Badger Hockey Showdown on the Docket
December 24, 2006 | Men's Hockey
The holiday season is still going strong, but the UW men's hockey program looks to continue its momentum when it skates in the 18th annual Badger Hockey Showdown this weekend at the Kohl Center. While most of the Badgers are competing in the event, three will be in Sweden competing at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championships.
Wisconsin, winner of three-straight hockey games for the first time this season, returns to the ice on Friday against No. 15 Clarkson in the a first round game as part of the Badger Hockey Showdown. The Badgers (7-9-2) and Golden Knights (11-5-1) meet at 7 p.m.
Before the Badgers take to the ice, No. 18 Lake Superior State (11-5-2) battles Providence (4-11-1) in the first semifinal contest. The winners and losers meet on Saturday, with the Badgers playing at 7 p.m., and Clarkson skating at 4 p.m.
Wisconsin's games can be seen tape-delayed with Ken Syke and Ron Vincent calling the action on Wisconsin Public Television each night at 10:30 p.m. Saturday 's game will be shown live in Madison, Wis., on MyMadison TV, and in Eau Claire and La Crosse, Wis., on MyNetwork TV. The UW games can also be heard on the Wisconsin Radio Network with Brian Posick and Rob Andringa and at uwbadgers.com. Web streams of Badger games can also been seen at uwbadgers.com.
Wisconsin searches for its first back-to-back Showdown titles since 1993 and 1994 this season after winning last year's championship with a victory over Northern Michigan in the title contest.
The Badgers, 2-3-1 this season in non-conference contests, get one last chance against teams outside the WCHA with the two games at the Showdown. The Badgers are assured of skating against yet another ranked opponent, their 15th in 19 games this season, and should the UW and LSSU meet up on Saturday, the team's 16th in 20 contests this year.
Either way, the Badgers will face the challenge without three of their best young players as sophomore forward Jack Skille, freshman forward Blake Geoffrion and freshman defenseman Jamie McBain will miss the tournament for a different one. All three will be representing their country and Team USA at the 2007 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden. The event runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 5. Team USA opens against Germany on Tuesday, then faces Canada on Wednesday, Slovakia on Saturday and Sweden on Sunday.
Team USA games can be heard live at usahockey.com, while most of Team USA's games can been seen on NHL Center Ice.
