Baggot: Badger hockey fans always bring the noise
March 28, 2024 | Men's Hockey, Andy Baggot
Men's hockey team returns to Providence, site of a great program fan highlight
BY ANDY BAGGOT
UWBadgers.com Insider
The first time the Wisconsin men's hockey team played in an NCAA tournament setting in Providence, Rhode Island, it came home wiser, if empty-handed.
The Badgers were the defending national champions in 1978, still loaded at forward and in goal, but somewhat suspect on defense. They won the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff title and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four only to absorb a 5-2 semifinal loss to Boston University and a 4-3 setback to Bowling Green in the now-defunct consolation game to finish with an overall record of 28-12-3.
"It's always more difficult to repeat,'' UW coach Bob Johnson said at the time, noting that his 1973 national titlists finished 18-13-5 in '74.
The Badgers still had elite scorers like centers Mike Eaves (31 goals, 89 points) and Mark Johnson (48 goals, 86 points) as well as All-American goaltender Julian Baretta (20-10-3, 3.46 goals against, .893 save ratio), but they clearly missed defensemen Craig Norwich, who turned pro, and John Taft, who graduated and signed an NHL contract with Detroit.
One area that didn't change was how a growing legion of Wisconsin fans showed up and performed on the big stage.
Hint: They didn't come home from Providence empty-handed.
On May 23, 1978, the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame presented UW fans with an extraordinary plaque with a heartfelt message.
"The NCAA Hockey Championship at the Providence Civic Center in March 1978 produced one of the finest examples of sportsmanship this state has witnessed,'' the proclamation began.
"The defending champion Badgers failed in the quest for another, but the ebullient spirit of their 3,500 rooters, that great band, those sparkling cheerleaders and the fine team made a tremendous impression on this community.
"Although solidly behind their team, the Badger fans graciously applauded the play of opponents and they made no excuses for Badger defeats.
"In games in which Wisconsin was not involved, they adopted other teams to cheer. They paraded and serenaded all over downtown Providence in their cardinal and white regalia, and their conduct was flawless.
"We hope they remember us as fondly as we do them. Little Rhody was delighted to have them as guests.''
The feelings undoubtedly were mutual.
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UW fans attending the NCAA men's hockey tournament have had two subsequent opportunities to check out Providence as a host school – in 1982 and 1992 – with another coming up Friday.
The one in '82 also ended in heartbreak. The Badgers toppled New Hampshire 5-0 in the Frozen Four semifinals before they faced WCHA mega-rival North Dakota for the seventh time that season – yes, the seventh meeting – and dropped a 5-2 decision.  Â
The visit in '92 was a joyous affair because Wisconsin, seeded sixth in the East regional, knocked off New Hampshire 4-2 and St. Lawrence 5-2 to advance to the national semifinals.
That gave way to the Frozen Four in Albany, New York, where the Badgers eased past Michigan 4-3 before enduring a controversial 5-3 loss to Lake Superior State.
Now second-seeded Wisconsin returns to the capital of Rhode Island to see if it can win its first NCAA tournament game since 2010. The Badgers (26-11-2) will take on defending national champion and third-seeded Quinnipiac (26-9-2). Top-seeded Boston College (31-5-1) and fourth-seeded Michigan Tech (19-14-6) meet in the other regional semifinal. The survivor will move on to the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota, on April 11 and 13.
The current 16-team field includes a lot of familiar faces where the Badgers are concerned. They have played 12 of the 15 schools at least once in NCAA play, including BC, BU, Cornell, Michigan Tech, Denver, Michigan, Maine, Minnesota, Michigan State, North Dakota, Western Michigan and the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Ironically, Quinnipiac is one of the three schools UW hasn't played in the national tournament. The others are Nebraska-Omaha and Massachusetts.
A wide variety of UW-related milestones have come about from this collection of opponents.
The last time the Badgers won an NCAA tournament game was in the Frozen Four semifinals in 2010 when they hammered RIT 8-1. Since then, they have fallen 6-1 to UMass-Lowell in 2013, 5-2 to North Dakota in 2014 and 6-3 to Bemidji State in 2021.
UW officially began its NCAA tournament resume in 1970 when it lost to Cornell 2-1 in the semifinals before it eased past Michigan Tech 6-5 in the consolation game.
The Badgers won their first NCAA title in 1973 by virtue of a 6-5 win over Cornell and a 4-2 decision over Denver.
Wisconsin derailed Michigan 6-5 in overtime to claim its second national title in 1977.
UW secured its third NCAA crown by toppling Minnesota 6-3 in 1981.
The last time the Badgers claimed an NCAA title was in 2006 when they eased past Boston College 2-1.
