Street Named ECHL Rookie of the Year

The accolades continue to pour in for the University of Wisconsin program as former Badger captain Ben Street has been named the 2011 CCM ECHL Rookie of the Year.

According to the release, "The award is presented annually to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the ECHL as voted by the coaches of the ECHL teams. The trophy was named in honor of John A. Daley in 1997. Daley, who passed away in 1996, was one of the founding fathers of the ECHL, serving as general manger and minority owner of the Johnstown Chiefs from the inception of the team in 1988 until 1994."

Street appeared in two NCAA title games while playing for Wisconsin, winning a ring as a part of the 2006 championship squad. Street spent 5 years at Wisconsin, taking a medical red-shirt during the 08-09 season after tearing his ACL 4 games into the season. Street finished his Badger career with 93 points.

The Coquitlam, British Columbia native recorded 24 goals and 27 assists for 51 points in only 38 for the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL this season before being called up to the American Hockey League with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguin where he registered 21 points in 33 games.

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Thursday Night News and Notes

-Former Badger Brendan Smith (pictured), who is having an outstanding first season as a professional has been named to the AHL All-Rookie team. A former first round draft selection of the Detroit Red Wings, Smith has recorded 32 points in 57 games from the blueline for the Grand Rapids Griffins. With only four defensemen currently under contract for next season for Detroit, I would be surprised if Smith is not a regular in Mo-Town next fall.

-Two other members of last seasons Frozen Four Wisconsin squad were also recently honored. Andy Bohmbach of the Toledo Walleye and Ben Street from the Wheeling Nailers were both named to the ECHL All-Rookie team. Bohmbach leads all ECHL rookies in points with 68. Street is fifth amogst rookies with 51 points despite only playing 38 games. Street was called up to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on February 3rd.

-Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves recently met with all the players on the roster for post season evaluations and sophomore's Justin Schultz and Craig Smith reiterated their plans to stay in Madison and play at least one more season for the Badgers. The biggest concern at this point right now is junior forward Jordy Murray who is still weighing his options of leaving to play pro hockey overseas next season.

-The New York Rangers blog "Blueshirt Banter" has a fantastic article up about former Wisconsin defenseman Ryan McDonagh who is making waves in the big apple. The article hits on what McDonagh brings to the team with his maturity, which is rare for a 21 year old playing in the NHL.

-Another link courtesy of the Wisconsin Men's Hockey facebook page...Andrew Joudrey, a member of the 2006 Wisconsin National Championship team has been named Hershey's "Man of the Year." Joudrey, a forward for the AHL's Hershey Bears is being honored for his outstanding work in the Hershey community this season. Read the article, they have some very, very kind words for Mr. Joudrey. Makes you proud that he was a Badger.

-Justin Schultz, who had been named a top 10 finalist for the 2011 Hobey Baker Memorial Award did not advance to the next round. The top 10 were narrowed to 3 as the Hobey Hat Trick was announced yesterday. North Dakota forward Matt Frattin, Miami Forward Andy Meile, and Boston College forward Cam Atkinson are your finalists.

-Denver University was the latest WCHA school to lose an underclassmen to the NHL this off-season. Sophomore defenseman Matt Donovan signed an entry level contract with the New York Islanders this week. The former 4th round NHL draft pick was a second team All-WCHA defenseman this season. Donovan is the fourth WCHA underclassmen to sign, he joins Wisconsin's Jake Gardiner, Minnesota's Aaron Ness, and St. Cloud's Oliver Lauridsen.

-Odds have been released for the 2011 Frozen Four. According to Bodog.com, North Dakota is the favorite to win the title at even money, Michigan is a +275, Minnesota-Duluth is a +375, and Notre Dame is +425.

-Yesterday when I was talking about the U18 World Championships I shared with you Chris Peters from the United States of Hockey blog's view on Nic Kerdiles. Today he profiled the defensmen including 2011 Wisconsin recruit Jake McCabe. It's a good read and an outstanding blog.

-Believe it or not, Wisconsin assistant coach Gary Shuchuk is now on twitter. Follow him @gshuchuk. Additionally, Craig Smith (@Csmith1515), Chase Drake (@1Cdrake5), Frankie Simonelli (@FSimonelli27), and Jefferson Dahl (@JDahl14) are now on twitter. 2011 goalie recruit Joel Rumpel (@Rumpz91), and 2012 forward recruit Morgan Zulinick (@mzuli15) are also now in the twit game.

