SB Nation College Hockey: All Posts by Ryan EvansCollege Hockey's Home on the Blogospherehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49993/wchb-fav.png2016-03-18T08:32:39-07:00https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/authors/ryan-evans/rss2016-03-18T08:32:39-07:002016-03-18T08:32:39-07:00Eaves Out at Wisconsin
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EeX8TC-XJtKMEsrtxnGfQY8CWEY=/0x174:3473x2489/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49113969/GettyImages-479932455.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hannah Foslien/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1995-97 sealed Eaves' fate. Now the road back begins for Wisconsin.</p> <p>Mike Eaves' reign behind the Wisconsin men's hockey bench has ended, UW Athletics Director Barry Alvarez announced Friday. The decision comes just one day after the Badgers' season ended with a 5-2 loss to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament, which wrapped up back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1995-97.</p>
<p>Eaves finishes his tenure with a 267-225-64 (.538) career record, seven NCAA Tournament appearances, a national title in 2006, a national runner-up finish in 2010 and conference tournament championships in 2013 and 2014. However, the Badgers are just 12-45-13 over the past two seasons and have labored through three losing campaigns in the last five years, which made his dismissal necessary.</p>
<p>"These are never easy decisions, but I've got a responsibility to the university, to our fans and to everyone else," Alvarez <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uwbadgers.com/news/2016/3/18/alvarez-change-of-direction-needed-for-mens-hockey.aspx">told UWBadgers.com's Andy Baggot</a>. "It's just not acceptable at Wisconsin to have a hockey program in this state where we are right now."</p>
<p>"Our fans and everyone expect more," he added. "With our facilities and what we have to sell, we feel we should be at a championship level."</p>
<p>The fans' displeasure is reflected in the dwindling attendance at the Kohl Center. This season saw a lot of red seats at hockey games, in large part because the <a href="http://host.madison.com/ct/sports/college/hockey/badgers-men-s-hockey-draws-smallest-crowd-in-kohl-center/article_65fcb552-711a-11e5-a242-43324d310fee.html" target="_blank">season ticket base declined 23 percent from last year</a> as apathy set in in Madison.</p>
<p>Wisconsin has also struggled to hold onto its top players and recruits in recent years, <a href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2016/3/10/11147212/on-wisconsin-s-downfall-and-the-many-challenges-ahead" target="_blank">as Nate Wells pointed out in his great look at the current state of the program:</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal">It would be better if Kunin was not an exception. Of the three big names in a rebound recruiting class brought in this year to beef up the Badgers, he's the only one on the roster. 2015 first round pick Brock Boeser is lighting it up for North Dakota and Luke Opilka went to the OHL when he was already on campus.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jack Dougherty, Christian Dvorak, Keegan Ford and Morgan Zulinick could also be on this year's team before joining the fans leaving or decommitting. (It's hard to think how much worse the season would have gone if the rumors that Kunin was joining this list by leaving the program in November turned out to be true.)</p>
<p> </p>
</blockquote>
<p>An unbalanced roster has plagued the Badgers as well and the problem has grown in recent years. Eaves recruited in four-year cycles: Growing pains in the first two years with a youth-heavy roster before hopefully transitioning into a national competitor in the last one or two years, rinse and repeat. As a result, the Badgers' roster is now totally out of whack, with 22 underclassmen compared to just seven upperclassmen this year.</p>
<p>While the job to re-build the Badgers will be sizable, Wisconsin's next head coach—be it Mark Johnson, George Gwozdecky, Don or Tony Granato, Mark Osiecki or someone else—won't be left with a barren cupboard. Freshman forward Luke Kunin, junior forward Grant Besse, freshman goaltender Matt Jurusik and others are good building blocks and the Badgers have some promising recruits in the pipeline and the allure of playing in Madison has remained strong even through t</p>
<p>The past two years have been tough for Wisconsin, there is no doubt about that, but they should not tarnish Eaves' legacy. In addition to being the all-time leading scorer in program history, he brought a national title back to Madison and has churned out NHL talent throughout his tenure after turning around the struggling program he inherited in 2002-03.</p>
<p>But, this move did need to happen. Now the road back begins.</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2016/3/18/11261832/eaves-out-at-wisconsin-after-back-to-back-losing-seasonsRyan Evans2015-11-16T15:16:56-08:002015-11-16T15:16:56-08:00Badger Bits: Wisconsin Welcomes Denver
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/N-f4MhzgIhHcgz_Iarz8OwnKanY=/0x337:3574x2720/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47676833/GettyImages-482001841.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hannah Foslien/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Coming off a bye week, the Badgers seek to build of recent momentum to slow down the No. 9-ranked Pioneers</p> <p>Wisconsin men's hockey coach Mike Eaves was walking around the Kohl Center recently when he ran into longtime electrician Ed Walsh, and something Walsh said has stuck with Eaves as the Badgers (3-4-3) prepare to host No. 9 Denver (6-3-1) this weekend.</p>
<p>"He said, 'well you beat North Dakota, the No. 1 team in the country. I guess that means you can beat anybody now,'" Eaves recalled. "We took that message to the team and we set a new bar for ourselves."</p>
<p>"I think that that's something we're going to go after every weekend now after the way we played there."</p>
