Dec. 30, 2010
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Wisconsin Head Coach and Player Quotes
Wisconsin vs. Massachusetts
Wisconsin Head Coach Mike Eaves
On the start:
“It was a topic at the end of the first half and something we addressed. Without being specific, we did a couple of things that we thought would get us off to a good start and the guys are very aware of it. We had a fresh start to get a great start and we did that. We were pretty solid from beginning to end tonight. “
On Podge Turnbull:
“It’s a byproduct of several things. Podge Turnbull is a very talented young man, but he was just playing hockey. To be a hockey player you have to take that skill, win battles, win races and you have to incorporate that skill into the game, which is a competitive physical game, strong on your stick and body position. He’s kind of fluctuated. At the beginning of the year he had that and that he had a little success and he backed off. Then he sat out for a little while and he realized it was another message to him that he hadn’t quite figured it out yet. He came back and he’s had success. His production has stemmed from that fact, that he is doing those things, winning those races, being more tenacious. He talks to himself about getting out of his comfort zone and that’s what he’s going to need to do to stay in the line up here and play elsewhere.”
On scoring:
“We had a little bit of balance up front tonight. When guys play the way they are supposed to, like right now, we have balance, we can play well without the puck and with the puck. Derek Lee is in the same boat as Podge Turnbull, he won races, he won battles and he and his linemates were rewarded. When these young men are playing the way they need to, it makes us a better team.”
On Frankie Simonelli:
“He played hard and he had a complete game. He got a little time on the power play tonight. When you’re on the power play and you have a little production that gives you confidence. He’s got some swagger and confidence with the puck right now and that’s a great thing to have. ”
Wisconsin Players
Senior Podge Turnbull
On improvement:
“Maybe it’s just a change of mindset. Hard work pays off. It’s been stressed to me for the last four years here and maybe it’s just starting to actually set in. Going into the scoring area is hard, it’s a tough thing to do and finding a puck there something that doesn’t happen that often, but if you go to those areas you have a better chance. That’s kind of my theme. If I can get to the net, find a puck and put it in, that’s going to help my team the most.”
“I think sitting out those couple of games opened my eyes a little bit. I came in really excited to play. I got too complacent. Coach Eaves and Coach Butters pulled me aside and said ‘We need you.’ I knew that but it was one of those things that I had to completely understand and that last sit that I had really opened my eyes to game and how I needed to play. They were all stressing that I needed to get out of my comfort zone and move my feet. For me that’s my biggest nemesis. If I’m not moving my feet, I’m not effective. That’s my manta going, ‘Get out your comfort zone, move your feet and the rest of the game will happen for you.’”
Senior Scott Gudmandson
On start:
“It was nice to come back from that layoff with that kind of start. We’ve tried a bunch of different things, some of them haven’t worked very well, so we tried something new today and it seemed to work. We turned our music off at a certain time before the game and the guys in the room talked about things we needed to be aware of and things we needed to do on the ice.”
On rebound importance:
“Anytime it is important to control my rebounds and stop the puck, that’s my job as a goalie. I want to stop the puck first of all and second of all put my rebounds in a place where it’s the best situation for my team.”
Freshman Frankie Simonelli
On start:
“For the first half we struggles getting off at home and every week we talked about getting a good start. This week coming off of break we prepared for the start and it turned out well.”
On goal and assists:
“I didn’t know if I scored either of them. There was all kinds of announcing, goals were getting taken away, goals were getting handed out. So we didn’t know what was going on until after the game when we found out who was actually awarded the goals. It was relieving to get my second goal of the year and two assists, but it’s really all about getting the puck in the net.”
