The Wisconsin men's hockey team began their season this weekend at the Ice Breaker Tournament in Madison. Led by new Head Coach Mike Eaves, the Badgers are learning a new system and adjusting to playing without several high-profile teammates who graduated last spring.
The 2002-'03 Badgers premiered Friday night against the Engineers of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The Badgers ignited the Kohl Center early as freshman defenseman Tom Gilbert scored only five minutes into the game. The lead was not to last, however, as Engineer junior defenseman Scott Basiuk assisted junior forward Mikael Hammarstrom on a textbook one-timer less than three minutes later to tie the game. With 7:35 left in the first period, RPI struck again after freshman defenseman Keith McWilliams' blocked shot was rebounded by junior forward Ben Barr for what would turn out to be the game-winning goal.
The second period went terribly for Wisconsin as RPI added another two goals. UW goalie sophomore Bernd Bruckler seemed intimidated and often overwhelmed, especially after RPI sophomore forward Nick Economakos skated a clear lane towards the net and scored.
RPI's fourth goal came from sophomore forward Vic Pereira, who took advantage of confusion around the net to score off of a pass from senior forward Nolan Graham.
The UW power play struggled all game and it was no help that RPI junior goalie Kevin Kurk was having a terrific game, aiding his team greatly on penalty kills. The Badger offense seemed lost all game and their best scoring opportunity after the first period was whistled dead due to offsides.
\I think we had good energy, we played hard and we had our chances,"" senior forward Erik Jensen said. ""We just didn't bury the puck tonight.""
Basiuk got his second point of the night with a furious slapshot that Bruckler never saw coming. The game would end with RPI defeating Wisconsin 5-1.
Eaves said, ""Its hard for these guys to go out in a game situation after a small learning process and implement some of the things we want done.""
The second round of the Ice Breaker Tournament saw a Badger team that barely resembled the one from the night before. Against Northern Michigan. A quick penalty by Badger freshman Adam Burish allowed a powerplay goal by Wildcat senior Bryce Cockburn.
UW wasted no time in scoring its own power play goal as freshman forward Ryan MacMurchy tied the game less than two minutes later. Cockburn scored his second goal towards the end of the first period by backhanding freshman defenseman Juha Alen's blocked shot into the net.
Whereas the Badgers could not muster a consistent powerplay offense Friday night, they did just the opposite Saturday. With 7:42 left in the second period Badger senior forward Brad Winchester took advantage of a rebound to score the Badgers' second powerplay goal. The game went to the third period with the score 2-2.
Determined not to let Wisconsin take its first lead of the game, Alen took a long-range shot that Badger senior goalie Scott Kabotoff inexplicably let by for a goal. The momentum, however, did not swing the Wildcats way. Northern Michigan got very few shots off as the Badgers dominated the time of possession. Wildcat junior goalie Craig Kowalski's excellent performance was the only saving grace for his team. Eventually, however, Kowalski got lost in the bevy of shots directed towards him and allowed Badger senior defenseman Mark Jackson to sniper a shot into the net and tie the game 3-3.
An energized Kohl Center then watched as sophomore forward Alex Leavitt picked up his third assist of the game by aiding senior Rene Bourque in gaining the Badgers their first lead of the game with 1:16 left. Leavitt said.
""I wrote 'game winner' on his stick in the intermission.""
Wisconsin held off the Northern Michigan threat in the final seconds to come away with a 4-3 victory.
The Badgers finish the weekend with a 1-1 record and third place finish in the tournament.
""Once we learn to automatically execute what we've been taught,"" Leavitt said, ""I think we're gonna be a very difficult team to play against.\
