For any freshman entering his first year at Wisconsin, it can sometimes be hard to find where he fits in, whether it be in academics, friendships or athletics. For freshmen forwards Joe Pavelski and Matt Auffrey, it did not take long to fit in as two of the latest offensive additions on the No. 5 Wisconsin hockey team (2-0-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Associaton, 4-0-0 overall).
Before they rose together as a tandem of talent, they had unique paths to becoming a Badger.
\It's a little weird for me because I'm from New York,"" Auffrey said regarding his decision to play at Wisconsin. ""With coach Eaves coming here, it really attracted me, and I didn't even know too much about Wisconsin hockey before I even came here, so he really introduced me to it and showed me the atmosphere. Madison is great and I'm really enjoying it.""
""Every week I get to play, I get a huge number of fans here from my hometown (Plover, Wis.), so there's been that and the atmosphere has been really good because it's the best chance for me to succeed day in and day out so it was really a no-brainer for me,"" Pavelski said.
Pavelski and Auffrey got a head start on their college experience when they stayed in Madison to work with the team over the summer. Hockey aside, the new freshmen, along with six others, had to get used to living on their own for the first time. Their mothers would be happy to know that they had some upperclassmen helping them survive.
""During the summer some of them didn't know how to cook macaroni and cheese,"" junior forward and team captain Adam Burish said. ""So we had to show some of them how to cook for the first time on their own. They're a good bunch of guys though, so we had fun with them.""
Of course Pavelski and Auffrey denied that they needed any assistance in the kitchen, but there was no denying that there would be adjustments needed on the ice as well. Both realized early on how different playing at the collegiate level was going to be.
""Just the speed of the game has taken a while to get used to,"" Auffrey said. ""Offensively... it comes more naturally for us, but defensively we feel that we both have really learned a lot and it's really helped us pick up our game but we still have more to go.""
Though there are more adjustments to be made, the upperclassmen have taken notice of the progress Auffrey and Pavelski have made since their first day on the ice.
""Each day they feel more and more comfortable and they're feeling better with the systems they've had to learn,"" junior Ryan MacMurchy said. ""They're great players, it's just a matter of feeling comfortable playing at a new level and getting used to new surroundings and their hockey play will take care of the rest.""
""When you first come in as a freshman, you're not as comfortable with the puck and not as comfortable with the guys on the team,"" Burish said. ""Their confidence has improved a lot and that's shown throughout the weekends.""
This increased confidence has helped both of them fit in with their linemates, as well as the offense, during the first two series of the season. Auffrey is playing on a line with MacMurchy and sophomore Andrew Jourdey. He tallied a goal in the season-opening series against Mercyhurst and an assist last weekend against Michigan Tech.
Pavelski is on a line with Burish and sophomore Robbie Earl, and he has already garnered WCHA Rookie of the Week honors after his performance in the Michigan Tech series. He contributed a goal and an assist in each game and his eight points (three goals, five assists) currently lead the team.
""It feels good [to get that award] but that's just not all you,"" Pavelski said humbly. ""Whenever you have that kind of weekend or something, you've got to look at your linemates too. Earl and Burish and the rest of the guys around the puck all helped contribute to that.""
This years team plans to continue on with its defensive mentality, but with Pavelski and Auffrey, a few more goals might continue to show up on the scoreboard during each series.
""We're still a defensive team and we still take pride in having a low-goal average, but at the same time [Mike Eaves] gives us a little more free reign because he sees the ability we have with our forwards,"" Burish said. ""[Pavelski and Auffrey] have been fantastic. They've given our team a big offensive boost. They're really talented offensive players and they give our team that added offensive punch that we've kind of seen so far this year.""
