Actual vs Predicted: Goalies

Before the season started, I did a preview for every player on the Men’s Hockey team. In that preview, I included a prediction on the regular season production, and now w/ the season over I thought it would be a good time to take a look back at the team.

Also, I thought it would be fun to include a grade for each player. The grade I’m going to give will be a combination of how successful I think a player’s season was, and how well they exceeded, met or left fans wanting based on expectations coming into the season. Players like Tom Gorowsky and Andy Bohmbach will score higher for example, while Michael Davies would score lower based on expectations. Grades will be the regular A thru F w/ I (for incomplete) for a handful who didn’t see much action. This isn’t a new age grading scale where everyone gets an A to avoid any hard feelings, though I don’t plan to hand out any really bad grades.

Obviously these grades are my opinion and a reminder all stats are regular season only, so if you see the total stats for the season elsewhere they won’t be the same for most players.

So let’s start w/ the goaltenders.

Jeff Henderson & Ryan Jeffery – Grade: I (incomplete)

Neither player saw any game action in their final season in Madison, but their role in practice helping to make the rest of the team better should not be understated. I was hoping they would each see a little action in a game that was in hand, but when were any games this season in hand before the final buzzer? GL to both young men in their future endeavors.

Scott Gudmandson – Grade: I
Actual stats: 3 starts, 1-2-0, 3.83 GAA, 0.881 save %
Predicted stats: 8 starts, 4-3-1, 2.52 GAA

Gudmandson didn’t get enough games IMO to get a grade. He started a few games early in the season, was horrible in the first two, and shut out Tech in the third. Down the stretch he didn’t see much action at all, though he looked decent Saturday night at home against Denver when Connelly was pulled after the 1st period. Tough spot to come into, the team was reeling w/ no heart left to play the game. Gudmandson needs to step it up next season if he wants to be the starter. Brett Bennett is having a great season in the USHL and will be thirsty to make up for lost time in college hockey.

Shane Connelly – Grade: B
Actual stats: 33 starts, 16-13-4, 2.60 GAA, 0.910 save % (those are both close for the regular season)
Predicted stats: 28 starts, 17-7-4, 2.25 GAA

I’m not going to beat around the bush, I think Connelly had a pretty good season. There are a lot of Badger fans out there that like to lump the Badgers lack of success on his shoulders and say that he isn’t a “championship” level goaltender. Is he Brian Elliott? No, who is? As fans, we were spoiled by Elliott and unfortunately for Connelly he was the next goalie in line, so the expectations were high, though I think unfairly high. Let’s take a look at how he compared to other WCHA goalies. The only goalies that really stick out from the group are Alex Stalock and Marc Cheverie. In save % during conferences games, there is a log jam between .913 and .909%. Where does Connelly fall into that group? Right behind Richard Bachman, and right ahead of Jase Weslosky and Brad Eidsness, all who are NHL draft picks (w/ Bachman having signed a contract already w/ Dallas). Way behind is Alex Kangas. His GAA is 4th overall as well.

Could Connelly have made a few more timely saves and the team in turn won a few more games? No doubt, the Saturday N. Michigan and Friday Denver game stick out in my head. Could the team have actually finished on some of the goal scoring opportunities to lift the team to victory when Connelly put them into position to win? You better believe they could have, this team had a problem not only finishing games this season, but finishing around the net. There were several nights in the 2nd half of the season where the Badgers were the better team, but that didn’t translate onto the scoreboard.

This season the team never bailed Connelly out when he had an off night, and what goalie isn’t going to have an off night? On the flip side, Connelly put the team in position to win several games, but the team didn’t do its part to win. A few examples would be Saturday night against Colorado College and Duluth (especially this game), against Lake State in the showdown and Friday night at home against North Dakota. If the team’s offensive has some timely goal scoring in ONE of these games, or if there isn’t a huge blunder by one of the skaters, the team dances in the NCAA tourney. Pretty hard to just blame Connelly for the team’s struggles.

Would the team have swept their hated rival the gophers on the road if not for big save after big save by Shane Connelly? Did we not all enjoy this series?

Lastly, after starting 0-6-1, by Christmas the team had turned things around to 9-7-2. During the 9-1-1 stretch, Connelly had a roughly 1.90 GAA. Would the team have turned things around w/ out him backstopping them? There might not have been any hope at an NCAA tourney berth after Christmas if not for Connelly’s great play during that stretch. He struggled down the stretch on a few nights, but the overall body of work this season was pretty good, and fans seem to quickly forget the successes after a few stinging disappointments.

