Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
The Daily Cardinal Est. 1892
Friday, March 29, 2024
Zengerle

Sophomore Mark Zengerle’s 13-game point scoring streak is the longest for a Wisconsin player since the 1989-90 season.

Men's Hockey: Encouraging signs abound for young Wisconsin team

Head coach Mike Eaves has said all season long that it is a “process” with this year’s young Wisconsin men’s hockey team (4-7-1 WCHA, 5-8-1 overall), and after getting swept on the road by Colorado College, the team will have plenty to look at and grow from as they return home to face Mercyhurst (5-1-1 Atlantic Hockey, 6-5-1 overall) this weekend.

Eaves said that every weekend, no matter the results, is a step forward in the growth process for his inexperienced team.

“We’re still evolving. You’re disappointed with the fact that you lost, but that is all part of the evolving process,” Eaves said. “We talk with our guys that we’re moving toward becoming a championship caliber team, now we’re not there yet, but we’re moving toward becoming that and that’s where we evolve everyday, every week, because today’s efforts determine tomorrow’s results.”

Despite being swept by the Tigers, Eaves said that he liked what he saw from the Badgers, especially during the team’s 4-1 loss Saturday night.

“There were some darn good things, looking at video we weren’t as bad as I thought we were,” Eaves said. “We had some major breakdowns that they capitalized on, but after the 10-minute mark of the first period the rest of the game was even.”

“We’re evolving. It’s still a great term when you have a young group of people and we’re going to continue to push and work on things that we see,” he added.

According to Eaves, the play of some of his emerging freshman forwards was especially encouraging against Colorado College.

“As disappointed as we were on Saturday night, looking at video there are things that we’re seeing from our young people,” Eaves said. “We saw things from [Joseph] LaBate and [Brad] Navin and [Matt] Paape and [Brendan] Woods. These young guys that are coming and we need them to have them come.”

One of the Badgers’ biggest bright spots this season has been the play of sophomore forward Mark Zengerle. Zengerle is second on the team with 17 points, and tied for the team lead with six goals this season. He currently finds himself on a 13-game point-scoring streak, Wisconsin’s longest since the 1989-90 season, and Eaves said that Zengerle should take some time to reflect on his accomplishment.

“We actually talked with our team when you’re playing well, don’t take it for granted, when you’re practicing well, don’t take it for granted, bring that everyday because offensive momentum is a precious commodity,” Eaves said.

“Mark is on a great streak and you want to ride that wave as long as you can,” he added, “because of the fact that offense tends to be finicky. There is a flow and ebb that comes with it.”

Wisconsin welcomes Atlantic Hockey Conference-leading Mercyhurst to the Kohl Center this weekend, marking the first time in 18 years that the Badgers have not participated in the College Hockey Showcase on Thanksgiving weekend with games against Michigan and Michigan State, something Eaves said the team won’t necessarily miss.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Daily Cardinal delivered to your inbox

“Our schedule is tough enough as it is,” Eaves said. “The fact is we still have to win these games, it doesn’t matter if it’s Michigan or Michigan State, it’s a matter of going out and winning and that is our task this weekend.”

Eaves did pay compliment to the Mercyhurst team the Badgers will face this coming Friday and Saturday, particularly in regards to its head coach Rick Gotkin.

“They’re well coached,” Eaves said of the Lakers. “They play hard and] anytime a team plays hard they give themselves a chance to win.”

Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Daily Cardinal has been covering the University and Madison community since 1892. Please consider giving today.
Comments


Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Daily Cardinal