University of Wisconsin 2005-06 Men's Hockey Outlook
It will be an entertaining season for University of Wisconsin Badger hockey fans in 2005-06 as the team strives for the pinnacle of college hockey success.
To this point, steady growth has accompanied the Badgers under head coach Mike Eaves. The team went from the lower division of the WCHA in Eaves' first season to entrenching themselves among the league and nation's elite programs in three seasons.
The team appears to have all the ingredients for continued success. Eaves and his coaching staff forming a stable base from which to begin. Add second-year captain Adam Burish, Wisconsin first repeat leader since Steve Reinprecht in 1998-99 and 1999-2000, as well as repeat assistant captain Tom Gilbert, and a stable and respected leadership is in place.
After leading the league in defense the past two seasons, a key element to a successful program, Wisconsin has proven it can play in its own zone. Now the team looks to prove itself one of top offensive units in the league.
With a share of the national rookie scoring lead, Joe Pavelski led the Badger offense last year, while fan-friendly linemate Robbie Earl earned Wisconsin's first all-league forward selection since Dany Heatley. The power-play led the league through the first half of the season and finished among the top half of the league. Pavelski and Earl both finished among the league's top eight scorers, while Burish shared the national lead in shorthanded tallies and shared second in the league, with Earl, in game-winning tallies.
Gilbert shared second in the league in blue line goal scoring, while himself, Kyle Klubertanz and Jeff Likens each ranked among the top 15 league scoring defensemen. Another group of skilled offensive talent will join the offensive push as Jack Skille from the U.S. National Team Development Program, former Minnesota State High School scoring leader Tom Gorowsky and British Columbia product Ben Street join the fray.
Goaltending would appear to be the weak link to the UW formula with the loss of Wisconsin record rewriter Bernd Brückler, but Brian Elliott has patiently waited in the wings.
Now a junior, Elliott has quietly built a resume that includes a 9-5-1 record, 1.57 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and three shutouts. The WCHA's best-kept secret has received high praise from longtime UW goaltending coach Bill Howard and the Badgers expect to have continued excellence in goal.
Then there is the loyal fan support and the special-event laden schedule. Leading the nation in attendance for the seventh-straight season and 31st time since 1969, the UW following is second to none. The game-day atmosphere has unique opportunities to showcase itself in the 15,237-seat Kohl Center and beyond. Once the season begins on Oct. 7 at home against St. Lawrence, the Badgers play in the College Hockey Showcase at Michigan State and Michigan and play host to an exhibition with the U.S. Under-18 National Team, as well as the 17th annual Badger Hockey Showdown in December. In February, the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic at Lambeau Field pits Wisconsin against Ohio State in one of the meccas of professional football. The State of Wisconsin will also be treated to six of the 15 NCAA contests as the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis., plays host to the 2006 NCAA Midwest Regional, while the University of Wisconsin and the Bradley Center in Milwaukee welcome college hockey for the 2006 NCAA Men's Frozen Four.
It will be entertaining, but it will not be easy. Fourteen of the University of Wisconsin's 35 games will be played against 2005 NCAA participants, while 12 of those will come against 2005 NCAA Frozen Four teams.
- by Paul Capobianco
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