<p>Bolstered by the confidence-building win, the Badgers bring a new mindset into this weekend's series against a Pioneers team that is unbeaten in its last four games and ranks in the top-20, nationally, in both scoring offense (3.30) and defense (2.20). They are a "determined" and "aggressive" team in the mold of its head coach, Jim Montgomery, according to Eaves.</p>
<p>Wisconsin and the Pioneers met last season at Magness Arena—a 3-2 loss for the Badgers.</p>
<p>"They’re ranked for a reason and it’s another good test for us," Eaves said.</p>
<p>If Wisconsin is going to pull off another upset, it will likely have to do so without top line center sophomore Cameron Hughes. The Edmonton, Alberta native is considered day-to-day with a shoulder injury sustained during the North Dakota series, and is doubtful for this weekend. Hughes has been centering a line with junior forward <span>Grant Besse</span> and freshman forward Luke Kunin which has 17 points in the last six games, including a goal and four points for Hughes.</p>
<p>Losing your top center is never easy, but Eaves said the Badgers' new-found plethora of options down the middle should help soften the blow. In addition to sophomores Adam Rockwood and Ryan Wagner, both Besse and Kunin are capable of filling a top six center role.</p>
<p>"Our depth really helps there," Eaves said. "Nobody is going to replace Cameron, but we have options that are better than what we've had in the past."</p>
<p>Even with Hughes, the task at hand would be daunting. The Badgers improving defense is charged with slowing down a Denver offense that has scored three more goals in nine of 10 games this season and is among the 10 best possession teams in the country.</p>
<p>Through 10 games, Wisconsin is allowing 2.8 goals against per game, which is down from 3.33 at the same point a season ago—a drastic improvement Eaves credits to the new scheme his first year staff has brought in.</p>
<p>"It took time, but I think we’re seeing good things," Eaves said. "It’s one of the reasons we’re having a little more success now, because we’re playing better without the puck in our own zone."</p>
<p><b>Celebrating the "Backdoor Badgers" </b></p>
<p>Wisconsin will honor its 1981 national title team on Saturday night. The team will reunited and be recognized with a special video and introduction during the first intermission.</p>
<p>The 1981 team was the program's third national champion and earned the "Backdoor Badgers" nickname by grabbing an at-large bid to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness" class="sbn-auto-link">NCAA Tournament</a> after losing in the WCHA playoffs. They went on to win the national title as a No. 4 seed, which made them the lowest-seeded team ever to do so. The Badgers defeated all three Div. I conference champions to claim the title, including rival Minnesota, 6-3, in the championship.</p>
<p>Considering the unique set of circumstances, it is unlikely college hockey will ever see another team like the 1981 Badgers.</p>
<p>"I'm sure after that there will be no more of that," Eaves said of the team's NCAA bid. "It's over your body of work now. And I get that will never happen again, but they've got that label and they will hold on to it for the rest of their days."</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2015/11/16/9746288/badger-bits-wisconsin-welcomes-former-wcha-foe-to-madisonRyan Evans2015-11-09T11:50:46-08:002015-11-09T11:50:46-08:00Badger Bits: Wisconsin Shocks No. 1 North Dakota
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/yRRkacaSCDRFCisfp1SYdtRZi0s=/112x127:2986x2043/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47617315/GettyImages-480100325.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hannah Foslien/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Goaltender Matt Jurusik and the top line shined in the Badgers' split with top-ranked North Dakota.</p> <p>It had been almost six years since the Wisconsin men's hockey team won in Grand Forks. Few, if any, would have given his year's group a chance to end that drought—let alone do it against a No. 1-ranked North Dakota squad—and yet here we are.</p>
<p>The Badgers (3-4-3) engineered arguably college hockey's biggest upset of the season on Friday night, handing top-ranked UND its first loss of the season, 3-1, before settling for a series split.</p>
<p>"It gives us some juice," head coach Mike Eaves said. "To have that signature win really could be something special for this group as we move forward."</p>
<p>Freshman goaltender Matt Jurusik was certainly special versus UND. He was under constant siege, especially on Saturday, and stopped 64-of-68 shots (.941). The La Grange, Ill., native has settled into the starting role nicely since taking over during the Boston trip and boasts a .947 save percentage in his last five starts.</p>
<p>He wasn't the only rookie to step up, though. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2015/11/3/9664782/luke-kunin-leaving-wisconsin-for-ohl-sarnia-sting-jeremy-bracco-warren-foegele-ncaa-departures">After some mid-week hoopla</a>, not only was he still wearing a Wisconsin sweater, but freshman forward Luke Kunin notched the game-winning goal on Friday. The Badgers' top line is clicking right now, combining for four points (2+2) against UND. The trio of Kunin, sophomore forward Cameron Hughes and junior forward <span>Grant Besse</span> (who is riding a seven-game point streak) has amassed 17 points in six games since being put together prior to the Ferris State series.</p>
<p>While Eaves was "disappointed" with Saturday's 3-1 loss, the series was a big step forward for his young team. As Chris Dilks put it in this week's College Hockey Recap, Friday's win showed <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2015/11/9/9687648/college-hockey-recap-wisconsin-north-dakota-thatcher-demko-robert-mugabe">"there is at least hope for the occasional bit of joy if you're still following the Badgers at this point."</a></p>
<p>"This is fun, to be able to compete at a high level, and we're starting to get back to that level of play," Eaves said. "Our mission from a hockey standpoint is to play 'championship hockey' because if you do that, you get back to where you want to be."</p>
