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Badger hockey going roofless

Photo

Photo by AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, Kyle McDaniel

On Friday, Jan. 29, 2010, a hockey rink under construction stands on the field at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin faces Bemidji State in a women's game Saturday, Feb. 6, and the Wisconsin men's team will take on Michigan later in the day.

MADISON — When asked if he felt he had to guard his players against the “novelty” of the Camp Randall Hockey Classic, Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves simply turned over his left shoulder and looked toward a group of his players hooting and hollering as they played on the hallowed ground of Camp Randall.

“It’s the novelty that makes it new, that puts them in position where they want to go out and have some fun,” Eaves said. “They want to put their best foot forward.”

The Badgers have done that. On Feb. 11, 2006, Wisconsin defeated Ohio State, 4-2, before 40,890 fans at Lambeau Field. On Saturday, No. 3 Wisconsin will have a chance to appease even more Badgers fans and do it right in its backyard.

As of Wednesday night, more than 50,000 advanced tickets had been sold for the Wisconsin hockey doubleheader.

The first game features the ninth-ranked women’s team against Bemidji State at 2 p.m. The men’s team plays Michigan at 5 p.m.

With weather conditions expected to be fair and the temperatures in the mid-20s, the games could attract a crowd of 60,000 fans.

“We’re excited to see this place filled up,” senior tri-captain Ben Street said. “It’s going to get even cooler when people are in here. The first guy that scores is going to be pumped. That will be pretty cool.”

Practicing on the ice for the first time Wednesday, players admitted that their toes were pretty cold, their noses were runny and some had wind burn on their cheeks.

That didn’t stop virtually the entire team from staying after practice, listening to the echoes throughout the empty stadium as their sticks came in contact with the puck or watched as some pranksters tried to fling a puck over the goal posts in the south end zone.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling, especially late in the season,” said junior forward Patrick Johnson, one of the many attempting post-practice field goals. “It’s such a mental and physical grind, because the season is so long. To come out and play like a bunch of kids is a relief.”

Even Street couldn’t contain his excitement. The only player on Wisconsin’s roster who skated at Lambeau, Street doesn’t buy into the perception that the uniqueness of an outdoor game is wearing off.

“It’s different for me, for whatever reason,” Street said. “There hasn’t been anything like this around here, and I think people (in Madison) are excited to come see it.”

Saturday’s match will be the seventh men’s modern-era outdoors game and third in the college ranks.

As exciting as the event is expected to be, the importance of the competition hasn’t gone unnoticed. Wisconsin (15-7-4) is battling competition to gain the No. 1-seed when the NCAA playoffs start at the end of March.

Michigan (15-12-1) is ranked No. 20 and is fighting to get in the tournament.

Michigan and Wisconsin play similar styles of physical hockey. The Wolverines defeated Wisconsin, 3-2, in a match at Ann Arbor.

Wisconsin upperclassmen talked afterward about how they couldn’t wait to get another shot at the Wolverines. After two-plus months, the Badgers will get that shot in an unusual atmosphere.

“When we played them, I thought they were one of the better teams we have played all season,” Street said. “It’ll be an exciting game, and a tough match-up, but we’ve had a bitter taste in our mouth since losing to them in November. We haven’t forgotten that.”

Added junior goalie Scott Gudmandson: “Anytime somebody beats you, you want a little retribution.”