The Wisconsin men’s hockey team takes on rival Minnesota this weekend at the Kohl Center, and the home ice will be a welcoming sight for the Badgers.
“It’ll be great,” sophomore defenseman Jamie McBain said. “It’ll be nice having everyone at home with the fans.”
It has almost been two months since McBain, along with sophomore forward Blake Geoffrion and freshman forward Kyle Turris, have skated in the Kohl Center. All three went overseas to play in the IIHF World Junior Championships, and missed both the Badger Hockey Showdown and a series at home against Colorado College over Winter Break.
Wisconsin has had its full roster the last two weekends and has seen a definite change in the team’s success, including a win and a tie at Alaska Anchorage last weekend.
“Getting those points were huge, especially since we haven’t done as well on the road as we have wanted to this year,” senior forward Matthew Ford said.
After starting 0-4-2 on the road this season, the Badgers have gone 2-1-1 over the last two weekends, with the one loss coming to Denver after a highly controversial call. UW plans to continue its newfound success against Minnesota this weekend.
“We are coming off of two great weekends on the road and now will be back at home and hopefully get a little more momentum going,” McBain said. “I think there is a lot of room for growth right now but we are all clicking and looking pretty good and can hopefully continue our road success at home.”
Returning home to play the Gophers could not have come at a better time for Wisconsin. The Badgers have scored 13 goals in their last three games, and seem to be playing at a more consistent level defensively.
Minnesota, on the other hand, is in the midst of a goalie controversy. After starting the season with junior Jeff Frazee, Minnesota head coach Don Lucia has gone with freshman Alex Kanges the last two games, feeling that Kanges is playing at a higher level.
The Gophers are 1-1-2 over the last two weekends and are having trouble closing teams out. The midseason departure of Kyle Okposo to the NHL hasn’t helped the Gophers’ situation, with the team now relying on junior forward Blake Wheeler (12 goals, 11 assists) and senior forward Ben Gordon (8, 12) for a bulk of their offense.
Wisconsin will counter Wheeler and Gordon with a balanced attack, led by Turris and junior forward Ben Street. Turris (9, 15) is averaging 1.2 points per game, and has returned from winning the gold with Canada at the World Juniors with a new sense of confidence. Street (10, 13) has been the consistent veteran all season, but played especially well during Winter Break, recording three points during the four game span.
Junior Shane Connelly will hope to continue his productive play in front of the net. The goaltender made some key saves last weekend against the Seawolves.
But in the end this weekend’s series against Minnesota is about more than just points and hockey, as two states collide head-to-head in one of the oldest rivalries in collegiate sports.
“I’ve asked some of the guys if it is going to be different in the Kohl Center and they say absolutely,” freshman defenseman Ryan McDonough said. “There isn’t going to be a seat empty and it is going to be a little bit louder. Guys said that last year they couldn’t even hear themselves talk on the bench.”
The puck drops both at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with Friday’s game televised on MyMadison TV and Saturday’s match on FSN North.
