Ramage takes charge
November 02, 2011 | Men's Hockey
Nov. 2, 2011
The official Gameday Program at each Badgers home series includes player profiles. This feature is just one of the exclusive items available inside the program, which is available for purchase on game day at Kohl Center or online at NationalWClub.com. Today we look at junior defenseman John Ramage, who was featured in the program for the Northern Michigan series. | Purchase Gameday Programs
BY MARK BENNETT
MADISON, Wis. -- Junior captain John Ramage was certainly among the many disappointed following the Badgers' season last year.
Reaching the national championship game as a freshman in 2010, Ramage, as a sophomore, sat at home the last month of the season. Eliminated in the middle of March with a WCHA playoff loss at Colorado College, Ramage was left to watch as other squads advanced through the playoffs and on to the NCAA Frozen Four.
The 2010-11 Badgers failed to reach the NCAA tournament for just the third time in the past eight seasons.
But this year, the Badgers put a much different team on the ice. Veteran leadership, like Craig Smith, Jordy Murray, Jake Gardiner, Sean Dolan, Scott Gudmandson, Brett Bennett and Patrick Johnson, has skated off the ice for Wisconsin. Meanwhile, a young but deeply talented freshman squad enters the fold.
And for Ramage, he’s definitely a different player as well. Ramage returns to Wisconsin this season with unfinished business on his plate.
“I just wanted to come back and have a good year,” Ramage said. “I felt last year I struggled and didn’t have the best year I could have and I just really want to come back and prove myself to Wisconsin. I kind of owe it to my teammates and my coaches.”
In 37 appearances for Wisconsin last season, Ramage collected a goal and 10 assists. But the St. Louis native knows he’s not on the ice as a scorer. That’s just fine with him though, knowing he has one of the top offensive defenseman in junior Justin Schultz skating alongside him.
“I focus more on defense in my game and he focuses more on offense, but also is very good defensively and that’s something he doesn’t get a lot of credit for,” Ramage said. “He’s actually one of the top on our team defensively.”
And while players like Schultz provide proven talent for the team this year, the Badgers know many of the young players will have step up into big roles. And so far so good, says Ramage.
“They’ve come in and just worked hard,” Ramage said. “And they’re really listening to all the older guys and the coaches. They’re just eager to get out there and play.”
Serving as captain this season, Ramage will have a front seat to much of the development for his younger teammates, a role he embraces.
“We have a lot of skill on this team, and it’s just exciting to help them through the basics and make them a better player,” Ramage said.
Ramage has plenty of experience already leading his peers. Last winter, the defenseman captained Team USA at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, leading his team to a bronze medal.
“I think that experience is really special,” Ramage said. “It’s short term, but you play the top-caliber players and just being at that tournament and seeing what it takes, [let’s you know] what kind of other competition is out there.”
And the experience definitely doesn’t end there. Ramage says his time spent with Team USA, both last winter and the winter before when he won the gold medal, has made him into a better player.
“I think that is experience you can bring back to your teammates and hopefully help them with small things they may have not experienced yet.”
And those teammates have noticed Ramage’s added experience since his time with Team USA. Schultz says all the players have responded well to his leadership and look to him.
“He’s really been confident out there on the ice,” Schultz said. “I think all the guys can see that. He’s a natural-born leader and he knows what’s best for the team, and that’s what we want in a captain.”
Ramage will have his hands full. This season the Badgers add nine freshman to a team the defenseman says had consistency issues last season.
“At times last year our team was really good, and at times last year we were really bad—and that’s what hurt us in the final couple games,” Ramage said. “So I think we’re looking towards consistency this year.”
When asked what he thought his most unnoticed skill was, Ramage answered his hard work ethic and his passion. And it’s that passion that Ramage hopes can fuel his Badgers into accomplishing its goals this year.
And as for those goals, Ramage says he wants to get the Badgers back to the playoffs. More importantly though, he says there’s really only one goal he could achieve that is going to leave him completely satisfied.
“Winning the NCAA championship.”
