Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey coach Mike Eaves addressed the absence of forwards Michael Davies and Podge Turnbull from Saturday's game, saying that it was done for very solid reasons.""
It was one of many topics discussed as Eaves held court at his weekly press conference Monday, days before highly regarded North Dakota comes to Madison for a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series.
Davies, a sophomore, and Turnbull, a freshman, had played in all five games this season leading into Saturday night's second game with Michigan Tech. Friday, the Badgers were admittedly off their game in a 4-2 loss, and neither player saw the ice in the finale.
Eaves replaced Davies and Turnbull with sophomores Zach Bearson and Andy Bohmbach, both of whom played for the first time this year.
""Being a young team, knowing that we want to be a successful team, knowing that the foundation of that success has to be built on the hard part of the game, this was a message to the team, and to these young men, that they've got to step it up a bit,"" Eaves said.
Both Davies and Turnbull had coming out parties only a week earlier against Robert Morris. Davies registered two goals and an assist, while Turnbull scored and assisted once as the Badgers routed the Colonials.
On a day when USCHO.com updated its weekly rankings - the Badgers (1-1 WCHA, 4-2 overall) remain unchanged at No. 10 - Eaves also talked about the performance to date of senior defenseman Kyle Klubertanz, sophomore forward John Mitchell and freshman defenseman Brendan Smith.
Klubertanz, an assistant captain, has already tied his collegiate high in goals. He has four this season, placing him second on the team behind freshman Kyle Turris, who has five.
""I think he took a step this summer when he was elected assistant captain, wanting to be a leader,"" Eaves said. ""I think there's external motivation beyond that, in term of he's a senior. He knows that if he wants to do something at the next level, he has to have a big year. His training this summer was the best he's ever had, and it's showing in the way he plays.""
Mitchell saw playing time last year as a freshman in the first half of the season, but never played after Jan. 5. Eaves said that he, too, has committed to becoming a better player this season, in which he has two assists.
""Well I think John did get off to a great start last season, and it kind of leaked away on him,"" Eaves noted. ""John has come back bigger, stronger, better conditioned. For a guy that's 6'5', that's a really important thing. What he has continued to do is play to his strengths.""
Eaves was also asked about Smith, one of three NHL first-round picks who joined the Badgers this season. Eaves pointed out that the 18-year-old had only recently made the switch to playing defenseman, and he praised Smith's skills.
""The things that we can't teach are his offensive skills and his ability to take what's given and be creative with the puck in a tight situation. He makes something out of nothing.""
