A week after earning the Big Ten Third Star of the Week for a three-goal weekend, senior defenseman Corbin McGuire has his sights set on replicating that performance.
This time, however, it would be a little sweeter, as he’d get to do it against his old hockey teammates now skating for Boston College.
“It’s always a game I circle on my calendar, just like the Minnesota guys circle the Minnesota series,” McGuire said. “Whenever Boston College is on our schedule, I was always look forward to it.”
The Ridgefield, Conn., native played with Boston College forwards Ryan Fitzgerald, Chris Calnan and Austin Cangelosi growing up. The four will have a reunion in Madison Friday night, something that McGuire is excited about. In fact, he said they are too good of friends for them to really engage in any trash-talking on the ice.
Instead, McGuire is hoping that they have an enjoyable weekend experiencing Madison and the atmosphere in the Kohl Center. Nonetheless, he and the rest of the Badgers are preparing for a high-intensity battle between two teams that play a fast game.
“Speed is their M.O. It’s gonna be a fun, entertaining game of up-and-down-the-ice hockey,” McGuire said.
Head coach Tony Granato echoed what McGuire said about Boston College’s fast-paced game and emphasized that his team must try to match the Eagles stride-for-stride.
“Goalie out, they’re as solid as anyone. They might be a little raw, but skill-wise and talent-wise they are as good as anybody,” Granato said. “We can’t sit back and watch them. We have a lot of offensive players that can hopefully give them fits.”
Part of hanging with the Eagles will come down to how the Badgers start. Last weekend against Northern Michigan, Wisconsin gave up a goal just 19 seconds into the game.
“We were a little nervous to start. We made a couple mistakes right out of the gate. Just a little fidgety,” Granato said.
The Badgers will need to avoid that to have a chance at taking down the No. 6 Eagles. But junior forward Cameron Hughes feels as though the first-game jitters have been shaken off.
“A lot of us have done it before. It’s more excitement than nervousness,” Hughes said. “To have the crowd behind us is going to be awesome. I’m just excited to get back in the Kohl Center.”
The puck drops at the Kohl Center for the first time in the Granato Era at 7 p.m. tonight.
