Badgers Set for Showdown
December 26, 2001 | Men's Hockey
Wisconsin will host the 13th Bank One Badger Hockey Showdown at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee on Thursday, Dec. 27, and Friday, Dec. 28. Colorado College will take on New Hampshire at 5:05 p.m. on Thursday before the Badgers battle Brown at 8:05 p.m. The third-place game faces off at 5:05 p.m. on Friday, followed by the championship game at 8:05 p.m.
The Badgers (8-7-1, 6-3-1 WCHA) are unbeaten (2-0-1) in their last three games and are coming off a two-game home sweep (7-6 OT and 3-1) of North Dakota on Dec. 7-8. Wisconsin has won the Showdown seven times, including last year's 3-2 title-game victory over Boston University. Forward Brad Winchester currently leads the Badgers in scoring with 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists).
Brown (3-5-1, 3-4-1 ECAC), coached by Roger Grillo, is 1-4-1 in its last six games. The Bears are playing in the Showdown for the first time and will face Wisconsin for the first time since dropping a two-game series to the Badgers in Madison on Nov. 20-21, 1970. Paul Esdale (2-6-8) is Brown's leading scorer.
New Hampshire (11-3-2, 6-1-2 Hockey East), under the direction of Coach Dick Umile, has won seven of its last eight games and is ranked No. 6 nationally. The Wildcats have three of the nation's top seven scoring leaders in Darren Haydar (35 points), Colin Hemingay (30) and Sean Collins (26). UNH won the 1996 Showdown title (its only appearance in the event), knocking off Colorado College 4-3 in the championship game.
Colorado College (9-6-1, 5-6-1 WCHA) is coached by former Badger assistant Scott Owens. The Tigers, 7-1-1 in their last nine outings, are the only team to have defeated top-ranked St. Cloud State this season and they have done it twice. Colorado College is making its second appearance at the Showdown, having lost the 1996 title game to New Hampshire. CC's leading scorer is Mark Cullen (6-16-22).
None of the Showdown games will be televised, but fans can log onto UWBADGERS.COM to follow radio bradcasts of the Badgers' games.