Current players Eric Sprigner (@eSprings4), Mark Zengerle (@Zengerle9), and Justin Schultz (@6Schultz6), as well as former players Scott Gudmandson (@ScottGudmandson), John Mitchell (@JohnMitchell24), Sean Dolan (@SeanDolan16), Michael Davies (@MikeGDavies), Ryan Jeffery (@RyanCJeffery), Shane Connelly (@ShaneConnelly), Brett Bennett (@BjBennett88), Zach Bearson (@zbearson), Blake Geoffrion (@BlakeGeoffrion), Brad Winchester (@bradwinchester), Kyle Turris (@kyleturris), Joe Piskula (@skoolz43), Jake Gardiner (@jGardiner272), Cody Goloubef (@cgoloubef27), Brendan Smith (@bssmith7), and Sean Hill (@seanrhill) have been on twitter for a while.

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Street, Bohmbach play in ECHL All-Star game

One of my favorite things to do as a fan of Wisconsin hockey is to check up on former players from the program as they move on in their hockey careers at the professional level.

Two players who were key contributors to the success of the Badger program but maybe didn't get the headlines or the publicity that they necessarily deserved due to being over shadowed by others recently got a chance to compete as professionals in the ECHL All-Star game.

Ben Street and Andy Bohmbach, who both were seniors and influential members of the Badger squad last season who made a run all the way to the National Championship game participated in the 2011 All-Star game hosted by the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday night.

Street, a Coquitlam, BC native is having an outstanding season for the Wheeling Nailers. The former Badger captain's 43 points are good enough for 7th in league scoring. Street's 20 goals are good for 5th in the league. Street is second amongst all rookies in scoring as well. He also leads his club in plus minus with a +17. Street, who took a red shirt due to a severe knee injury in 08-09 was a member of the 2006 Wisconsin National Championship team and finished his Badger career with 93 points in 171 games.

Bohmbach, who hails from Hudson, WI is also playing well in his rookie season. The Toledo Walleye forward has 17 goals and 18 assists this season which is good for 18th in the league in scoring and 4th amongst all rookies. Bohmbach is also leading the Walleye's in scoring and goals scored. Bohmbach who came to the Badgers as a late summer recruit due to the departure of Joe Pavelski more than held up his end of the bargain as a Badger. He finished his career with 24 and 25 point seasons and was a top line winger on last years Frozen Four squad.

Not only did Bohmbach and Street play in the game but both recorded points. Both players were able to pick up assists during their first All-Star event. Both players will be back in action tonight with their respective ECHL teams. Bohmbach and Toledo will host Shane Connelly and the Trenton Devils and Steet and his Wheeling squad go on the road to take on the Elmira Jackals.

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All-WCHA Academic Teams

Saw this earlier but it got lost in the posting shuffle. March 12th the WCHA announced the All-Academic teams.

According to the release, "To earn recognition as a member of the All-WCHA Academic Team, member team student-athletes must meet the following criteria: 1) have completed one year of residency at present institution, prior to the current academic year; and 2) have a grade point average of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his overall GPA is at least 3.00 for all terms at his present institution."

Five Badgers were honored by the WCHA this season. The list is led by second time honoree Ryan McDonagh (Arden Hills, MN) and the only four time winner in the league (due to his extra season with the medical redshirt) Ben Street (Coquitlam, BC). Senior Aaron Bendickson (Thief River Falls, MN), Sophomore Ryan Little (Fond du Lac, WI), and Sophomore Eric Springer (Wrightstown, WI) were awarded recognition by the WCHA for the first time.

Congratulations by all Five Badgers awarded, and to all 119 athletes honored by the WCHA.

09/10 Men's Previews: #22 Ben Street

Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: 5th Year Senior
Shoots Left
Height: 5-11
Weight: 197
Hometown: Coquitlam, BC
Major: Real Estate
Previous Team: Salmon Arm in 04/05

NHL Considerations: He’ll play at some level of the pros (ECHL or AHL) next season if he chooses that direction.

