The University of Wisconsin Badgers hockey team has had an up and down
first half of the year, and at 7-8-1 overall, 7-6-1 in the W.C.H.A., they are
where Coach Jeff Sauer hoped they would be.   Coach Sauer said that if the
Badgers were around .500 at the break, the team would be in a great position
for the second half of the season.  The tougher part of the schedule is past,
and Wisconsin hockey teams seem to have an annual second half surge, and I
expect this season to be no different.
 
Bucky is mostly made up of young players, and a very talented group of
freshman. Due to injuries, some "wild cards" should be of use next season.
Senior Captain Eric Raygor will most likely red-shirt due to a knee injury,
and not return until next season.  There are two highly touted freshman
defensemen, Alex Brooks of Madison, and Jeff Dessner, both of whom have lower
back injuries, will most likely red-shirt as well.  With that, and the fact
that most of Wisconsin's scoring power comes from the freshman and junior
classes, the future looks bright for the Hockey Badgers.
 
The Badger Hockey Showdown is scheduled for December 27-28th.  U.W. will play
#2 New Hampshire on Friday night, and then play either Vermont or Colorado
College on Saturday.  The second half of the season, and respective schedule,
is clearly in Wisconsin's favor.  Home series against Northern Michigan,
Michigan Tech, and Alaska-Anchorage give the Badgers an excellent opportunity
to put some distance between themselves and the lower division of the
W.C.H.A.
 
Additionally, both Denver and Colorado College have to come to Madison, and
due to W.C.H.A. scheduling this season, Wisconsin only plays league leading
North Dakota twice, instead of the usual 4 games.  Mix all of that together,
and you get the raw ingredients of a successful second half of the season, a
realistic upper-division finish in the W.C.H.A., and home-ice for the first
round of the playoffs.  All the University of Wisconsin Badgers have to do
now is take advantage of the opportunity presented to it.
 
Yours,
 
Terry E. Tuschen Jr.
 
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