The Wisconsin men's hockey team is preparing to start a new era. Head Coach Mike Eaves has replaced the team's previous coach, Jeff Sauer, after a 20-year tenure as the Badgers' head coach. Sauer took the Badgers to 12 NCAA playoffs, getting two NCAA titles, in addition to five Western Collegiate Hockey Association titles. Including Sauer, several key players from previous seasons have moved on, opening a void for the younger players.
One of those players is junior defenseman Dan Boeser. Entering this season Boeser did not miss a game in his two years for the Badgers. It has not been easy for the WCHA All-Star, however. A month ago he announced that he was diagnosed with follicular B-cell lymphoma, a non-Hodgkin's form of cancer. Boeser recently completed 20 sessions of radiation treatment. The Daily Cardinal caught up with Boeser after the team's first practice on the ice Tuesday.
How does the season look?
It's tough to tell right now. I mean, I haven't seen any of the other teams play. All I know is our team is in great shape right now. We're starting to implement all of our team systems right now, so far it's good.
How has the transition from Jeff Sauer to Mike Eaves been?
It's a change. It's more of a change for the older guys, the juniors and seniors, because we've been here two, three years under that system and a whole new system comes in. I don't want to say it's better or worse, but it's more intense. I think our team is in a lot better shape coming into this season.
How has the radiation therapy been going?
I finished up on my treatments last week. That was tough on my body'I'm just starting to end up getting into shape now.
How has the cancer reacted?
I won't find out how the radiation went until the end of November. I go in for another CAT scan and see how the radiation did.
Do you feel you'll be ready to play Oct. 11?
I'm pretty close. I'm about 60 to 70 percent right now and I got about a week and a half of practice everyday.
So you expect to play?
Yeah.
How has the rest of the team reacted to you and your situation?
They have been really supportive, actually. I tried to make it a point to get to all the workouts the team has been doing, all the runs, all the lifts and every practice. I tried to at least show up even if I [couldn't] do anything. But all the guys have been really supportive of me being here and what I went through.