<p>"This weekend was a significant step for us in getting back to that level of playing championship hockey," he added. "Now we have to do that game in, game out so we can be where we want to be at the end of the year."</p>
<p>Now allow me to rain on the parade a little bit. Friday's win is a great building block, but until Wisconsin's possession improves wins against good teams will still feel like miracles. Their team Corsi-for (49.8 percent) is much-improved this year, but that number dips dramatically when they aren't beating up on the Arizona States of the world. North Dakota almost doubled UW up on shot attempts, 146-74 (33.6 percent), this weekend, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2015/10/19/9567283/badger-bits-wisconsin-humbled-in-boston-jurusik-flashes-potential">which continued the trend Boston College and Boston University started a few weeks ago</a>.</p>
<p>Wisconsin has a Corsi-for of 35.2 percent in four games against top-20-ranked teams this season,</p>
<p>Overall, though, the Badgers' possession stats are reason for optimism. This team is getting better and is playing well against the teams it should be—evidenced by its 58.1 percent Corsi-for in games against Northern Michigan, Ferris State, and Arizona State. If that keeps up, more wins should follow as the team learns how to turn solid efforts into victories.</p>
<p>Let's put that sentiment through the <i>Mike Eaves Metaphor Generator </i>(patent pending):</p>
<p>"This group of loose carbons maybe is coming into a diamond a little bit with a little bit more time here," he said.</p>
<p>-----</p>
<p><b style="font-style: italic;">Up Next: </b><i>Bye Week</i></p>
<p>Wisconsin is off this weekend. The Badgers return to face former WCHA foe Denver, Nov. 20-21, at the Kohl Center. The Pioneers (5-3-0) are currently ranked No. 8 in the country.</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2015/11/9/9696758/badger-bits-wisconsin-gets-signature-win-over-no-1-north-dakotaRyan Evans2015-11-02T14:00:02-08:002015-11-02T14:00:02-08:00Badger Bits: Wisconsin's Confidence Building
<figure>
<img alt="Wisconsin earned its first two wins of the season with a sweep of Div. I newcomer Arizona State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2Kb9yOuphlFf5Z5bA39_9xrGCew=/0x532:2448x2164/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47568453/IMG_0603.0.0.JPG" />
<figcaption>Wisconsin earned its first two wins of the season with a sweep of Div. I newcomer Arizona State | (Photo: Ryan Evans)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Badgers renewed belief will immediately be put to the test on the road against No. 1-ranked North Dakota this weekend.</p> <p>Through the first few weeks of this season, there have been encouraging moments for the Wisconsin men's hockey team, but they had yet to show up in the win column. That changed this weekend as the Badgers (2-3-3) got their first two victories of the season in a sweep of Div. I newcomer Arizona State.</p>
<p>The level of opposition has to be taken into consideration (and if anything, this weekend shows how far the Sun Devils have to go in their transition), but to have the results of its hard work finally pay off is a nice boost for this young Wisconsin team to build on.</p>
<p>"You get a level of confidence in practice—you go out, you work hard, you feel good about the way you work, you do things the way you want them—but that confidence gets solidified when you finally do it in a game," head coach Mike Eaves said. "So, our confidence level will rise because of this."</p>
<p>The two games did not have much in common. The Badgers' offense exploded on Friday night, out-shooting the Sun Devils by a 56-19 margin and tying a season high with five goals, including two from sophomore forward Ryan Wagner. It was Wisconsin's first game with 50-plus shots since the 2013-14 season and is quite the turn around after being out-shot, 71-38, by Boston College and Boston University just two weeks ago.</p>
<p>"We did an awful lot of good things," Eaves said. "There are a lot of things to build on. These are lessons that become valuable as you move down the season."</p>
<p>Scoring was harder to come by in the finale, requiring freshman goaltender Matt Jurusik to play hero. He embraced that role, stopping 25 of 26 shots in the 2-1 win and was at his best when it mattered most—turning away 16 shots in the third period as Arizona State applied relentless pressure.</p>
<p>"For him, that's a real confidence booster," Eaves said of Jurusik's performance. "We had to lean on him. As a result, he preserved the win for us."</p>
<p>UW's special teams shined in the series, combining for a 122 percent effective rate (anything over 100 is good). They now boast a top-15 power play at 24.1 percent and have killed off 84.4 percent of opponent's chances on the season. Both are vast improvements over last year, when their combined special teams was a dismal 86 percent.</p>
<p><span>"The man-advantage has been pretty good for us all season," Eaves said. "We're creating chances, we're entering the zone well, we're recovering pucks, and...it's good to have that thing going." </span></p>
<p><span>"On the other side of the coin, the penalty killers have been doing a good job, so our special teams have been a bright thing for us along the way here."</span></p>
<p>-----</p>
<p><i><b>Up next: </b>Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7 at No. 1 North Dakota (6-0-2)</i></p>
<p>Wisconsin's new-found confidence will be put to the test right away on the road against the top ranked team in the country.</p>
<p>This is the Badgers' first trip to Grand Forks in two years as they renew a rivalry with UND that was washed away with the advent of the Big Ten hockey conference. Wisconsin and North Dakota met last year at the Kohl Center—a two-game sweep for the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/3868580-updated-und-nickname-options-narrowed-3-runoff-vote">soon-to-be Fighting Hawks, Roughriders or NoDaks</a>.</p>