08/09 Stats: 4 games, 1-0-1, E, 8 PIM
07/08 Stats: 40 games, 13-17-30, -3, 36 PIM

09/10 Role: 2nd line, PP, PK

08/09 Recap: Came into the season as a co-Captain w/ Blake Geoffrion, but saw his season end early when he tore up his knee in the fourth game of the season. Was granted a medical redshirt.

Biggest Strength: Ben is one of the best two way forwards on the team, he gives the Badgers everything he has in both ends.

Biggest Weakness: Since he missed most of the season I can’t really remember, which either means he doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses or I just have a faulty memory tonight.

09/10 Thoughts: There should be no player on the Badgers hungrier for the season to start than Ben. Having to sit and watch all those games in street clothes is only fun when you are a fan, not a player. The beginning of the season should be fun, I would expect Ben to go all out and set a great explain for the team to follow. It might have been something they were missing, his leadership, as he returns as a tri-Captain. His leadership style appears to be completely different than Geoffrion’s. Michael Davies is the only other Badger on the team to score 10 or more goals in their first three seasons. As I mentioned, he is a great two-way player, and will fit in there somewhere in the pantheon of Badger PKers.

Ben is also the last remaining link to the ’06 Championship team.

Prediction: 35 games, 12-18-30*
*All predictions for regular season only

Photo from uwbadgers.com

"First practice", Derek Lee, Ben Street, Kelters and more . . .

• Yesterday, The Badgers took the ice @ the KC with the coaching staff for the 1st time this season. Per Andy Baggot's blog post, practices officially start 1 week before the season opener, but the NCAA allows 2 hrs/wk of instruction by the coaching staff starting Sept 15.
  
  Baggot tells us that Derek Lee can't skate with the coaches until a paperwork snafu is resolved, and he also gives us a preliminary look at line combinations.

  P. Johnson-Street-Davies
  Bohmbach-Geoffrion-Turnbull
  Murray-Stepan-Smith
  Mitchell-Dolan-Grotting
  Meuer-Thurber-Bendickson

• I've been waiting for quite sometime for Madison Newspapers to have an article about any random Badger and what they've been doing in the offseason / their outlook on the upcoming season, and yesterday Andy Baggot obliged with an article on Ben Street.
  
  About his summer and rehabbing his knee:
  

  Earlier this summer, Street spent four weeks working out with other college and pro players in Vancouver, looking to measure his rehabilitation.
  
  "The (athletic) trainers basically said, 'We're going to beat the hell out of your knee and then you'll start to trust it,'" he said. "After the first two weeks there, I felt like I was pretty much back."

  About the upcoming season:

  "On paper, I think we look pretty good and stack up as good as anyone else, probably," Street said.
  

  About the first look at line combinations:

  "There's a competitive air kind of laying over everything," Street said. "(Eaves) put some lines up (in the dressing room) so guys could sort of see where they're fitting in.

  "I'm guessing he'll change (the combinations) about 94 more times before the season starts, but it helps guys (see) where they're starting off and who they might be playing with and who's ahead of them."

• I completely missed this last week (sorry!) -- the Badger Herald had an article about the Kelters' playing both soccer and hockey. (Thanks to Boscacci for pointing it out.)

• Good ol' DPlaya found this complimentary article about Brad Winchester.

• DPlaya also found this article about Ron Vincent's ownership of the Penctincton Vees.

• And while I'm stealing from DPlaya, let me refer you to his coverage of Wisconsities in the NAHL Showcase, the NAHL's Future Prospects Tournament, and the USHL preseason. TW Minor is playing in the Future Prospects Tourney.

• Jonathan Willis calls San Jose a winner, Dany Heatley a winner for now, and Ottawa a loser in the blessed end of the Dany Heatley Saga. (Hey, congrats on the new gig, Jonathan!)
  

• BadgersWHockey tells us that Mark Johnson competed in the Ironman again this year.

• NCAA president Myles Brand has passed away from pancreatic cancer. You can find more articles about Brand here.

• Patick Kane traded Badgers Adam Burish and Jack Skille for almost-Badger Sam Gagner in NHL '10. Hmmm. [Thanks, IC.]

• Here's a nice article on Patrick Eaves with the Red Wings. [Thanks again, IC.]
  

Geoffrion to return next season?

