The 2002-'03 year was a breakout year for many freshmen on the Badger men's hockey team. One of which was Badger center A.J. Degenhardt. Degenhardt, a LaCrosse, Wis. native, scored 12 points in his first season as a Badger while playing for the team he watched and dreamed of as a kid. Now a sophomore, Degenhardt is primed to improve on his freshman campaign and, hopefully, help the Badgers attain Western Collegiate Hockey Association supremacy and also get back into the postseason.
The Daily Cardinal: You're from LaCrosse. What's it like representing your home state in college hockey?
A.J. Degenhardt: It's exciting. It was always a dream. I grew up watching them and coming down to watch the Badgers play. If I could have picked one place, when I was younger, to play, it would have been here.
DC: Is that what made you decide to come here?
AD: It helped in the decision. There were other schools to go up against, but you look at the education and the workout and the program they have. It was a pretty easy decision.
DC: Do you have any superstitions or pregame rituals that you go through?
AD: I just dress from right to left in the locker room. I try to get at least a two hour nap in before the game.
DC: You played with linemate Adam Burish in Green Bay. How has that relationship helped on the ice?
AD: I was there for two years and he was there the first year and didn't play because of his knee and rehab so I got to know him, and then the second year we were on the same line for at least three quarters of the season. So coming in we already had a little chemistry playing together, so it helps a lot.
DC: One year in the books. Evaluate yourself on your freshman year.
AD: I think it was a pretty good year. It was a big learning step for me. I wish I could have maybe put up a few more points. I had a lot of scoring chances and didn't score as many as I'd hoped to. But overall I think it was a pretty good first season.
DC: Last year was a rough year for the team, yet the team has managed to really turn it around this year. Explain that transformation.
AD: Well, I think we had guys that were used to Coach Sauer's ways and guys that were seeing something different with Coach Eaves. Whenever a new coach comes in, there's going to be a learning curve. I think having a year under our belts now, everyone's buying into the system.
DC: You're in the middle of a very important stretch of games. What do you expect of yourself and the team during this stretch run to the playoffs?
AD: My role on the team is to give energy and as a line we're supposed to shut down the other team's top line. As a team we're starting to buckle down and get into the final games, so every win's important, especially coming into this Minnesota series with four points at stake. This will be an important weekend for us.
