Scrappy Bemidji State squad awaits top ranked Badgers
The road to the Frozen Four makes its first stop in Green Bay Saturday when the top seeded Wisconsin men's hockey team (26-10-3) takes on fourth seeded Bemidji State Beavers (20-13-3), champions of the College Hockey America Conference tournament.
The Badgers are heavy favorites, but cannot overlook a potential spoiler in Bemidji State.
They [Bemidji] were in the tournament last year. They took Denver to overtime, so we have to be very understanding of what they're capable of doing,\ head coach Mike Eaves said.
After that overtime game, Denver went on to win its second-consecutive national title.
The Beavers have had some success against WCHA teams this season, including sweeps against two teams that have beat the Badgers in conference play.
""They played Minnesota State and Duluth and beat those folks. Then they went into North Dakota and played very well,"" Eaves said.
In successive weekends in October, the Beavers swept Minnesota-Duluth in Duluth, and then swept Minnesota State-Mankato at home.
In a home-and-home series with North Dakota in mid-December, the Beavers skated to a 2-1 loss at home, then traveled to North Dakota where the Fighting Sioux handed them a 5-1 defeat.
Entering the tournament, the Badgers are preparing themselves for a higher intensity, down-to-the-wire type of play.
""Mistakes will cost you in this tournament. It's going to be one goal games from here on out so you've got to take it a period at a time,"" senior defenseman Tom Gilbert said.
If Gilbert is right and Saturday's contest with the Beavers comes down to one goal, the Badgers could perhaps be at another advantage.
In one-goal games thus far this season Bemidji state has a record of five wins and nine losses, whereas the Badgers' record in one-goal games is almost the inverse, standing at 8-4.
The Beavers have a high-speed offense capable of putting up some large numbers; they finished the regular season sixth in the nation in goals per game at 3.47.
""Their forwards are quick and small, their most talented players are probably 5'8', 5'9', 165-185 lbs. and they can get after you with their speed and quickness,"" Eaves said. ""They're like that little dog that bites your pant leg and won't let go.""
Eaves' estimates were close. Bemidji's leading scorers are junior forward Luke Erickson, who is listed at 5'9' and 160 lbs. and first on the points list, followed by Ryan Miller, listed at 5'8', 180 lbs.
Many tournament upsets in the past have come as a result of superb goaltending, and the Beavers have two capable netminders. Junior Layne Sedevie and sophomore Matt Climie have split time this season almost evenly.
Both goaltenders have respectable numbers and could potentially play better than advertised, but do not forget the Badgers will have Hobey Baker Award finalist Brian Elliott between the pipes.
The winner of Saturday's game will face off Sunday against the winner of the No. 2 seed Cornell (21-8-4) and third seed Colorado College (24-15-2) game.
The Badgers are 3-0-1 against the Tigers this season, including a 9-1 victory on the road.
Cornell finished third in the ECACHL standings and is ranked 8/9 in the final pre-NCAA tournament national polls.
The numbers favor the Badgers in almost all categories Saturday; a Beaver victory will come down to intangibles.
""The attitude of the guys is that if we're playing our best and playing hard with solid goaltending and flying around the ice and banging bodies we shouldn't be beat,"" senior forward Adam Burish said.
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