Andy Baggot had a post on friday that chances are good co-captain Blake Geoffrion will return for his senior season.

Geoffrion, a second-round NHL draft pick of Nashville in 2006, was asked if he was certain he would play against the Wolverines at Camp Randall Stadium.

"Yes, absolutely,'' he said.

After the get-together inside the UW football offices at Camp Randall, Geoffrion said he met a couple weeks ago with UW coach Mike Eaves and said he was "110 percent'' sure he would be back skating for the Badgers in 2009-10.

Now this isn't the first time something like this has been said. Robbie Earl said he'd be back at the KC celebration following the Badger's 6th NCAA Title, but then alas a contract w/ Toronto came along and he was gone.

I think its safe to say that if Blake Geoffrion returns for his senior season that will very^5 outstanding! Nothing like having your two co-captains back, one from a medical redshirt (Ben Street) and one who you thought was headed to the pros but gives us nice sized glimmer of hope that he'll be back.

BTW, during the senior night presentation last night, it was great to see Ben Street on skates and back in a Badger uniform if only to stand in unity w/ his fellow classmates who joined the Badgers in the Fall of 2005.

Geoffrion doubtful, and other items

• Baggot reports today that Blake Geoffrion is doubtful for this weekend due to a lower body injury.


• Despite no longer having a hockey beat writer, TCT has a couple of articles about Ben Street.


• The Badger Herald talks about filling next year's void left by Vetter's graduation.


• Baggot talks about the need for the new hockey facility planned adjacent to the KC.
  

Street Will Red-Shirt

Many of you have been wondering what the deal is with Badger senior forward Ben Street. As you are all aware, Ben tore his ACL earlier in the season when the Badgers were in Denver. There has been recent speculation that Street may be able to return for the playoffs but Andy Baggot has an update for us today saying he spoke with Eaves and Street is focusing on next season.

While many of us hoped to see Street come back by the end of the season, it was really an un-realistic possibility. An ACL injury is really hard to come back from and I'm really looking forward to what Street can bring to the table next season.

Depending on departures this team could be absolutely loaded next season. The only forward we lose for sure is Tom Gorowsky. More than likely, Blake Geoffrion and John Mitchell will also take their game to the next level and leave Madison. There are always surprises and we could see one or more players go as well but that's not likely. Getting an extra season out of Street, and adding Craig Smith, Derek Lee, and possibly Mark first star Zengerle could really make this team into an NCAA title contender.

(Photo by Red Heat 15)
(Again, thanks to TODDFASTBALL for the heads up)

Good chance Street will not return this season

Todd at TCT has an update and nice article about Ben Street today. The timetable the doctors are giving Ben is toward the 6 months part of the 3 to 6 month recovery that was originally reported. Ben still hasn't had surgery, though it should occur in the next 10 days.

Ben should be eligible for a medical hardship redshirt, but it could be a tough decision if he is ready and the team is making a run later in the season. Ben sums things up pretty well:

"For me, does it really make sense to come back with two or three games left in the season at 50 percent, when I'm not really going to help the team, where I might be able to save myself for a whole another season and really help the team?" he said.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I would love to have Ben back next season if he can't return, he would be a great leader who would be really hunger to make the most of his ice time. Playing devil's advocate, his return removes one scholarship from the table, w/ 5 forwards looking to join us next Fall.


Todd also has another post weekend article about the team. The team is trying to figure out the little things to get past this bump in the road and notch a win. Tom Gorowsky is quoted several times in the article including:

Said fourth-line winger Gorowsky: "I think we're all kind of hungry. I was definitely hungry to get in the lineup. I hadn't played in a while and I wanted to play well."

Lastly, according to the article, Aaron Bendickson will be out again this week, missing his 5th and 6th games of the season. We could really use Bendy back in the lineup.

Ben Street

The Badger Herald today has another article on Ben Street, and this article has some good quotes from Blake Geoffrion, Mike Eaves, and Street himself.

Clearly Street's presence on the ice will be missed, but he is already demonstrating his maturity and leadership ability regarding this situation. Rather than dwelling on the injury, Street indicates he's trying to take the injury in stride and is focusing on what he can do to help the team despite being unable to play.