<p>The Badgers are winless (0-6-1) in their last seven meetings with North Dakoa, including a loss in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament, and haven't won at Ralph Engelstad Arena since the 2009-10 season.</p>
<p>It will be a tough test for Wisconsin's young group, many of whom are making their first trip to Grand Forks.</p>
<p>"I don't think you can tell them, or show them in video, and capture the environment that they're going into," Eaves said. "I like going there, and we like going there as a coaching staff, because we're going to find out a lot about our young team."</p>
<p>North Dakota is unbeaten this season and is coming off a sweep of Colorado College.</p>
<p>"We're going to have to play a very clean game," Eaves said. "There is an air of excitement about having this challenge."</p>
<p>"These games, no matter what happens, are going to make us better at the end of the year, because of who we are playing."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_G-FTg419NM" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2015/11/2/9658344/badger-bits-wisconsin-earns-confidence-building-sweep-of-arizona-state-hockeyRyan Evans2015-10-26T14:52:42-07:002015-10-26T14:52:42-07:00Badger Bits: Wisconsin remains winless
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rxl2oTekkEmh429_A0zsJi17J40=/83x471:2651x2183/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47522807/GettyImages-480100321.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hannah Foslien/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Head coach Mike Eaves likes the growth he is seeing from his young team, especially on offense.</p> <p>Wisconsin's resiliency was not enough to get it into the win column against Ferris State, as the Badgers men's hockey team (0-3-3) remained winless on the season after a tie, 5-5, and loss, 2-1, in Big Rapids, Mich., over the weekend.</p>
<p>The team's never-say-die attitude has emerged as a theme in the early weeks of the season. Wisconsin got a last-minute equalizer from sophomore defenseman Tim Davison and then gave the Bulldogs all they could handle in a hard-fought loss in the series finale.</p>
<p>"It speaks to the character of this group," head coach Mike Eaves said. "They're young kids and they don't give up."</p>
<p>The next step for these young Badgers will be to turn those positive showings into victories.</p>
<p>Despite being out-shot, 71-58, they had their chances to seize the momentum in both games, but were not able to capture it—coughing up a 4-2 third period lead in the opener and conceding the game-wining goal on Saturday just moments after freshman forward Luke Kunin had tied the score.</p>
<p>Putting games away is something young teams have to learn, but Eaves is encouraged by the growth his group is showing and the chances it is creating, even if the Badgers haven't yet reaped the rewards of those efforts.</p>
<p>"We are a faster team and we have a higher level of skill compared to last year," Eaves said</p>
<p>"If we're getting the chances, the goals will come," he added. "When you're getting those chances, that's what you're looking for for the big picture. Those chances will start going in and we'll get those wins that we're looking for."</p>
<p>Freshman goaltender Matt Jurusik, who started back-to-back games for the first time in his career, had his fair share of rookie moments, but put together a solid weekend overall. He finished with a .901 save percentage and turned away 37 of 39 (.949) shots on Saturday night, including a couple of breakaways and other big stops that kept Wisconsin in the game.</p>
<p>"There were plays that he'd like to have back," Eaves said of Jurusik, "but, overall, for being a freshman, he played outstanding at times. We need to build on those moments."</p>
<p>-----</p>
<p><i><b>Up next: </b>Friday, Oct.30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, vs. Arizona State (1-4-0)</i></p>
<p>The Sun Devils, who are in the first season as a Div. I program, visit the Kohl Center this weekend as the Badgers seek their first win of the season. Arizona State is playing a mixed schedule schedule as it makes the transition from club to Div. I, and already has one win over a Div. I opponent to its name—a 2-1 triumph over Alaska on Oct. 10.</p>
<p>"They're an older team and they're a gritty team," Eaves said. "They'll work their fannies off."</p>
<p>The NHL's expansion to the west coast helped plant the seeds of hockey's growth in the desert and Eaves sees the potential for further development now that the AHL has moved some of its franchises to the area. The influx of hockey to that part of the country helped make ASU hockey a reality and now that the Sun Devils have gotten college hockey's foot in the door, Eaves believes others might soon follow.</p>
<p>"It's a door that could swing open here," he said. "It will elevate the interest in the game and that could be another catalyst for colleges looking at it. People are going to talk about it more because there's hockey out there."</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2015/10/26/9616016/badger-bits-offense-shows-up-but-wisconsin-remains-winlessRyan Evans2015-10-19T13:00:02-07:002015-10-19T13:00:02-07:00Badger Bits: Wisconsin Humbled in Boston
<figure>
<img alt="Much like the 2010 national title game, this weekend didn't go well for the Badgers against Boston College." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/U1aVS29Na0dBZWnu-PcW0-Q2AJU=/0x30:3000x2030/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47464900/GettyImages-98383860.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Much like the 2010 national title game, this weekend didn't go well for the Badgers against Boston College. | Gregory Shamus/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Badgers fell flat on their east coast swing, showing they still have a long way to go to reach respectability.</p> <p>It did not take long for the Wisconsin men's hockey team (0-2-2) to show it was not up to its task this past weekend. No. 4 Boston College scored 12 seconds into Friday's game and things never improved for the Badgers after that as the Eagles and No. 6 Boston University rolled over UW by a combined score of 10-1.</p>
