Baggot: Holiday reflections for the break
December 17, 2015 | Men's Hockey, Andy Baggot
Improved play looking back, improved health looking forward
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BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
MADISON, Wis. -- There are a lot of ways to define how the Wisconsin men's hockey team performed during the first half of the regular season, but a couple methods stand out.
The Badgers (4-7-5 overall, 1-2-1 in the Big Ten Conference) spent the first 16 games showing us they're much improved from the struggles of last season.
They already matched their win total from 2014-15 when they went 4-26-5.
They rank among the best in the nation in terms of specials teams: 10th in penalty killing ratio (87.9 percent) and 15th in power play success (22.4 percent conversion rate).
They own a road victory over the then-No. 1 team in the nation: a 3-1 decision over former Western Collegiate Hockey Association rival North Dakota on Nov. 6.
They have been in position to win almost every game. Wisconsin has either led or been tied in the third period of 13 outings and is 4-0-3 when leading after two.
The Badgers have done all this with eight freshmen and seven sophomores playing at least 10 games. One rookie, left winger Luke Kunin, paces the club in goals with six. Another, center Seamus Malone, has a share of the team lead with 10 assists.
Wisconsin has done this playing a grueling non-conference schedule. Only one of the seven schools began the week with a losing overall record – first-year NCAA Division I independent Arizona State is 5-10 – and the group has a combined record of 64-41-18 (.593).
The Badgers return to action Jan. 1 with an exhibition game with Trinity Western at the Kohl Center. They follow that up by playing 10 of their first 12 second-half games at home.
Wisconsin associate head coach Luke Strand took a stab at identifying some of the key developments during the first half.
Best player: "The best answer is that it's more committee than an individual," he said. "You have to be happy with the freshmen. I think (sophomore center) Cameron Hughes has been so … his consistency has been crazy good. Out the door I would have said senior defenseman and co-captain Eddie (Wittchow) and (senior defenseman and co-captain Kevin) Schulze because they were eating up so many minutes and (freshman goaltender Matt) Jurusik because of his place in the middle of it. Then there's Kunin and Hughes pushing us forward here."
The player that has come along the farthest since training camp: "I think you'd have to say Jurusik," Strand said. "That would be the easy get-out-of-jail-free answer. I think what (freshman defenseman) Patrick Sexton did, giving us depth back there was a really important piece. But when you really look at it I think we've found some depth because of the Malones, the Kunins, the guys that have played up and down the lineup a little bit. It doesn't really matter who they've played with."
The most pleasant surprise: "Jarod Zirbel," Strand said of the freshman center. "His energy and his consistency – that's expected of him – but it's hard to show at this level."
The player on the cusp of a breakout: "Kevin Schulze and Eddie Wittchow," Strand said of his senior leaders. "A behind-the-scenes look at those guys (shows) a mega, mega, mega class load (during the first semester). I think they're going to be able to put the brain to sleep a little bit with the academic part and really role their sleeves up with some hockey."
What sticks in your craw right now: "What's not there that needs to get there … is that at all costs, no matter what, we will find a way to win," Strand said. "It doesn't matter who's injured. The best teams find a way to win when they do play their best and that means when you're playing well you've got to put the dagger in."
Strand said he didn't anticipate any additions to or subtractions from the team during the holiday break.
"We're going to sit tight, I think," he said. "If anything we can get some additions through health."
The Badgers finished the first half with a host of dents and dings. Hughes (lower body), sophomore center Adam Rockwood (upper body), freshman defenseman Peter Tischke (upper body and junior winger Jedd Soleway (lower body) missed all or parts of games in December.
Strand said Soleway, who leads the club with 56 shots, set a memorable example during a Big Ten series split at Michigan State on Dec. 11 and 12.
"He was pretty much in a wheelchair," Strand said. "He couldn't push. He couldn't turn. He really couldn't get into his battle stance at all.
"I know Jedd probably thought he wanted to play better, but what he showed us in the way he did play was a good sign."
The Michigan State series featured two key developments. After the Badgers coughed up a 3-1 lead in the opener and lost 4-3 – marking the fifth time this season they've failed to win after holding a multi-goal lead – a cathartic closed-door meeting took place.
The following day, on short rest, Wisconsin responded with a 3-0 victory that represented the first career shutout for Jurusik and a much-needed segue to the holiday break.
"I think it definitely opened the door to allow Saturday to occur," Strand said of the meeting. "I don't know that there were any revelations about that night except for some guys showed some courage to stick up for the greater good of the group."