“We have talked about ‘How do I stay involved with the team? What becomes my role now?’” Eaves said. “I said, ‘Let’s find out what’s going to happen in terms of what they need to do, and we’ll go from there.’”

I feel pretty bad about Street's injury -- never like to see any player suffer a serious injury, and obviously Street is a very important part of this team. But I'm impressed (although not surprised) with Street's response, and I just thought it bore mention.

Glass Half Full . . . & other items

As disappointed as we were after the game looking at that game, we did a lot of really good things. That is one thing we will share with the kids today both verbally and through videotape is that we did a lot of really good things, so that will be a starting point.

I think you can talk about it in two different ways. If you take a look at it from an offensive standpoint — where their strengths lie — they have done pretty well, actually they have done very well. I think with their play away from the puck we saw some real good growth on Saturday night in terms of what we are looking for and things that we are trying to get at.

-- Mike Eaves

Today's Badger Herald rehashes Mike Eaves' Monday presser, including the above quotes from Mike Eaves.

The article also includes Eaves' thoughts on Shane Connelly's play on Friday -- let me point out his tongue was firmly planted in cheek when he said "He needed to make 47 saves" when asked what he told Connelly after he made 46 saves and lost by 1 goal.

As promised, Andy Baggot has more on Ben Street's injury, including Street's response.

You can't be too upset, you can't be too down about it. It is what it is. Things happen for a reason, and we'll just make the best of the situation.

Milewski also a bit more on Street's injury, lamenting what the Badgers' will miss during his absence, most notably a stabilizing force.

Milewski includes the lines from Monday. Keep in mind that Mike Davies and Matt Thurber didn't practice and will likely be slated back into the lineup.

Murray-Geoffrion-Mitchell
Bohmbach-Gorowsky-Turnbull
Grotting-Dolan-Hickey
Johnson-Stepan-Bardis

A couple of non-Badger items:

It appears that The College Hockey [and other stuff] Blog has reemerged. I've added a the link on the left.

INCH has a humorous cocktail napkin this week: Eleven Cost-Saving NCAA Tournament Measures. I think you'll like the ones regarding BC, Michigan, and UND . . .

Next Man In: Tom Gorowsky?

Gandalf already posted Milewski's article about Ben Street's injury; here's Andy Baggot's article as well. Street said, "It's a bad injury", and Baggot indicates he'll have more in Tuesday's WSJ.

In addition to Street's being out, Milewski mentioned that Aaron Bendickson is not expected back for the upcoming series v. minnesota and that Mike Davies and Matt Thurber both missed today's practice due to illness.

I'd expect both Davies and Thurber to play this weekend, but with both Bendickson and Street out there is 1 open spot at forward. Freshman Chris Hickey, sophomore Tom Bardis, and senior Tom Gorowsky will be vying for that spot in the lineup.

Gorowsky was the extra forward skater taken along to Denver, so I'd expect to see him on the ice this weekend. Go TOM!

Ben Street Out 3 to 6 months

Well the news has finally become official, Ben Street will be out at least 3 months. He injured his ACL and will require surgery.

This impacts the teams in a lot of ways.

1) He is really the only senior skater for the Badgers, though Gorowsky might see the ice now w/ his absence.
2) Along w/ Geoffrion he is the most versatile forward on the team, covering PP and PK duties, along w/ the fact that he is a very good center whose faceoff skills will be missed.
3) This leaves only one captain (Geoffrion) so as the article says some assistant captians will be named. I'm guessing that will be some combo of Jamie McBain, Patrick Johnson and Ryan McDonagh.
4) The earliest Ben could be back in the lineup is late January, and that is based on everything falling right. There is a good chance Ben could be looking at a medical redshirt, since he hasn't played in 20% of the contests. I'm looking way ahead, but this is a double edge sword for the Badgers. In the short term, its going to really suck to not have Ben in the lineup, and if he can't return (I hope he doesn't rush himself only to have worse occur upon return ending his career) we'll have him back next year. Considering the circumstances that would be great, but that also eliminates one scholarship for the long list of players waiting for 2009. Playing devil's advocate way ahead, sorry.

Ben's injury means one thing, players are going to have to step up their play and fill the void. Sure Ben hasn't done much offensively this season, but he brings a boat load more to the team than that. Geoffrion might have to move back to center or Matt Thurber might be moving up a few lines and someone else centering the 4th line.

