Women’s Hockey
No. 2 Wisconsin (24-3-1 WCHA, 31-3-1 overall) defeated No. 13 Mercyhurst (14-3-3 College Hockey America 19-11-5 overall) 6-0 in the NCAA quarterfinal round Saturday and clinched a Frozen Four matchup with WCHA rival No. 3 Minnesota (24-3-1 WCHA, 33-4-1 overall).
Head coach Mark Johnson believes the pressure won’t affect his veteran team.
“Having been there and having had players that have been in this game last season, other than our three freshmen, I think everybody will be somewhat comfortable under the circumstances, but getting a chance to practice at the Kohl Center and playing a familiar opponent, you know, there is nothing really new other than the magnitude of the game,” Johnson said.
“So we will go about our week similar to going about our week for playing Minnesota either here or up in their building and do the things that put us in this position and not try to do things outside of that, make them aware of some things, and then it's going to come down to when they drop the puck, who can execute.”
With a matchup of two teams that know each other well, Johnson said UW needs to play to its strengths and execute.
“I think for both teams, you know, as we prepare for the game Friday night, what are our strengths and how can we play to those strengths and I'm sure they're probably doing the same kind of things? So you look at the matchup, how the game might transpire, and you have to play to your strengths right now. And I think for both teams, you know, confidence is probably at a pretty high level right now and so, you know, the first six, eight minutes of the game, there is probably going to be a lot of energy, a lot of excitement on both parts,” Johnson said.
“You know, whether we had won the last game or lost the last game, you know, I'm not sure if that plays into either team's advantage or disadvantage. It comes down to 60 minutes, it comes down to three periods, and I get back to who can execute. You know, you need to stay out of the penalty box and do a list of maybe four or five things, and if you're able to check those off at the end of the game, you've probably given yourself a pretty good chance to win.”
Johnson also endorsed junior goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens for the Patty Kazmaier Award as the top player in Division I women’s hockey.
“I think the numbers she has put up, the NCAA record, probably lot of people felt was one that may not be broken. She has gone beyond that, and she obviously has put our team in a position to play in the Frozen Four. We won our WCHA league title, we won our playoff title. Her resume is pretty impressive, as well as the other two individuals that are part of the equation,” Johnson said.
“We're excited for her. We're excited for the opportunity to play this weekend, and certainly as she'll attest to, she is very proud of the players that have played in front of her, because they certainly played a part in her records.”
The puck drops Friday night at 6 p.m. in Durham, N.H., with the winner playing for the national championship Sunday.
Men’s Hockey
Coming off a weekend series split with Minnesota (14-6-0 Big Ten, 19-16-0 overall), Wisconsin (3-13-4, 8-18-8) begins postseason play this week in the Big Ten Tournament against Penn State.
Head coach Mike Eaves hopes his team can continue its improved play from last weekend.
“We played some pretty good hockey. I think we got home about 2:30 in the morning the other day, and we met briefly. I mean, we had talked about playing our best hockey at the end of the year, and over the [course] of the last four games there is maybe one period that, you know, we were a little disappointed, but we're doing good things, and that's good,” Eaves said.
“That helps us now as we move forward. We will take the good things we did this past weekend and apply them to this weekend.”
Penn State (10-9-1, 20-12-4) is a familiar opponent and Eaves likes the matchup.
“We played them four times here in the new year. I think if you were to talk to the boys they would tell you that they feel they could have won all four. Last game we beat them. We know some of their tendencies, and it will be a matter of us executing to a higher level and continuing to have good goaltending and specialty teams, what it always comes down to in the playoffs, but I think we feel good knowing that we played them four times, and feeling like, you know, if we play the way we're capable, especially here in the last four games, then we can do some things,” Eaves said.
Eaves knows the Badgers will probably need to win out in order to continue on in the postseason, but there is an opportunity to do so.
“Our window of opportunity to get to the top of the mountain here is slimmer than other groups, and so we recognize that. We're not kidding ourselves. We have to play very well from the first game, but we play at 4:00 on Thursday, 4:00 on Friday and then Saturday is a 7:00 game, so we have a span to recover and, you know, it's one game at a time,” Eaves said.
“Because our sliver of opportunity is narrow we have to win one at a time, and if we can continue to play like we've done here and get better, then we give ourselves a chance. But we're be not kidding ourselves; we know that sliver is there.”
The puck drops in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday at 4 p.m.
Wrestling
Wisconsin (4-8) continues its preparation for the NCAA Championships in New York City Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Head coach Barry Davis is looking forward to watching his five wrestlers compete.
“I'm excited. Five guys going, we got two with experience. Obviously Zeke Jordan and Ryan Taylor were All-American's last year for us; they both took seventh. Ricky Robertson was around at 12. We've got two young guys, Ryan Christensen is a freshman, first time there, as well as Johnny Jimenez, his first time as well, too. I think Johnny is wrestling pretty well, right now. He's won nine of his last 12 matches, so we're training the right way. I'm excited about this weekend coming up,” Davis said.
Davis believes junior Isaac Jordan is peaking at the right time as the championships begin.
“I think he's on track right now. He peaked well at the Big Ten, and I think that's going to carry him into the NCAA Tournament. Obviously from last weekend there are some small things he has been working on, as far as position things, which are very important. Like we did the other day, we need to work on things now individual-wise, they have to make sure they're doing things right. For example, each guy has certain moves they hit, and right now we're making sure those guys are in those positions and making sure they get into those right positions, make sure they're tight for the NCAA Tournament,” Davis said.