Wisconsin fans have been there every step along the way. They may not have always come home with a reward for their efforts, but they sure made some noise.
UWBadgers.com Insider
The first time the Wisconsin men's hockey team played in an NCAA tournament setting in Providence, Rhode Island, it came home wiser, if empty-handed.
The Badgers were the defending national champions in 1978, still loaded at forward and in goal, but somewhat suspect on defense. They won the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff title and advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four only to absorb a 5-2 semifinal loss to Boston University and a 4-3 setback to Bowling Green in the now-defunct consolation game to finish with an overall record of 28-12-3.
"It's always more difficult to repeat,'' UW coach Bob Johnson said at the time, noting that his 1973 national titlists finished 18-13-5 in '74.
The Badgers still had elite scorers like centers Mike Eaves (31 goals, 89 points) and Mark Johnson (48 goals, 86 points) as well as All-American goaltender Julian Baretta (20-10-3, 3.46 goals against, .893 save ratio), but they clearly missed defensemen Craig Norwich, who turned pro, and John Taft, who graduated and signed an NHL contract with Detroit.
One area that didn't change was how a growing legion of Wisconsin fans showed up and performed on the big stage.
Hint: They didn't come home from Providence empty-handed.
On May 23, 1978, the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame presented UW fans with an extraordinary plaque with a heartfelt message.
"The NCAA Hockey Championship at the Providence Civic Center in March 1978 produced one of the finest examples of sportsmanship this state has witnessed,'' the proclamation began.
"The defending champion Badgers failed in the quest for another, but the ebullient spirit of their 3,500 rooters, that great band, those sparkling cheerleaders and the fine team made a tremendous impression on this community.
"Although solidly behind their team, the Badger fans graciously applauded the play of opponents and they made no excuses for Badger defeats.
"In games in which Wisconsin was not involved, they adopted other teams to cheer. They paraded and serenaded all over downtown Providence in their cardinal and white regalia, and their conduct was flawless.
"We hope they remember us as fondly as we do them. Little Rhody was delighted to have them as guests.''
The feelings undoubtedly were mutual.
Â
 |
UW fans attending the NCAA men's hockey tournament have had two subsequent opportunities to check out Providence as a host school – in 1982 and 1992 – with another coming up Friday.
The one in '82 also ended in heartbreak. The Badgers toppled New Hampshire 5-0 in the Frozen Four semifinals before they faced WCHA mega-rival North Dakota for the seventh time that season – yes, the seventh meeting – and dropped a 5-2 decision.  Â
The visit in '92 was a joyous affair because Wisconsin, seeded sixth in the East regional, knocked off New Hampshire 4-2 and St. Lawrence 5-2 to advance to the national semifinals.
That gave way to the Frozen Four in Albany, New York, where the Badgers eased past Michigan 4-3 before enduring a controversial 5-3 loss to Lake Superior State.
Now second-seeded Wisconsin returns to the capital of Rhode Island to see if it can win its first NCAA tournament game since 2010. The Badgers (26-11-2) will take on defending national champion and third-seeded Quinnipiac (26-9-2). Top-seeded Boston College (31-5-1) and fourth-seeded Michigan Tech (19-14-6) meet in the other regional semifinal. The survivor will move on to the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota, on April 11 and 13.
The current 16-team field includes a lot of familiar faces where the Badgers are concerned. They have played 12 of the 15 schools at least once in NCAA play, including BC, BU, Cornell, Michigan Tech, Denver, Michigan, Maine, Minnesota, Michigan State, North Dakota, Western Michigan and the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Ironically, Quinnipiac is one of the three schools UW hasn't played in the national tournament. The others are Nebraska-Omaha and Massachusetts.
A wide variety of UW-related milestones have come about from this collection of opponents.
The last time the Badgers won an NCAA tournament game was in the Frozen Four semifinals in 2010 when they hammered RIT 8-1. Since then, they have fallen 6-1 to UMass-Lowell in 2013, 5-2 to North Dakota in 2014 and 6-3 to Bemidji State in 2021.
UW officially began its NCAA tournament resume in 1970 when it lost to Cornell 2-1 in the semifinals before it eased past Michigan Tech 6-5 in the consolation game.
The Badgers won their first NCAA title in 1973 by virtue of a 6-5 win over Cornell and a 4-2 decision over Denver.
Wisconsin derailed Michigan 6-5 in overtime to claim its second national title in 1977.
UW secured its third NCAA crown by toppling Minnesota 6-3 in 1981.
The last time the Badgers claimed an NCAA title was in 2006 when they eased past Boston College 2-1.
Wisconsin fans have been there every step along the way. They may not have always come home with a reward for their efforts, but they sure made some noise.
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