The blog would like to wish Ben the best on his surgery, and a speedy and full recovery, whether that means he returns to help us yet this season, or next Fall.

Ben Street may be out indefinitely . . .

Sounds like we won't know anything for certain until later today or tomorrow, but Andy Baggot is reporting that Ben Street may have a torn ACL, confirming what Coach Osiecki said on the radio Saturday night. And if it's a torn ACL, he'll be out indefinitely . . .

Haven't heard anything yet regarding whether Bendickson will be back this weekend . . .

I've already posted most of the series recaps, but here are a few more from the campus papers for both the Badger Men and the Badger Women:

Badger Men
Daily Cardinal: Wisconsin men's hockey drops two games to Denver
Badger Herald: Lack of experience leads men's hockey to 0-4 start

Badger Women
Daily Cardinal: Lady Badgers cruise past Beavers, remain undefeated

News & Notes: Badger Men, WCHA

• In today's TCT, Todd Milewski has a nice article about freshman forward Derek Stepan. On the top line with Ben Street and Podge Turnbull, Stepan is the only freshman among the top 6 forwards, and it appears he has good chemistry with Ben Street.
  

  "It just seems kind of natural," Street said. "We kind of know where each other is going to be on the ice, which has been a really cool thing. We've only really had captain's practices and a few team practices to try to work that out, but things have been pretty natural, and it's been lots of good chemistry there."

• Andy Baggot found voting in WCHA preseason polls to be a difficult task. In his votes, he placed Wisconsin 2nd.


• All men's games will be broadcast on the Wisconsin Radio Network. For those outside of the listening area, the broadcasts will be available online (for a fee) on yahoo sports (although I don't see hockey listed there yet). Brian Posick will be calling the games with Director of Hockey Ops Mike Cerniglia.
  


• I didn't catch tonight's broadcast, but Brian Posick kicked off his Wisconsin Hockey Show on the Wisconsin Radio Network (WIBA in Madison). Looks like the show will air mosts Tuesdays at 7 PM.
  


• CHN has released Part 1 and Part 2 of their WCHA preseason preview. They are projecting Wisconsin to finish 7th.


• CHN has an article on CC's Richard Bachman and the strenght of goaltending in the WCHA.


• Today, the WCHA conducted it's annual preseason media teleconference with Bruce McLeod and the 10 head coaches.
  

Men's Player Previews: #22 Ben Street

Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: Senior
Shoots Left
Height: 5-11
Weight: 203
Hometown: Coquitlam, B.C.
Previous Team: Salmon Arm (BCHL) in 04/05

NHL Considerations: I would expect Ben to sign a minor league contract following the season.

07/08 Stats: 40 games, 13-17-30, -3, 36 PIM
06/07 Stats: 41 games, 10-7-17, -2, 16 PIM

08/09 Role: 1st or 2nd EV line, PP & PK

07/08 Recap: Ben had another strong year for the Cardinal and White last year, tied for the team lead in goals and 2nd in points. His point production took a big jump. He served the team as assistant captain. Ben started the season on LW w/ Kyle Turris at center, but after trying to find the right RW to go w/ the two BC natives, Eaves moved him to the 2nd line center, where I thought he did the most good for the Badgers. Along w/ Blake Geoffrion, Ben was one of the most versatile players logging minutes on the PP and PK. Ben brought a great effort every night and did his leading w/ his play on the ice.

08/09 Thoughts: Ben is one of three scholarship seniors to return this season, and he has by far seen the most game action totalling 124 games in 3 seasons. I don't think he has missed a single game in his entire Badger career. There was some talk he might sign if the right deal came along in the off season, but 60 assured me that Ben's mother was adamant about him getting a degree. Ben will split the captain's duties w/ Blake Geoffrion, and that is a well deserved honor for such a hardworking leader. I think Ben fits in best as a C instead of LW. It will be interesting to see how the lines shake out to start the season. I'm looking forward to a great conclusion to Ben's career, he does everything for the Badgers, and that should translate into another fine season.

