For the Wisconsin men's hockey team (8-3-5 Western Collegiate Hockey Association, 14-5-5 overall), winter break was like a month-long roller coaster ride. Unbeaten streaks survived long enough to break records but were eventually ended, players left to lead the United States to its first-ever World Junior Championship victory, and when all was said and done the Badgers led the WCHA.
The break opened with a home series against Minnesota State. Wisconsin gained a sweep with 4-1 and 3-2 victories, tying the school-record with their 14th straight game without a loss.
The Kohl Center hosted the Badger Hockey Showdown for the first time in the 15-year history of the tournament. The Badgers, coached by Associate Head Coach Troy Ward started the weekend with an 8-1 win over Union College. The win extended the team's nation-leading unbeaten streak to a school-record 15 games heading into the championship game.
However, Ferris State used the next game to extend a streak of their own and ended the Badgers' streak with a 3-1 win. Ferris State goalie Mike Brown took home the Most Outstanding Player honor after making 38 saves in the championship game.
Wisconsin bounced back the next weekend in a series at Minnesota State. The Badgers used a 3-3 tie and a 6-2 victory to extend their WCHA unbeaten streak to 12 games. The three points also gave them a share of first place in the conference.
""cp_showmedia position=""2"" align=""right"" border=""0"">
""I was pretty satisfied overall, through that whole experience,"" Ward said of his time as head coach.
A new Wisconsin Badger took the ice in Mankato and made a strong first impression. Freshman forward Ross Carlson joined the team after using the first half of the year to recover from injury. The freshman had one goal and two assists on the weekend, good enough to earn WCHA Rookie of the Week honors.
Carlson and a full Wisconsin roster then returned to Madison for a home series against Michigan Tech. Records were set on Friday night before another letdown on Saturday.
With a 4-2 win Friday night Wisconsin set the school record for longest WCHA unbeaten streak (13 games). Also, goalie Bernd Br??ckler set a school record by extending his unbeaten streak to 15 games. However, both streaks would be snapped in a disappointing Saturday night loss.
Last-place Michigan Tech outplayed the first-place Badgers in the series finale and skated off with a 3-2 victory. The re-insertion of Dowell, Suter and Likens into the lineup was one reason Eaves gave for the team's ""dysfunctional"" play in arguably their worst game this season.
""I think we need to, first of all, we need our players to reconnect,"" Eaves said. ""We played disconnected as a team. I, as a coach, need to reconnect with the players.""
Nonetheless, the two points gave Wisconsin the outright lead in the WCHA. The Badgers will look to start a brand new streak with a non-conference series against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center this weekend before starting a crucial stretch of conference games.