<p>An inability to create, or prevent, chances doesn't bode well in hockey—or any sport, for that matter—so Wisconsin's struggles shouldn't come as a surprise. The Badgers managed only 37 total shots on goal in the two games and limped to a minus-34 shot differential, including being out-shot, 44-18, in Saturday's 4-1 loss to the Terriers.</p>
<p>Through the first four games of the season, UW's total shot attempts for percentage ranks No. 31 in the country at a meager 47.9 percent (222 shot attempts for versus 241 shot attempts against). That percentage doesn't improve much at even strength (48.9 percent) or on the power play (48.0 percent). For comparisons sake, if this were the NHL, that would put Wisconsin in the company of last year's <a href="https://www.coppernblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Edmonton Oilers</a> (48.1 percent). <span>Connor McDavid</span> won't be coming to help turn things around in Madison, though.</p>
<p>SB Nation's Boston College blog, BC Interruption, perhaps <a href="http://www.bcinterruption.com/boston-college-hockey-2015-2016-season/2015/10/19/9566567/boston-college-hockey-6-wisconsin-0-6-things-we-learned-this-weekend" target="_blank">best summed up the Badgers' offensive struggles in its post-game analysis</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>1. Wisconsin is still a bad hockey team.</b> I hate to start these observations by dumping on anyone, but it's pretty clear that Mike Eaves' team is in trouble again this season, and analysis of BC's performance on Friday night should be tempered by who the opponent was. Wisconsin only managed to test <span>Thatcher Demko</span> with two shots on goal from the slot for the entire game. They looked slow, lethargic, and devoid of ideas, and neither goaltender played particularly inspiring hockey. One night after losing to BC, they got outshot 44-18 by BU in a 4-1 loss. It's hard to believe a six-time national championship program is in such dire straits, but they are.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Despite issues everywhere else, freshman goaltender Matt Jurusik showed he has the potential to be Wisconsin's go-to guy between the pipes moving forward. After relieving senior Adam Miller early on in Friday night's 6-0 drubbing against Boston College, Jurusik did all he could to keep Wisconsin afloat. The rookie netminder faced a barrage of pucks and stopped 59 of the 67 shots he faced, including a 40-of-44 (.909) performance against Boston University.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"I think his teammates looked at [Jurusik] tonight with a whole new appreciation because he stepped up to the plate," head coach Mike Eaves told <a target="_blank" href="http://www.uwbadgers.com/news/2015/10/17/MHOCKEY_1017151131.aspx?path=mhockey">UWBadgers.com</a> after Saturday's game. "And that's a good sign for us because one of the questions we need to answer is who's going to be our starting goalie."</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Eaves said Jurusik's performances solidified his hold on the starting position and he will get the nod this Friday against Ferris State.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Despite taking it on the chin in Boston, Eaves believes his team is showing signs of improvement, overall, and pointed to the penalty kill as one cause for optimism. Wisconsin went 11-for-13 (84.6 percent) against the man advantage and has killed 83.3 percent of chances this season. While four games is a small sample size, the improvement over last season's putrid 74.4 percent mark is encouraging.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"I thought our guys did a really good job," Eaves said of the penalty kill. "You can see that what (assistant coach Luke Strand) is trying to have them do, they are starting to do now. It's a backhanded thing, but the blessing of having all those penalty kills is we get to work on them live in game situations, which is the best teacher."</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">"We did a lot of good things there."</p>
<p>-----</p>
<p><i><b>Up next: </b>Friday,<b> </b>Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24, at Ferris State (1-2-1)</i></p>
<p>Wisconsin heads back on the road this weekend for a two-game non-conference set against Ferris State. This is the second straight year the Badgers and Bulldogs have met and last year's series at the Kohl Center was one of the only highlights in UW's otherwise dismal 2014-15 campaign.</p>
<p>UW went unbeaten against Ferris State, skating to a 1-1 tie and scoring a season-high five goals in a 5-3 win. Junior forward <span>Grant Besse</span> had two goals in that series and sophomore defensemen Tim Davison and Jake Linhart had two points apiece.</p>
<p>Like the Badgers, the Bulldogs struggle offensively and have averaged under two goals a game through four contests this season. The strength of their team is a veteran-laden defensive core that ranked among the best in the country a season ago.</p>
<p>"I'm glad we're going on the road again," Eaves said. "It's harder to win on the road and it forces your focus to become greater on the things you have to do. You can play a simpler game."</p>
<p>"We're going to a rink that is really small," he added of Ferris State's Ewigleben Arena. "It will tough to go in there and win. If we can learn to play in that environment, we can play in any environment."</p>
<p>Ferris State is coming off a split with Michigan Tech.</p>
<p>Puck drop for both Friday and Saturday's games against Ferris State is 6 p.m. (CT).</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2015/10/19/9567283/badger-bits-wisconsin-humbled-in-boston-jurusik-flashes-potentialRyan Evans2015-10-12T16:00:59-07:002015-10-12T16:00:59-07:00Wisconsin shows its mettle vs. Northern Michigan
