Although the men's hockey team will look remarkably different for the 2006-'07 season, it will start exactly where it left off last season as the best team in college hockey. The team technically is tied with last year's runner-up Boston College for No. 1 in the USCHO.com/CSTV preseason poll, but UW garnered seven more first place votes.
Beginning the season with a target on its back will be more challenging after the departure of key contributors Robbie Earl, Joe Pavelski, Ryan MacMurchy, Tom Gilbert, Adam Burish and Nick Licari, but the Badgers will press on. Hobey Baker finalist, senior Brian Elliott will keep Wisconsin in nearly every game and national coach of the year Mike Eaves is still behind the bench.
Most of the defense returns from last season, so opposing teams will continue to have trouble scoring against the Badgers. Certain players must pick up their games to replace the gaping hole of scoring that left, but winger Jack Skille showed star potential last season as a freshman and the senior class of Andrew Joudrey, Ross Carlson and Jake Dowell should produce.
Wisconsin will get tested early, as the first month of its schedule includes matchups against No. 6 North Dakota and No. 9 Denver at home, and a road battle versus No. 3 Minnesota. The most intriguing matchup will be a rematch of the national championship here in Madison Sept. 27-28. The No. 1 spot may no longer be a tie when Halloween weekend rolls around, but whoever wins that series will certainly be the team to beat.
