Often, opening weekend is like wading into a pool. The team gets to test the water and go in at its own pace.
With that in mind, the Badger hockey team's opening weekend this season is like getting heaved into the deep end.
Wisconsin will open its season Friday at Boston College, home to the defending national champions and No. 1 team in the country. If that was not enough of a challenge, they follow that with a visit to No. 7 New Hampshire on Saturday.
It's just exciting, we get to sort of test things out against the best team in the country right now,"" senior forward and team captain Ben Street said. ""I think we've had a lot of good practices, the team's coming together so we get to find out where we're at.""
Street will be joined in the captain's role by sophomore forward Blake Geoffrion. This will be the first time since 2004 that Wisconsin has more than one captain.
Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves said that his two captains have contrasting styles as he called Street ""quiet"" and ""thoughtful"" while Geoffrion is more vocal.
Last season Wisconsin finished with a 16-17-7 record but was just one period away from going to the Frozen Four. They lost top scorer Kyle Turris during the off-season but many of the players expect a more balanced scoring output this season.
""I think we'll have more scoring all around,"" Geoffrion said. ""Losing a guy like Turris obviously hurts but I think we'll be a lot more spread out for sure.""
Wisconsin will, however, many of their talented group of defensemen which was second in the nation last year in blue line scoring.
""In today's game, I don't think there is a team '¦ that doesn't want their defense up in the play, and supporting the rush, and doing things offensively,"" Eaves said. ""And I know that will be one of our emphases with the people we have.""
With Boston College, however, Wisconsin will face quite a challenge. The defending champions lost only three of their top 10 scores from last season though one of those was Nathan Gerbe who scored 35 goals and is now on the Buffalo Sabers in the NHL.
Sophomore goaltender John Muse will also return for BC. Muse played every minute in the net his freshman season and led the Hockey east conference in goals against average.
""[Playing BC] is a great opportunity for us. We get a chance to find out where we're at and we go up against the best team in the country and get a chance to knock them off,"" Street said. ""I remember, a couple years ago, they came in right after we had had a big year and they kind of paid the favor back to us so hopefully we can kind of repeat history there.""
The Badgers lost two games in the Kohl Center to the Eagles early in the 2006-'07 season, seven months after Wisconsin defeated BC 2-1 for the NCAA championship.
The New Hampshire Wildcats lost a number of their top players from last season's NCAA tournament team, including their top two scorers and Hockey East Player of the Year goaltender Kevin Regan. They do, however, boast enough depth to still be a strong team in the coming season.
Despite having to take a bus from Boston to Durham, N.H., between the games, Eaves is excited for the trip.
""It's only an hour and a half up the road. So we get on the bus, have some pizza, the kids don't fall asleep anyway,"" Eaves said. ""I think it's just part of the whole adventure.""
The puck will drop at 6:00 p.m. CST, both Friday and Saturday night.
