To atone for my exceedingly silly previous posting, I will report some
facts(tm) regarding Badger personnel.
 
Returnees
---------
Goalie Duane Derksen will be back in goal for UW this year.  For some reason
The Hockey News reported Derksen had used up his eligibility.  Not true.
Fellow Canadian Doug MacDonald will be back to anchor the offense.  Both
players tried out for the Canadian Olympic team this summer but did not
make the final cuts.
 
Defections
----------
Defenseman Jacques Auger(fresh. last year) left school to return to the Quebec
Junior League.  Auger said he felt the move would improve his professional
 chances.
The Badgers look to be weak on the blue line this year.  Losses from last year's
defensive corps include graduated seniors Rob Andringa and Rodger Sykes.  Also,
net whipping boy Sean Hill(junior) signed a contract with the Montreal Canadiens
last spring.
A side comment: It's too bad Hill isn't on the US Olympic team.  He's got some
real speed and good skills (but maybe questionable judgement).  The US squad
 sounds
a bit weak at defenseman.  From what I gather Hill didn't try out for the team.
Is Montreal going to use him this year?
 
Welcome Comrade
---------------
Perhaps the most interesting new face on the Badgers this year could be Ulvis
Katlaps.  He's from Riga, Latvia, formerly part of the USSR.  Katlaps wanted
a chance to study in the US and with the help of a cousin in Milwaukee he is
finally getting his chance.  The upheaval in the Baltics caused visa problems
and delayed his arrival in Wisconsin until the fall semester was two weeks old.
On arriving at the UW he passed his English proficiency tests and is now taking
classes.  His eligibility must still be assessed by the NCAA and the WCHA.
Katlaps played as a defenseman for Dynamo Riga and attended the Univ. of Riga
last year.
No idea whether he will help the Badgers much this year but it is an interesting
story.  Apparently there is a player from Leningrad (make that St. Petersburg
again) who may play for U. of Michigan this year.  Any news out there in Ann
Arbor?
 
 
Just the facts,
 
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mark grassl				[log in to unmask]
Go Badgers, Twins, Packers!
If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy.
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