I have no problem being on record saying Shane Connelly was a good goaltender and I would like to thank him for his efforts during his Badger career helping to put the team in position to be successful and wish him the best in the future whether that is in a hockey rink or in the “exciting” working world. I’m not saying he is an all-time great and he definitely could have been more consistent at times, but he had a fine Badger career and we should thank him for this.

I feel better now; this has bothered me for a few weeks. When the team won, Connelly is great, when the team lost it was all his fault and the dissenters came out of the woodwork to disappear again after the next win. I now rest my case.

Henderson's AHL Stay Short Lived

Well it was fun while it lasted for Wisconsin career third stringer Jeff Henderson. As we noted on Sunday, Henderson was added to the roster of the Minnesota Wild's AHL affiliate the Houston Aeros. Monday morning, Henderson was released by the Aeros.

Like we mentioned, Houston was in a position of emergency when the Wild called up goaltender Anton Khudobin late on Sunday because thier starting goalie, Niklas Backstrom was banged up and wasn't sure if he could suit up on Sunday night against the Oilers. With Houston assistant coach Troy Ward's familiarity with the Badger program, all it took was a phone call to get Henderson to drive to Rockford, IL on short notice to be an emergency backup for the Aeros Sunday night.

Regardless, it's some nice publicity for Henderson. Now he can tell his kids some day that he played at the highest level of minor league hockey. Not bad for a guy who never even touched the ice at the college level.

Jeff Henderson is in the AHL

Apparently, Wisconsin career third stringer/practice goalie Jeff Henderson has been signed by the American Hockey Leagues Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild Affiliate).

Forgive me for saying this, but I almost fell off my chair when I heard the news. Of course, no offense intended to Jeff, but the closest hes come to seeing ANY game action at the University of Wisconsin was when Brian Elliott went down with an injury during the 2006 National Championship season and Shane Connelly was forced into action.

Keep in mind that this is only an amateur tryout offer I would expect that Henderson is only in Houston for a short time. More often than not, in this scenario Houston was in dire need of a goalie to basically sit on the bench in an emergency situation. With the Aero's strong connection to Wisconsin (Troy Ward is the assistant), all it took was one phone call to his old boss to get Henderson to Rockford to sit on the bench tonight against the Ice Hogs.

According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Minnesota Wild starting goaltender, Niklas Backstrom is bothered by "lower body soreness" after he stopped 37 shots in a 3-2 loss last night to Calgary. Anton Khudobin, was re-called on loan from the Aeros to the Wild in case of emergency as the Wild finish up a 4 game road trip tonight in Edmonton.

Regardless, this is a great opportunity for a kid who hasn't received a lot of recognition while he's been with the Badgers. Henderson and fellow practice goalie Ryan Jeffery practiced with the team every day for 4 seasons knowing they would never see a second of ice time. It's nice to see that good things happen when you put in the work. Congrats Jeff, enjoy every minute of it.

Men's Player Previews: #29 Jeff Henderson

Vitals:

Position: Goalie
Year in School: Senior
Catches Left
Height: 6-2
Weight: 182
Hometown: Menomonie, WI
Previous Team: Menomonie HS in 04/05

NHL Considerations: None at this time.

07/08 Stats: DNP
06/07 Stats: DNP

08/09 Role: walk-on goalie

07/08 Recap: Jeff didn't see any game action again last season, after suiting up for a few games as the backup his freshman year.

08/09 Thoughts: I doubt Jeff will see any action his senior year, but you never know what might happen, prehaps during the Badger Hockey Showdown. Regardless, the role that Jeff plays is invaluable to the development of the team in practice. In the end, Jeff will leave Madison w/ an education, and some great memories being part of the greatest College Hockey program in the country.

Prediction: 20 minutes of action 1 GA

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.

Jeff Henderson Small Business Owner

My mailbox contained the Wisconsin Athletics Badger Update today, and glancing through it, there is a piece on backup goalie Jeff Henderson.

"Before he arrived at Wisconsin, Henderson had a background in business. As a freshman in high school, he started growing pumpkins and selling them to local grocery stores in his hometown of Menomonie, WI. This business has since grown, with his brother now taking care of much of the business while Henderson, a junior, studies economics. They now sell to stores throughout Minneapolis and northwest Wisconsin. Henderson also wears a pumpkin on the back of his goalie mask to honor the businees."

Nice to see some press on a walk-on athlete like Jeff. Jeff and Ryan Jeffery will both be seniors this season and hopefully Coach Eaves will find a way to get them both a little action. Though I'm sure they don't get the one on one time w/ Bill Howard that Shane Connelly, Brian Elliot and Scott Gudmandson have gotten in the past 3 seasons, but they play an important role on the team and deserve some recognition.