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-J9DWNCS6NWoTSdtGmvtB4mCbKI=/0x700:1676x1817/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47396994/GettyImages-482741299.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hannah Foslien/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Luke Kunin and the power play impressed in the Badgers pair of ties against the Wildcats.</p> <p>They may not have put one into the win column, but there was a lot to like about the Badgers men's hockey team's opening weekend series against Northern Michigan. Wisconsin showed impressive resilience, battling back from two third period deficits to earn a pair of ties against the Wildcats, 2-2 on Friday and 3-3 on Saturday.</p>
<p>UW went unbeaten in a series only once last season and scored five or more goals just twice.</p>
<p>"We're just taking the positive that we didn't lose," freshman forward Luke Kunin said. "I think it's a step in the right direction. We're just going to go into next weekend and try to win those two."</p>
<p>Wisconsin came back from third period deficits of 2-1 and 3-0 on Friday and Saturday, respectively, and the power play was a key factor. The Badgers went 3-for-10 with the man advantage, including Kunin's game-tying goal on Saturday to cap the three-goal comeback.</p>
<p>"It was really fun to see this early in the season how poised and confident and disciplined the power play was," head coach Mike Eaves said. "They went out there and executed it very well."</p>
<p>Kunin's goal was the big moment, but the USNTDP product impressed, overall, in his collegiate debut. Eaves said he "sure doesn't play like a freshman," which he credited to Kunin's work ethic off the ice.</p>
<p>"The way he goes about his business is very mature," Eaves said. "He can be a difference maker. He has a unique and powerful shot and a shooter's mentality and a scorer's mentality. He brings a lot to our team."</p>
<p>Opening weekend also provided the first look at the Badgers' goaltending situation. Senior Adam Miller and freshman Matt Jurusik split time, with Miller getting the start in the opener and Jurusik in the finale. Miller turned away 30 of 32 shots, while Jurusik had a shaky start (to be expected of a freshman in his first career start), but rebounded and looked better as the game went on, finishing with 22 saves on 25 shots.</p>
<p>"In the first period, both were nervous," Eaves said. "As the games went on, both made excellent saves. They both got comfortable the more they played."</p>
<p>-----</p>
<p><i><b>Up Next: </b>Friday, Oct. 16, at No. 4 Boston College (6 p.m., CT); Saturday, Oct. 17, at No. 6 Boston University (6 p.m., CT)</i></p>
<p>Any bit of increased confidence is important for Wisconsin heading into next weekend's trip to Boston. The Badgers will face a stern early season test against a pair of top-10-ranked teams in Boston University and Boston College--teams they are a combined 0-3-1 against over the past two seasons.</p>
<p>"We're going where the fire is a little hotter," Eaves said. "The teams there have a little more firepower and we'll find out how we handle that. There will be a lot to learn on this trip."</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2015/10/12/9506743/badger-bits-wisconsin-shows-its-mettle-against-northern-michiganRyan Evans2015-10-05T13:53:30-07:002015-10-05T13:53:30-07:00Badger Bits: Wisconsin Opens vs. Northern Michigan
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HsQPLo46jiz0p4pc0i6i9VApKVI=/80x250:2651x1964/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47337732/GettyImages-480106911.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Hannah Foslien/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>With 23 underclassmen on the roster, there are plenty of questions the Badgers still need to answer.</p> <p>After an offseason of change that saw two new assistant coaches, a new Director of Hockey Operations, and 10 new freshmen join the program, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team is ready to begin anew and try to put the bitter memories from last season’s four-win campaign behind it.</p>
<p>That journey begins this weekend when the Badgers host Northern Michigan at the Kohl Center for a two-game set to open the season.</p>
<p>"We don’t talk about (last season)," head coach Mike Eaves said. "The focus is on what we’re doing this year and the types of things we want to put into place, systems-wise."</p>
<p>Wisconsin comes into 2015-16 with a youth-laden roster that includes 23 underclassmen. As you would expect with an inexperienced group, there have been plenty of bumps in the road during preseason preparations, but Eaves sees plenty of potential—calling this year’s UW squad a "faster" team with "more depth of skill" compared to last season.</p>
<p>"There are moments of brilliance and moments where we hang our head a bit and say, ‘oh boy back to the drawing board,’" he said. "There are a lot of moving parts right now, but we do see those moments of brilliance and that’s a good thing."</p>
<p>One of the parts that needs to be solved is the Badgers' three-way goaltending battle between senior Adam Miller, redshirt freshman Gabe Grunwald, and freshman Matt Jurusik. The coaching staff said they have seen good things from all three and a decision on who starts against the Wildcats will be made after practice on Thursday.</p>
<p>"Like so many decisions that are made in sports or in life, you have to make a gut call," Eaves said.</p>
<p>It won’t matter much who is in goal, though, if the Badgers can’t find the back of the net. Wisconsin averaged under two goals per game (1.69) last season, but is hoping the addition of a pair of high-scoring freshmen will help in that category.</p>
<p>Rookie forwards Luke Kunin and Seamus Malone will be thrown into the fire and Eaves is hoping to see immediate contributions. Malone scored 55 goals and 131 points over a three-year career with the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, while Kunin is coming off a 37-goal, 56-point season with the U.S. National U-18 Team and U.S. National Team Development Program—which included games against NCAA competition.</p>
<p>Kunin also played in the 2015 USA Hockey All-American Prospects game, registering two goals and an assist.</p>
