Smith suspended for an additional game, Lee cleared to play, & other news

• In addition to sitting out this Friday's game v. UNH due to his game disqualification associated with his check-from-behind on Mankato's Geoff Irwin last Saturday, Craig Smith will also be sitting out this Saturday's game, as the WCHA handed down an additional game suspension yesterday. Andy Baggot writes about it in his blog and the WSJ, and here's the uwbadgers release. Shane Frederick reports that Irwin will miss both games at Denver this weekend due to an upper body injury.

• Derek Lee has finally received clearance to play by the NCAA. Baggot writes about it in the same blog post and WSJ article linked above, and here's the uwbadgers release.

• Mike Eaves and Tracey DeKeyser addressed the media Monday in their weekly press conferences.

• Andy Baggot has 5 good minutes with Brett Bennett.

• Olivia Jakiel returned to her blog this week.

• Tom Hager of the Badger Herald has a nice article about Lauren Unser, as well as an article about the Badger Women's early struggles and goaltending battle.

• The Badger Herald finally has a recap of the Badger Men's games last weekend.

• As expected, with the the Hawks off until Thursday, Jake Dowell was sent back to Rockford yesterday. The Icehogs play tonight @ the Chicago Wolves.
  

Badger Women split to open season

Friday night the 2009 Championship Banner was added to the rafters at the Kohl Center, unfortunately the celebration was on the wrong end of the ice when the final buzzer went off. North Dakota Lady Sioux gained their 1st ever victory against the Cardinal and White in a 2-0 shocker (to some).

The Sioux goalie was outstanding (giving credit where it was due) and the officiating was horrible (same on saturday night), but the Badgers didn't capitalize on several chances. The Badgers dominated most of the game, especially the 2nd period, but couldn't sneak anything by. In the 3rd period, several Badgers tried to win the game by themselves, and the team game evaporated, and then the frustration started and penalties basically ended the game w/ 4 minutes to go, as the Badgers PKed it til there was 7 seconds left.

I wasn't completely shocked by the outcome and here is why. The Badgers graduated the most successful class in school history including the best goalie in NCAA history. Hilary Knight and Meghan Duggan are off preparing for the Olympics, and would have been the top two returning scorers. Alannah McCready, who started friday night, had little experience since Jessie played so often. Filling the gaps on offense will take time and the blue line saw three new faces. Team Chemistry is not instantaneous. North Dakota already played two games last weekend; the Badgers were definitely rusty on friday night.

The rust was gone on saturday night. The Badgers dominated almost the entire game, the Sioux did make a push late in the 3rd period. Becca Ruegsegger played her first game in the goal, and pitched a shutout as the Badgers won 3-0. Freshman were key in the victory. Besides Ruegsegger, Brianna Decker was phenomenal scoring 2 goals (both assisted by Jasmine Giles), while walk-on Lauren Unser notched her first goal assisted by Stepanie McKeough and Junior Maria Evans. Decker is going to be something special, but she did leave the game after her second goal, after schooling several Sioux players, she flew into the net shortly after the puck and hit the crossbar. She did not return following the 2nd period.

It will take some time for the team to come together, by the time they return later in the month for a 4 weekend home stand, they should be fine.

Line combos for those interested.

Giles-Decker-Ammerman
Prevost-Deluce-Sanders
Kranz-Nash-Frykas
Evans-Prough-Unser

The defenders were rotated on friday as 7 played, though on saturday I remember the following combos:

Haverstock-Dronen
Windmeier-Jakiel
Pacholok-McKeough

Geena Prough played D on friday and forward on saturday. She was great in either role and a great addition to the team.

It will be an interesting season for the Badger Women, there could be some ups and downs, but the only thing that really matters is how the finish in the end. One poor game doesn't make a season.

