Whether in sports or in life, no one can understate the importance of a good first impression. As the puck dropped to open up the Badger men’s hockey team’s 2016 campaign, that fact was never clearer. With a new team and a new coaching staff, every minute on the ice was in service of that—forming a good impression.
In their preseason exhibition game at the Kohl Center, Wisconsin ultimately claimed a 10-1 victory over the Victoria Vikes of the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League. With 10 goals and plenty more chances, the Badgers definitely impressed many in terms of their skill and speed. Still, the long lasting impression that is much more significant to the Badgers is simple: This team is hungry and ready for success.
“That’s the theme I think you saw tonight, through the 60 minutes, we didn't stop working,” new head coach Tony Granato said about his team’s drive, even against a lesser opponent in a blowout effort. “When you’re leading the game and you're playing a team like that, you can get a little bit lazy and bad habits come into play. I didn't see any bad habits, and I didn't see us stop working.”
Nevertheless, in a game as lopsided as that, it is difficult to tell where the Badgers stand in comparison to their normal level of competition. The Badgers turned some pucks over, and took an astonishing seven penalties against a group that is objectively slower then upcoming opponents like Boston College, Denver, or really anyone else that they will play this year.
“You were anxious, you were trying to make an impression on your coach, trying to make an impression on your fans,” Granato said. “So sometimes you play a little too aggressively. A couple of those penalties were probably that situation.”
This impression not only resonated with Granato and the UW fans, but was just as evident to their opponents on the ice. Specifically, after the game, Vikes head coach Harry Schamhart said that he thought he saw a really hungry group that had a point to prove to their new coaching staff.
“I think that’s pretty accurate by their coach,” Granato said. “I told him after the game, ‘you ran into a team that was ready to play. We’ve been waiting for this game for a long time.’”
For the players on the ice, it will take time to develop the chemistry and strategy it takes to field a competitive team—it’s even currently taking years for the Badgers to regain their previous competitiveness. Still, even though developing a team is not instantaneous, the fastest way to get there is to be driven every time the skate blades hit the ice.
“You know, after the last few seasons here, we’re just hungry to not lose and to be winners,” sophomore center and captain Luke Kunin said after the game. “It showed tonight, and I think that’s gonna carry on to the rest of the season.”
Even though this is just one seemingly meaningless preseason game, the first impression does carry weight.
“It doesn't mean a lot. You don’t get any points in the standings. We don’t go up in the rankings,” Granato said, “but what it does, it gives us a good feeling.”
The Badgers can only look ahead, but they look ahead with hunger.
This team looks ready to feast.