<p>"Those two young men come in with a history of (scoring)," Eaves said of Kunin and Malone. "Both guys have offensive flair, they’re gritty, and they do a lot of good things. We’re hoping they can step in right away."</p>
<p>The Badgers have faced Northern Michigan in non-conference play each of the last four seasons and are 3-5-0 in those contests. The Wildcats swept Wisconsin, winning 2-0 and 4-1, in Green Bay, Wis., last year.</p>
<p>The puck drops on UW’s 2015-16 season this Friday and Saturday. Both games start at 7 p.m. (CT).</p>
<p><b>UPDATE (Oct. 8): </b>Andy Baggot of UWBadgers.com has the Badgers' forward lines for this weekend's series:</p>
<p>Besse - Malone - Rockwood</p>
<p>Kunin - Hughes - Soleway</p>
<p>Freytag - Wagner - Ford</p>
<p>Cavallini - Ustaski - McGuire</p>
<p>Wisconsin also announced that Miller will start in goal on Friday night.</p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/big-ten/2015/10/5/9455009/wisconsin-weekly-badgers-open-season-against-northern-michiganRyan Evans2015-08-12T10:47:17-07:002015-08-12T10:47:17-07:00Badgers sign six to NLIs for 2015-16
<figure>
<img alt="Mike Eaves called the decision to carry 28 players on the roster this season a "different type of philosophy."" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vf5LlnJqaJyO1OXpThhdKt90b2M=/0x0:4077x2718/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46948496/GettyImages-482001841.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mike Eaves called the decision to carry 28 players on the roster this season a "different type of philosophy." | Hannah Foslien/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Wisconsin will carry 28 players on its roster this season after a summer that saw it lose a number of key players.</p> <p>After a summer of bleeding players, the Wisconsin men's hockey team announced the signing of six players to National Letters of Intent for the 2015-16 season on Wednesday.</p>
<p>Forwards Tanner Barnes (Eagan, Minn.), Will Johnson (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Zac Keryluk (Verona, Wis.), and Jarod Zirbel (Green Bay, Wis.), defenseman Patrick Sexton (Ottawa, Ontario), and goaltender Matt Jurusik (La Grange, Ill.) bring the Badgers' roster for next season to 28 players, something head coach Mike Eaves called a "different type of philosophy" born out of UW's disastrous 2014-15 campaign.</p>
<p>"That allows us, during the course of the week, to run a real high-tempo full scrimmage," Eaves said in the team's release on the decision to carry more players on the roster. "That will make it very competitive. The message being sent is that unless you are willing to do the things that we need to do in terms of hard, smart, and play as a team, then we are going to make changes in our lineup."</p>
<p>The Badgers will have to throw anything against the wall and see what sticks this season after taking hit after hit during the summer. Wisconsin suffered a pair of tough early departures in forward Morgan Zulinick and defenseman Jack Dougherty to personal reasons and an NHL contract, respectively. On top of that, highly-touted goalie recruit Luke Opilka -- who was tabbed to replace Joel Rumpel between the pipes -- opted to sign with the OHL's Kitchener Rangers shortly after being selected in the NHL Draft.</p>
<p>In to replace Opilka in this year's class is Jurusik, who played last year with the NAHL's Janesville Jets and led the league with 33 wins (including 29 in a row at one point), a 1.57 goals-against average, a .939 save percentage, and seven shutouts, and was named to the NAHL All-Rookie team. He also helped Team USA to a bronze medal at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup Tournament.</p>
<p>In the announcement, Eaves didn't shy away from why the addition of Jurusik was needed, but did say he feels lucky to have found a goalie of Jurisik's caliber this late in the recruiting process.</p>
<p>"When we talked to people when we needed to find a goaltender this summer, the name most people brought up was Matt Jurusik," Eaves said. "He is going to push for playing time."</p>
<p>Jurusik will compete with redshirt junior Adam Miller and redshirt freshman Gabe Grunwald -- who have a combined two games of college experience -- for time in Wisconsin's crease this fall.</p>
<p>Wednesday's six NLI signees join forwards Matthew Freytag, Luke Kunin, and Seamus Malone, and defensemen Matt Berkovitz and Peter Tischke in Wisconsin's 2015-16 recruiting class.</p>
<p><b>OTHER NOTES:</b></p>
<ul>
<li><span>Barnes is the younger brother of former Badger forward Tyler (2010-'14), who scored 107 points (45+62) over 152 games in his four-year career.</span></li>
<li><span>Despite an injury-shortened season, Johnson still ranked third among Madison Capitols scorers last season.</span></li>
<li><span>Keryluk is the son of former UW national champion Ken, who skated for the Badgers from 1978-82, scoring 65 points in 152 games.</span></li>
</ul>
<table cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>NAME</b></td>
<td><b>2014-15 TEAM</b></td>
<td><b>GP</b></td>
<td><b>G</b></td>
<td><b>A</b></td>
<td><b>P</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tanner Barnes</td>
<td>Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL)</td>
<td>60</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>31</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Will Johnson</td>
<td>Madison Capitols (USHL)</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>36</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Zac Keryluk</td>
<td>Jersey Hitmen / Rochester Jr. Americans (USPHL)</td>
<td>47</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Patrick Sexton</td>
<td>Penticon Vees (BCHL)</td>
<td>45</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jarod Zirbel</td>
<td>Madison Capitols (USHL)</td>
<td>51</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table cellspacing="5" cellpadding="5" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>NAME</b></td>
<td><b>2014-15 Team</b></td>
<td><b>GP</b></td>
<td><b>W</b></td>
<td><b>GAA</b></td>