Prediction: 36 games, 12-18-30

Photo from uwbadgers.com

Season Preview: Seniors

Still a tad over 2 months til the season starts out east at Boston College, but its time to slowly work our way back into the swing of things w/ some season previews. I plan to start this month by taking a look each week at each of the respective classes compromising the Wisconsin Badgers Men's Hockey team this season. Today I'll start w/ the seniors. I'm just going to preview the Men's team at this point. I just started following the Women last season, shame on me, so I honestly don't know enough to thoroughly cover them.

The senior class of any college program is usually seen as the backbone of the team due to experience and the additional development a player should receive being in the system for 3 years. In the landscape of college hockey, few if any of the top players across the country make it to their seniors seasons. For example, Jack Skille would have been a senior this season had he stayed in school. Small senior classes will probably be the norm moving forward.

Wisconsin will have 5 seniors on the roster for the 2008/2009 season, but only two of those seniors played a large role on the team last season. Shane Connelly will return in goal, and forward Ben Street will co-captain the Badgers. They are joined by forward Tom Gorowsky, and walk-on goalies Ryan Jeffery and Jeff Henderson. Its notable that their are no defensemen in the senior class. These young men were freshman when Wisconsin won their 6th National Championship, and are the last link to that team.

Shane Connelly is coming off a pretty good season. I've seen a handful of people on message boards saying the opposite, but its few and far between. While Shane's numbers were middle of the pack in the WCHA, Shane wasn't the reason that Wisconsin almost missed the post season for a second consecutive season. The team didn't score enough goals plain and simple. While not spectacular, Shane kept the team in position to win almost every night, what more can you ask? One series in particular against CC at home really sticks in my head to support my argument. Shane did his part, but scoring one goal on the weekend (nice work Sean Dolan) isn't going to translate into wins (WJC departures are not a good enough excuse), even w/ Brian Elliott or Curtis Joseph in net.

I expect much of the same out of Shane this coming season, and I except him to improve. Shane should be pushed by sophomore Scott Gudmandson, hopefully bringing out his best during his last season in Madison.

Ryan Jeffery and Jeff Henderson will be completing their careers at Wisconsin as well. Though neither have seen any ice time in net during a game, their role on the team is critical during practices. I really hope they both find their way into a game this season, possibly during the Badger Hockey Showdown. If not, they still walk away w/ an unforgettable experience and a top notch college education.

As mentioned earlier, Ben Street will co-captain the Badgers along w/ Blake Geoffrion. Ben has been a very consistent producer during his first 3 seasons as a Badger and one of the top forwards on the team. Similar to Connelly, Ben's role on the team this season is very important, not only from a leadership stand point, but as a point producer. Ben can play on the PP and the PK, making him one of the most versitile forwards (along w/ Geoffrion) on the team. Street's play will do the captain's C on this chest justice all season long.

The final senior on the team is Tom Gorowsky. Over the past few weeks, 60 and I have both expressed our thoughts about Tom's situation for the coming season. Tom didn't play much last season especially in the 2008 portion. It could be just as hard for him to crack the lineup this season even w/ the departures of Matt Ford and Kyle Turris; Wisconsin has added a solid freshman class who will all be looking for significant playing time. Hopefully Tom's last season in Madison ends on a high note.

All in all, while the senior class is not huge, Ben Street and Shane Connelly will both be important pieces of the puzzle during the 2008/2009 season. As fans, I think those are two players we can count on game in and game out. Tom Gorowsky is the wild card of the senior class.

Next week, I'll take a look at the juniors. While the senior class is pretty cut and dry, the junior class is chalked full of forwards and question marks, and I'm of the opinion that their play will be one of the keys in whether the ship that is the Wisconsin Badgers Men's Hockey team sinks or sails toward the horizon w/ National Title #7.

Co-Captains for Next Season

Per Todd at TCT and the UW Press Release, Ben Street and Blake Geoffrion will both wear the Captain's C next season and there will be no Assistant Captains.

Not surprised that either of them were named as part of the Captain group, but surprised that Jamie McBain was not included in someway. Both Ben and Blake are very deserving of the recognition and are leaders on the ice. They will lead the team to great things next season.

Congrats to Ben and Blake!!!

Both pieces also talk about award winners from the end of season banquet. Davis Drewiske was named MVP, "Big" John Mitchell was named Most Improved and Jamie McBain was named Most Consistent. Check out the links for the rest of the awards.