The Badger men's hockey team (3-2-3 Western Collegiate Hockey Association, 8-3-3 overall) head on the road again this weekend, this time going west to take on the Denver Pioneers (3-4-1, 9-4-1).
Both teams are coming off non-conference series sweeps last weekend and Wisconsin is currently riding the nation's longest unbeaten streak. Unbeaten in their last 10 games (7-0-3), they look to carry that momentum into another tough conference series away from home.
The Badgers find themselves ranked in the top 15 this week for the first time in two years. Both national polls have UW in the No. 11 spot after beating Michigan and Michigan State on the road last weekend. Gaining national recognition and being ranked nationally were two of the team's goals heading into the season and they have already accomplished them.
\It's a small accomplishment. It's a sign post, if you will, of where we've come,"" said Head Coach Mike Eaves. ""So we're pleased to see that, but we recognize what really matters is what happens at the end of the year and we know that we can play better, so we'll move forward to our next opportunity.""
""It's an opportunity for us to get back to the top of the league. This is just as big as last weekend and we need to come out with some points,"" said freshman forward Robbie Earl.
Denver comes in ranked No. 8 in the nation and two points behind Wisconsin in the WCHA standings. Much like the Badgers, the Pioneers have a strong goalie in net. Senior Adam Berkhoel is allowing less than 2.5 goals per game and has already notched three shutouts this season. Likewise, Badger senior goaltender Bernd Br??ckler has become a backbone to his team over the past few weeks and is arguably the biggest reason the Badgers are on their current streak.
""Bernd has played great and he'll always give us a chance to win and that's all we can ask from him,"" said freshman forward Mark Heatley. ""[Berkhoel] has been pretty solid so we are going to have to finish our chances.""
It will be a battle between former Badger players on the bench this weekend. Both Eaves and Denver coach George Gwozdecky played together for the Badgers in the mid-'70s. Gwozdecky got the better of Eaves last year, beating him all four times that the two teams squared off. In fact, the Pioneers have beaten Wisconsin eight straight times.
""George has done a heck of a job at the college level and he has a good team,"" Eaves said. ""We're going to go head-to-head with two good teams that are playing well at this time and I think people in college hockey will be watching that series closely.""
""They are definitely one of our rivals and we definitely want to beat them pretty bad,"" senior defenseman Andy Wozniewski said.
Among the many surprises of this year's Wisconsin team is Heatley. The brother of former Badger and NHL star Dany Heatley, Mark was a walk-on to the squad. He did not even know where he would end up playing this year but now finds himself in the lineup for most of the games on the hottest team in America.
""It is pretty rewarding to see that my work is paying off,"" Heatley said. ""I'm happy to be playing hockey with a great group of guys.""
Although goals have already been reached, this is just the beginning for this team. They are stressing that this is not good enough and they still have a ways to go. With UW on a hot streak and going up against another ranked opponent, this weekend is just another opportunity for improvement for the Badgers.
