Playing Catch Up: Tuesday Afternoon Links

-Obviously one of the biggest driving factors for the new Big Ten Hockey Conference is the television rights with the Big Ten Network. In an Associated Press Article Barry Alvarez is quoted as saying the Big Ten Network has committed to broadcasting at least 40 hockey games a season.

Barring special events or Calvin Sampson getting fired from Indiana during a Wisconsin/Minnesota game, virtually every Friday and Saturday night during the hockey season should have a game on the Big Ten Network. Big Ten Basketball never plays on Friday night and if they play on Saturday play during the day. Same with Football.

-Wisconsin senior captain Sean Dolan will be continuing his hockey career as a professional. Dolan has signed with the South Carolina Stingrays of the East Coast Hockey League. Dolan is expected to be in uniform tonight as South Carolina hosts Greenville.

-According to @ACHAInsider, Penn State is bringing in about ten kids between the EJHL, NAHL, and USHL next year. Penn State will still be a club program next year but this will be a good start to the transition of going D-1 as you don't want to start with 26 freshmen on your roster.

-Apparently Jamie McBain is having a good time down in Carolina. A restaurant down there has let him design his own sub called the McBainwich. The Hurricanes rookie defenseman has 25 points in 68 games this season. Carolina is currently in 9th place in the Eastern Conference, just 3 points outside the final playoff spot.

-I started collecting articles that people had written about their thoughts on the Big 10 hockey conference but after I got to like 10 plus I just said screw it. If you want to look for writers opinions on it, it's not hard. Edit: Shane Frederick from the Mankato Free Press does a really nice job running down important links here on the subject.

-Joe Pavelski has absolutely been on fire in the past week. The Polish Prince was recently named as one of the NHL three stars of the week by the league. Pav's put up 11 points in 4 games last week including one game where he recorded 4 assists. Pavelski is only two points shy of his career high point total.

-2010 Hobey Baker winner Blake Geoffrion had a big week as well. The former Badger registered his first NHL hat-trick on Sunday including two goals in the final 2:33 to push the game to overtime where the Predators pulled out the victory.

Scott Cullen from TSN wrote about Geoffrions performance since his call up noting that not only does Blake have 6 goals in 11 games but that he's done so playing only 8 minutes a game which is almost unfathomable.

-Jake Gardiner made his professional debut on Friday night for the Toronto Marlies of the AHL wearing #2. Gardiner did not record a point in the 1-0 loss at Syracuse, he was even, and had one shot on goal. Former Badgers Josh Engel (Toronto), and John Mitchell (Syracuse) also played in the contest.

-The Wisconsin athletic communications staff has put together a campaign for Justin Schultz and his Hobey Baker bid. Here's a link to a site that features video, stats, photo's, bio, etc.