October 10, 2015 | Men's Hockey
Postgame quotes from Luke Kunin, Matt Jurusik, and head coach Mike Eaves
Oct. 10, 2015
Kohl Center
MADISON, Wis.
On whether the team felt desperation going into the third period:
"I wouldn't put it in the category of desperation. We went into the locker room after the second period, and usually the protocol is to let the guys get some fluids and rest and relax and we come in with a couple of points to carry out for the third. We went in there as a coaching staff and what was really important for us was the mindset that we had as we sat there preparing for the third. The mindset that we wanted to have was 'we're down three to nothing, and we need to focus on what we need to do.' That's go out there and get the first goal, and try to build momentum and get momentum on our side and then see what happens. Not think about the fact that we were down three to nothing, but the fact of what we had to do. That's exactly what happened. We got the one, we got the two and we got the momentum on our side. It was really fun to see this early in the season how poised and confident and disciplined the power play was. I mean, they went through everything. Worked on it for two days, and they went out there and executed it very well. They didn't go off on their own page, which sometimes kids will do, they'll panic. They stayed with it and finally got the puck in Luke Kunin's hand and he just blew a bullet right by the young goaltender. We wrote a great story for you guys tonight, right there in the third period. Disappointed that we didn't win but I think it was something that they can walk out of this building tonight and have something to build on for next week."
On Matt Jurusik's performance:
"I thought in the first period he looked nervous. Imagine that, a freshman being nervous in his first college game. Especially unique for a young goaltender because when he makes a mistake, everybody sees it, there's nobody to cover him up. I thought that he started to feel more comfortable in the second period, when there was a two-on-one and he challenged and was at or above the blue crease. In the third period, although he didn't get tested as much, I thought his positioning was more confident, so I think that grew as the game went along. The one thing that was consistent, Jeff Sanger said from up above, he made good decisions with the puck which is always a good telltale sign of where a young goalie is at. I think he got better as the game went along and I think it was great for his confidence to come back, to have the team in front of him come back and get a tie."
On Luke Kunin's performance:
"He sure doesn't play like a freshman. He's just a bull physically, he's an old soul mentally and emotionally. He excelled in high school and he's here as a young man, and he already has great habits. He comes in for extra lifts, he goes on the ice for extra ice time and works on his game. He is a student of the game. He physically understands how to win battles and he's got a gift of a shot. He doesn't play as a normal freshman.
On all of the scoring chances during the power play:
"We have got two kids on that power play that can bring the puck, and that's Grant Besse and Luke Kunin. They go through a sequence so they both get chances at it, and it just happened that they went to Luke's side and he hit all of it, for sure.
On his first collegiate goal:
"It was exciting, definitely, to get that first one off my chest there. Five-on-three power play, we had a lot of chances, good puck movement, and all the guys were poised out there. That one was just lucky enough to go through."
On the amount of shot chances he had on the power play:
"We work on special teams a lot in practice, so we were just working hard, trying to get pucks to the net and create chances. Good things happen when you get the puck to the net."
On whether the team felt any desperation going into the third period:
"I don't think, necessarily, there was desperation. We had a few shots there and we were kind of slow I'd say in the second. All the guys just rallied around there in the locker room and were ready to come out in the third to come back and I think that's the kind of group we have. We're never quitting no matter what the score is."
On how he felt about his first weekend of play:
"I think I did well. There's a lot to learn obviously. I played some college games with the National Development program, so I don't think it was too hard of an adjustment to step in. But I learned a lot, and I learned a lot with this new group we have here. Just taking all the positives, going over video and stuff with all the coaches and the teams and just improve and get better for next weekend."
On how the ties felt:
"Obviously we're always going into every game trying to get the win, and I think guys are a little disappointed we didn't. But at the end of the day we did get two points out of the weekend, we're just taking the positive that we didn't lose, and I think it's a step in the right direction. We're just going to go into next weekend and try to win those two."
On his first collegiate game:
"I thought that I didn't come out as strongly as I could have, I had a lot of nerves going into my first game. I didn't play as well as I wanted to, but it's good to get the first one under your belt and get a feel for it."
On what surprised him about his first game:
"The pace of play is a lot faster, and it's a lot harder to get sight lines than the league I was playing in last year, but I feel like I can catch up to the pace pretty quickly once I get a couple more under my belt."
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, October 20
Saturday, October 03
Friday, October 02
Wednesday, September 30