09/10 Women's Previews: #21 Lauren Unser

Vitals:

Position: Forward
Year in School: Freshman
Shoots Right
Height: 5-4
Hometown: West Salem, WI
Major: undeclared
Previous Team: Madison Capitols last season

08/09 Stats: ???

09/10 Role: 4th line

08/09 Recap: Lauren played the last few seasons w/ the Madison Capitols winning three state championships. She also competed in cross-country and track and field at West Salem. In the Spring she helped West Salem to a 2nd place team finish in DII w/ the fastest time in all divisions on her way to winning the 400m, and was a part of the team that won the 4x800 title and was 3rd in the 200m.

09/10 Thoughts: Lauren joins the team as a walk on, but should see some PT this season as the team is a little short handed to start the season. Beyond that I don’t know much about Lauren, but glad to have another WI native in the Cardinal and White.

Prediction: 10 games, 1-2-3*
*All predictions for regular season only

Photo from uwbadgers.com

Two Badger recruits win State Titles

Earlier today, 2010 Men's recruit Cody Strang won his second consecutive DII State golf title at University Ridge. Congrats Cody! Here is the WSJ article.

Last weekend, 2009 Women's recruit Lauren Unser dominated at the State Track & Field championships. In DII, she helped West Salem to a 2nd place team finish w/ the fastest time in all divisions on her way to winning the 400m, in addition she was a part of the team who won the 4x800 title and was 3rd in the 200m. Congrats to Lauren!

Badger Women news

A bunch of Badger Women's news to update. If you want to re-live the Badger Women's incredibly successful season, check out this link to the video. Haven't watched it yet, but I assume its awesome and full of countless goals that involve the combination of Knight/Lawler/Keseley.

The Women recently had their awards banquet. From the article the winners were:

Lawler received the Badger Award for being the most inspiring player Vetter was honored with the Jeff Sauer Award for being the most dedicated player. Matthews was named the defensive player of the year, while sophomore Hilary Knight garnered the offensive player of the year award. Freshman Brooke Ammerman was recognized as the rookie of the year.

Lastly, the 2009 recruiting class has been rounded out. Defender Stefanie McKeough from Carlsbad Springs, Ontario and walk-on forward Lauren Unser from West Salem, WI join D Saige Pachlock, F Brianna Decker, F Breann Frykas and G Becca Ruegseggar in the 2009 class.

McKeough has played extensively in International competition w/ Team Canada and was recently teammates w/ Pachlock and Frykas over the Winter. It appears Mark Johnson and company have once again assembled another great class to attempt to replace six young women that won 3 National Championships during their tenure.

Decker and Unser replace Rachel Bible and Jessie Vetter as Wisconsin natives playing for the Badgers.

In case you live under a rock or just discovered television and/or the internet, the Badger Women will be defending their National Championship this upcoming season, and I think they have a decent chance even w/ Mark Johnson, Hilary Knight and possibly Meghan Duggan off at the Olympics.

Badger Women land another Recruit for 2009

Lauren Unser of West Salem, WI who currently plays for the Madison Capitols U19 team has committed to wear the Cardinal and White for Mark Johnson starting next Fall. Thanks to Dplaya over at HIW for the info, and that link includes Lauren's own recruiting video, so check it out.

Lauren will be on partial scholarship and it sounds like a lot of schools were interested in her services.

Unser, who also is a member of the state-bound West Salem girls cross country team, as well as the track and field team, said 17 Division I hockey programs sought her services. Unser initially considered the University of Minnesota, and she also looked at both Ohio State and Boston University.

You made a great choice Lauren, glad to see another Wisconsin native land on the Women's team.

As Dplaya also points out, the 2009 recruiting class is starting to come together, Lauren joins forward Brianna Decker, defenseman Alev Kelter, forward Derya Kelterand andgoaltender Rebecca Ruegsegger. By my math Wisconsin might still need a forward and defenseman as part of this class to round things out though forward Carla Pentimone will be part of the team next year after transferring from Sacred Heart and sitting out this season.