<td><b>SV%</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Matt Jurusik</td>
<td>Janesville Jets (NAHL)</td>
<td>40</td>
<td>33</td>
<td>1.57</td>
<td>0.939</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2015/8/12/9142365/badgers-hockey-wisconsin-inks-six-for-2015-16Ryan Evans2014-04-02T11:45:41-07:002014-04-02T11:45:41-07:00Jake McCabe Signs with Buffalo
<figure>
<img alt="McCabe(left) at the inaugural Big Ten tournament" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OgvEDgEGuz8B9kpBTPG3FOQvmWk=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/31046187/480106907.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>McCabe(left) at the inaugural Big Ten tournament | Hannah Foslien</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Badgers' blueliner will make his NHL debut later this week and has the polish to make an immediate impact.</p> <p>Wisconsin suffered its first early departure of the offseason Wednesday as junior defenseman <span>Jake McCabe</span> inked a three-year entry level deal with the Buffalo <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.diebytheblade.com/">Sabres</a>, forgoing his senior year with the Badgers.</p>
<p>Buffalo GM Tim Murray hinted that a deal was close during a radio interview prior to the Sabres game versus New Jersey last night, but, perhaps more interestingly, said that McCabe will likely report directly to Buffalo, rather than its AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" class="twitter-tweet">
<p>GM Tim Murray says on WGR that Jake McCabe is close to signing and likely would report to Sabres, not Amerks.</p>
— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) <a href="https://twitter.com/BuffNewsVogl/statuses/451114203898982400">April 1, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align: left;">
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
Given the Sabres’ current position in the standings, it’s not hard to see why they’d want to give the Eau Claire, Wis., native a look. Since he was drafted the in the second round in 2012, McCabe has been viewed as a vital piece to the Sabres rebuild. Those expectations only increased when he captained Team USA to a Gold Medal in the 2013 IIHF World Juniors Tournament. McCabe was named to the All-Tournament team after recording three goals, six points and a team-high plus-nine rating in seven games.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">McCabe, a First-Team All-Big Ten selection this season, has made great strides in his development throughout his college career. His defensive game has always been his strongest attribute. McCabe is rock solid in his own zone and possesses a great hockey mind and anticipate plays and reads and reacts well to whatever is in front of him. He’s also a very fluid skater that moves well with the puck and played well in all situations for the Badgers.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">One area improvement as McCabe moves to the NHL level is his decision-making with the puck. Wisconsin fans saw this in the team’s 5-2 loss to North Dakota in the first round of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/march-madness">NCAA Tournament</a> when a McCabe turnover led to big goal for UND’s Rocco Grimaldi. However, that aspect of his game should come with time as he continues to develop, especially now that he’ll be facing NHL competition right away.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">This season with the Badgers McCabe’s two-way play came a long way. Badger fans knew he had offensive potential from the blue line and he really broke through this year. He doubled his previous career-high in goals with eight tallies to go along with 17 assists and a career-best 25 points, which was good for fifth-best on the team. Overall, he had 14 goals and 58 points in 100 career games. <br><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/iWQg3EqTg2E" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">McCabe was set to be a leader, maybe the captain, for Wisconsin next season –– which reportedly gave him hesitation about leaving early – but he has the polish and ability to make an impact in Buffalo sooner rather than later.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We had McCabe ranked as the 7th best NHL prospect in our <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" target="_blank" href="http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014/3/3/5393080/ncaa-top-100-nhl-prospects-1-20-free-agent-nhl-draft">Top 100 NHL Prospects in the NCAA</a> this year. Here's what we wrote about McCabe:</p>
<blockquote>
<p id="paragraph22" class="pgh-paragraph" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 1em; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 24px; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">7. Jake McCabe, Defense, Wisconsin (Buffalo Sabres)</b></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.15; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"> </p>
<p dir="ltr" id="paragraph24" class="pgh-paragraph" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; line-height: 1.15; color: #292929; font-size: 16px;"><span>McCabe was one of the stars of the 2013 gold medal-winning US World Junior team, where his steady play and leadership helped lead the US through the medal round. McCabe doesn’t project as a huge offensive contributor at the NHL level, but he should be a steady, reliable player that can eat a lot of minutes with good, honest defensive play.</span></p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/wisconsin-badgers-mens-hockey/2014/4/2/5569320/jake-mccabe-buffalo-sabres-early-departure-wisconsin-hockey-nhl" target="_blank">SB Nation's Andy Johnson reports</a> that McCabe received the maximum rookie contract of $925,000 per year, and that he will make his NHL debut with the Sabres on Thursday against St. Louis, which will allow McCabe to burn the first year of his entry-level contract this season.</p>
<p><i>Chris Dilks contributed to this report.</i></p>
https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014/4/2/5575028/buffalo-sabres-sign-wisconsins-jake-mccabeRyan Evans