and games under Wisconsin’s Student-Athlete Discipline Policy, which levies punishments for violations involving drugs, gambling or violence. The junior forward was cited by Madison police for misdemeanor … Read more
Wisconsin junior forward Ryan MacMurchy said Wednesday he will appeal an indefinite suspension handed down earlier in the day under the school’s discipline code for athletes. MacMurchy, a 21-year-old winger from Regina, Saskatchewan, was cited for misdemeanor battery after a fight outside a Madison bar early Sunday morning. That triggered the UW’s year-old Student-Athlete Discipline … Read more
Defenseman Ryan Suter will sign a contract with the Nashville Predators and forgo his final three years of eligibility at Wisconsin, The Capital Times of Madison reported Wednesday. Suter, a WCHA third-team and all-rookie selection last season, was Nashville’s first-round pick in the 2003 NHL entry draft, selected seventh overall. It was believed that the … Read more
The United States Hockey Hall of Fame announced today four new inductees: Paul Coppo (Hancock, Mich.); Phil Housley (South St. Paul, Minn.); Mike Ilitch (Detroit); and Mark Johnson (Minneapolis). The Hall will formally induct all four men into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minn., on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2004 at RiverCentre … Read more
At first glance, it might seem that the WCHA was lagging behind in the race to produce NHL-caliber talent. After all, the conference produced just five Central Scouting-ranked players this year, the fewest of any major. In reality, however, the opposite is true. With nearly 50 percent of the WCHA comprised of players from the … Read more
Former Wisconsin forward Alex Leavitt has tentatively settled out of court with the University, ending a lawsuit that alleged his hockey career was derailed by an off-ice incident with coach Mike Eaves during the 2002-03 season. Leavitt had filed a $1 million suit against Eaves, former athletic director Pat Richter, and other members of the … Read more
Wisconsin is down to seven defensemen for next season — and that’s before first-round NHL draft pick Ryan Suter makes his decision on whether to return to school for his sophomore season. Junior-to-be Tom Sawatske has told coach Mike Eaves he’s leaving the team, the Wisconsin State Journal reported Sunday. The paper also reported Suter’s … Read more
The upstart Badgers left it all in Albany, falling an OT goal short of the Frozen Four, and now look to next year.