The past few weekends haven't gone as planned for the Wisconsin men's hockey team (7-13-2 WCHA, 12-14-2 overall). The Badgers have dropped four straight games and as a result, find themselves well outside their goal of securing home ice advantage for the WCHA playoffs.
Wisconsin currently sits in 11th place in the WCHA, eight points off the pace of sixth-place North Dakota who holds the last home ice spot, with six games left in the regular season. At this point, even the most optimistic of Wisconsin fans recognize that home ice appears to be out of reach for the Badgers, but head coach Mike Eaves doesn't believe that will result in his young team just giving up.
"Our chances for home ice are slimmer now. We're going to need help if we're going to get some," Eaves said. "But at the same time, the quote that comes to mind is by Charles Swindoll, that 10 percent of life is what happened to us, and 90 percent is how we react to it. We have a choice now. We can just kind of roll over and play dead, but that's not human nature."
"This team is in the middle of growth, and because of that fact, are we going to quit growing, or are we going to continue to push and get better day by day and control what we can?" Eaves added. "Knowing these guys, and who they are, and what they're about and just human nature, I think that's the path that we're going to follow."
The Badgers return to action this weekend against No. 10 Denver (12-6-4, 17-9-4), who comes in hot after sweeping No. 7 Minnesota last weekend. Wisconsin enjoyed a bye week last weekend, and is hoping that the time off can serve as a spark for the team down the season's stretch run.
"Usually when you have a week off [the players] come in with a little more jump," Eaves said. "There'll be a little rust there today, but they'll have more jump, and we hope they'll use that jump to help us this weekend."
Wisconsin is hoping that its lineup will receive an added spark against the Pioneers in the form of junior forward Derek Lee. Eaves said that Lee, who has four goals and 11 points on the year, is probable for this weekend's series after missing the past three games due to a concussion. Lee is practicing this week, albeit without contact, but Eaves expects the North Vancouver, British Colombia native to be available this weekend.
Senior Night
The Badgers will celebrate Senior Night Saturday at the Kohl Center, but it might as well be called "Eric Springer Appreciation Night" this year, as the senior defenseman is the lone senior on Wisconsin's roster this season.
Some of Springer's personal career highlights have come this year. He scored his second career goal (and first since his freshman season) against Mercyhurst Nov. 26 and also collected career-high three points in that series. The native of Wrightstown, Wis. has recorded two goals and 10 points during his time on the Badgers blue line.
Eaves said he has watched Springer grow as both a player and a teammate during his time in Madison.
"I would think that he has grown and is comfortable in his shoes and in his role with his team right now," Eaves said of Springer. "I think when you're the only senior it's difficult, because there's a lot of responsibility there. When do you pipe up, I mean, with his role on the team and such?"
"There is a sense by the coaching staff that he's playing his best hockey now, because he's comfortable with his role. He understands what he needs to do to help his team," Eaves added.
