Men's Hockey Hosts 12th Annual College Hockey Showcase
November 25, 2004 | Men's Hockey
Save room for dessert at Thanksgiving dinner this year for the No. 2 Wisconsin men 's hockey team. The Badgers play host to the 12th annual College Hockey Showcase Friday and Saturday at the Kohl Center. Wisconsin faces Michigan State on Friday and No. 1 Michigan on Saturday. Both contests begin at 7:07 p.m.
Now riding a four-game winning streak, the Badgers welcome two of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's best for the weekend. The Spartans (5-6-1) arrive in Madison after losing two close games to the Wolverines (9-2-1) last week. Wisconsin returns home after an extended trip to Alaska Anchorage, where a pair of 4-1 victories made the trip easier to handle.
It was a team effort for the Badgers in Anchorage, but the weekend was highlighted by sophomore forward Robbie Earl's hat trick last Friday night, a performance that earned Wisconsin's leading scorer WCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors. Fellow sophomore goaltender Brian Elliott's performance was also a highlight. Elliott made 28 saves and extended his scoreless string to 1:64.37 before the Seawolves scored in the third period.
Wisconsin has had limited success at the Showcase since the first one in 1993. Last season, Wisconsin defeated Michigan State and Michigan for the first time in the 11-year history of the event. Both games were on the road. This year, Wisconsin looks to earn its first home Showcase sweep.
Last season, Wisconsin took a 3-1 win at Michigan on the Friday after Thanksgiving, before a Jeff Likens overtime power-play tally gave the Badgers a 2-1 win for the sweep the next evening.
