As the Wisconsin men's hockey team prepares to kick off its season this weekend, you can't help but experience a bit of déjà vu.
The Badgers will take on Northern Michigan this weekend to kick off their 2011-12 season, a season that the team hopes will erase disappointing memories from a year ago. But to do so, the team will have to answer many of the same questions from last season.
Much like Wisconsin's 2010-11 team, this year's group experienced heavy losses during the offseason, as three of its top five scorers—defenseman Jake Gardiner and forwards Craig Smith and Jordy Murray—all left the program early to pursue their professional careers. Those departures again leave the Badgers relying on a young, inexperienced roster to start the season – 20 of the 26 players on UW's roster are either freshman or sophomores, and the team boasts only a single senior, defenseman Eric Springer.
That means players like sophomore forward Mark Zengerle—one of the younger guys last year—are suddenly being counted on to lead and produce on the ice.
""I'm looking forward to having more of a role,"" Zengerle said. ""I think I'm the fourth oldest guy on the team and I'm only a sophomore. Coach [Mike Eaves] has been using me in a lot more situations and allowing me to go out there and do more things on the ice.""
Zengerle will lead a Wisconsin offense this season littered with freshman, but he said that he has been impressed with the young forwards so far, specifically pointing out Brad Navin and Joseph LaBate as guys to watch.
""They're young but they have shown a lot of promise,"" he said. ""They're going to be really good.""
Zengerle is transitioning to center, his natural position, this season. He led the team a season ago with 31 assists and will be counted on to provide more offense and improve upon his five goals from last year.
Zengerle is shy with his shot at times, and is being encouraged to fire on goal more often. For UW head coach Mike Eaves', that means pushups for Zengerle when Eaves feels he passes up a shot.
""It's his way of encouraging me to shoot the puck,"" Zengerle said laughing.
The Badgers primary concern heading into this season is goaltending. Wisconsin is relying on two freshman goalies, Joel Rumpel and Landon Peterson, and junior, Mitch Thompson (none of which have played a collegiate hockey game) to shoulder the load between the pipes this season.
While a trio of goalies with no experience at the division one level might seem like a glaring weakness, the Badgers are confident in their net minders.
""It's natural for [goaltending] to be a concern from an outsider's view,"" Zengerle said. ""We are confident in those guys. They are working hard and pushing each other, fighting for that job.""
The status of the starting job in the Badgers' net is still up in the air. UW head coach Mike Eaves said that he and his assistants used a tally system in practice this week and will meet to add up those tallies to determine the starting goalie for this weekend's games against Northern Michigan.
Luckily, the three goalies will be aided by a veteran Wisconsin defensive core that, in the early going, looks like it will be the backbone of this year's team.
""I think all three [defensive] pairings are solid,"" junior defenseman and team captain, John Ramage said. ""Our defense will be a strength of our team this year.""
""I think it's always our job to make it easier on the goalies,"" Ramage added. ""They've all been solid so far and this year we're going to have to focus more on our defensive play and really be confident with the puck.""
Overall, the Badgers are ready to erase the memory of last season's first round WCHA playoff loss to Colorado College and are raring for this season to get underway.
""[Last season] leaves a bitter taste in your mouth,"" Ramage said. ""We're eager to start the season off on the right foot.""
""Having a young team means we can only go up,"" he added. ""We have a very good starting base right now and I'm excited to see how we grow over the season.""
