November 29, 2005
Team of the Week: Wisconsin
CHN Staff Report
The Wisconsin Badgers became the first two-time College Hockey News Team of the Week, after sweeping the College Hockey Showcase on the road this past weekend.
The Badgers, in the process, improved their nation's best unbeaten streak to 12, and assumed the mantle as the No. 1 team in the nation. It's the first time Wisconsin has been No. 1 since October 2000, when Dany Heatley was on the team (the Badgers then lost eight of nine). It's the first time under coach Mike Eaves.
The Badgers, behind clutch third-period goals each night from senior captain Adam Burish, defeated Michigan State, 3-1, on Friday, then topped previous No. 1 Michigan, 3-2, on Saturday. The wins improved Wisconsin to 11-1-2 overall.
Captain Adam Burish had two game winners over the weekend.
Eaves has built a team with a tremendous balance of skill and talent up front, strong defense — including two-way forwards — and excellent goaltending, as Brian Elliott has ran with the long legacy of that position at Wisconsin.
"Brian came in without a lot of notoriety," Eaves said to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "His teammates knew how good he was because they've been shooting on him the last couple of years. He's been able to step into the spotlight and do very well for us. But he'd be the first to tell you he gets some help in front of him."
Elliott, the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week, has not allowed more than two goals in any game this season, and leads the nation in save percentage at .942.
The team also plays with an edge, that comes directly from its coach.
"It's going to be a challenge to stay at No. 1 and not let that go to our heads, but we're excited right now," said Badgers senior defenseman Tom Gilbert to the Wisconsin State Journal. "It all comes down to the end of the year, who finishes No. 1. That counts."
The College Hockey Showcase is a chance for four major schools that are Big Ten rivals in all other sports, to get together and test themselves against each other one weekend.
But now, the test continues; Wisconsin travels to Mariucci Arena to face the No. 4 Minnesota Gophers this weekend. Not only are these schools storied rivals, but you're talking about at this point what could be — forget the polls — the two best teams in the country this season. Wisconsin has the best defense in the WCHA, while Minnesota has the best offense.
Thing is, the Badgers are 0-6 at Mariucci under Eaves, and have lost 10 straight there. That only adds to the intrigue.
"If we continue to grow and learn and get better, then there's that word 'potential' again," Eaves said to the Press. "In the second half of the season you start to figure out what you have. We're not there, but I like where we're at."
