Badgers add another goalie for next Fall

And the plot thickens...

Former Boston U goalie Brett Bennett will be joining the Wisconsin Badgers starting next Fall. Brett currently plays for the Indiana Ice in the USHL and his season stats are quite impressive: 33 games, 21-10-2, 2.57 GAA and a .914 save %. He played in the USHL All-Star game last night and stopped all 21 shots he faced.

Bennett is a 2006 5th round pick of the Phoenix Coyotes. He was released from BU following last season, why no one is quite sure, even Brett. His stats weren't horrible for BU, 16-10-3, 2.63 GAA, 0.888 save % (that was a little low). He was thrust into the starting spot following an injury.

From Todd's TCT article:

Bennett, 20, was looking at a long list of schools -- he mentioned Minnesota, North Dakota, Colorado College, Notre Dame, Maine and Northeastern -- after BU coach Jack Parker told him in postseason meetings last year that the team was releasing him.

"Wisconsin is just the perfect situation for me," Bennett said.

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Still, the Williamsville, N.Y., native knows that, with Gudmandson already in the program, there are no guarantees.

"You've got to earn your job and you've got to earn your ice," he said. "I think that Wisconsin gives me the best chance to develop not only as a player but as a person, too."

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He said there were no on-ice or off-ice issues that led to his dismissal.

"It was definitely a shock and probably one of the toughest things I've ever had to deal with," Bennett said. "Things like that change you so much as a person. You learn a lot about yourself. You look back on situations, and I think it makes you a better person in the long run. I think it's really helped me."

Aaron Crandall is still scheduled to join the Badgers next season, though he has not signed a letter of intent yet. Obviously we still need him for the long run since Bennett will be a junior. See how this all plays out, but there will definately be some competition for the starting spot next Fall, first time in awhile. No mention is made of a scholarship or if he is a walk-on.