The Badger men's hockey team hosted Michigan Tech Friday and Saturday nights in their Western Collegiate Hockey Association home opener to split the series. The Huskies controlled the game Friday and shut out the Badgers 1-0, ending their 10-game losing streak. However, UW bounced back from Friday's loss and dominated the ice Saturday, producing a score of 5-0.
The Badgers looked sluggish Friday as they struggled to keep up with Michigan Tech's offensive line.
\It was frustrating because we were really flat,"" Head Coach Jeff Sauer said. ""We never were in sync tonight. ?? We never just got going.""
Michigan Tech scored the only goal early in the second period when a shot by Husky sophomore center Jon Pittis sailed over UW goaltender Scott Kabotoff's shoulder and through sophomore defenseman Dan Boeser's legs. Pittis was assisted by freshmen Clay Wilson and Colin Murphy.
""I don't think that we played close to our potential tonight,"" junior forward Brad Winchester said. ""We just didn't have that jump.""
Despite the loss to the Huskies Friday, UW returned Saturday in full force, defeating Michigan Tech 5-0 in a penalty-laden game. The Badgers came back with a smoother, quicker skating style and with a more assertive attitude, taking 36 shots on the goal, as opposed to 21 on Friday.
""I thought the first two periods we were just excellent,"" Sauer said. ""I thought we did a lot of things better than we did last night.""
UW demonstrated energy early when sophomore defenseman Andy Wozniewski scored courtesy of Winchester and Boeser.
The Badgers put the puck in the net a second time shortly thereafter on a Wisconsin power play when senior winger David Hukalo, slid the puck past the goalie.
UW earned its third goal of the night when Winchester and Boeser teamed up to assist left wing senior Matt Hussey.
While the Badgers were scoreless in the second period, their strong starting line put another point on the board when senior lineman and team captain Andy Wheeler scored on a long shot with an assist by Hukalo.
At 6:42 in the third period, a fight erupted that disqualified MT's Paul Cabana and UW's senior center Kent Davyduke. Husky Chris Durno received penalties for roughing, cross checking and misconduct, while Wheeler had unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing and misconduct.
""I'm not real pleased with what happened there,"" a frustrated Sauer said.
Both Wisconsin and Michigan Tech racked up more penalties before the game ended, with UW suffering four penalties before the buzzer sounded.
The women's hockey team was swept on the road this weekend by the No. 5 University of New Hampshire Wildcats. The Wildcats defeated the Badgers 3-0 Friday and 2-0 Saturday.
Friday, the Wildcats scored two of their three goals early in the first period while Wisconsin failed to score, despite its pressing style of play.
The women returned to the ice Saturday but came out of the game scoreless, the first time the women have been swept and shut out in the history of the program.
