Any team uses their first few weeks to judge how it needs to improve, but the UW men's hockey team has the benefit of a system that is more than just statistics and game film.
Head coach Mike Eaves has implemented a new rating system for his players, something he calls an efficiency rating.
""It's defined on things they do in hard areas, like blocked shots, shots on net, and blue line turnovers,"" Eaves said at practice Tuesday.
The rating isn't as complicated as a quarterback rating in football and something the players can keep track of themselves.
""It's motivation,"" freshman right winger Michael Davies said. ""It gets you going and let's you know where you are at in the game.""
Hits are a big part of the rating as well, while turnovers in your own zone can take away points. At the end of any night, the goal is 10 points for each player.
""If everybody can get in double digits we're rolling,"" Davies said.
Eaves added that the efficiency rating can be more beneficial than a scorebook because it is more detailed.
""Everybody on the team has a chance to play in these areas and be rewarded,"" Eaves said. ""Whether you are a goal scorer or a role player, you can have a high efficiency rating because of the nature of how it is set up.""
Freshman John Mitchell actually scored the team's highest rating the first weekend of the season when the Badgers played Northern Michigan in Green Bay two weeks ago. Mitchell admits they have to use their specific skills in order to score a high rating.
""You have to use the things you bring to the game. I have to use my size,"" the 6'5' forward said.
Sophomore Ben Street broke Mitchell's high score this past weekend against North Dakota, but Eaves said Mitchell scored high again on Saturday night.
""[Mitchell] did some terrific things and his teammates are noticing,"" Eaves said. ""We were looking around and saying, ‘This is fun.'""
Eaves acknowledged at Monday's press conference that his freshman are going to get a lot of opportunities with the injuries to sophomore Jack Skille, senior Ross Carlson, and junior Kyle Klubertanz. Mitchell and Davies are prepared to take advantage of the situation.
""Unfortunately, we did lose two top forwards,"" Mitchell said. ""[The team] needs guys to step up and fortunately I have a chance. I'm going to have to go out and do what coach asks me to do.""
Davies' impressions of the situation are not much different.
""It lets us show coach what we can do. For me, I just have to help put points on the board,"" Davies said.
Mitchell and Davies might look like different players because Mitchell is nine inches taller, but both bring the ability to create offense and score goals. Davies especially likes his future on the power plays.
So while Mitchell may have scored the highest of the freshman so far on Eaves' efficiency test, Davies can brag that he has scored two goals so far.
