Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey


The Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The team plays at the Kohl Center and is coached by Tony Granato. The Badgers ice hockey team competes in the Big Ten Conference.
The Badgers have won three WCHA regular season conference titles and 11 conference tournament titles. They have also made 24 appearances in the NCAA men's ice hockey tournament, advancing to the Frozen Four 12 times. The team's six national titles rank fourth best in college hockey history.
Their most recent national championship came in 2006 when the Badgers defeated the Boston College Eagles 2–1 at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

History

Early history

Pond hockey had been played on Lake Mendota in Madison since the late 1800s. The University of Wisconsin formed an informal hockey program in the 1910s. The 1921 season saw the development of intercollegiate hockey at Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Michigan and Wisconsin scheduled four games to be played on consecutive weekends from February 18 to 26, 1921.

Modern era

The modern era of Badger hockey began in 1963 with the decision of athletic director Ivan B. Williamson. The Badgers played home games at the Hartmeyer Ice Arena before moving to the Dane County Coliseum in 1967. The program began as an independent NCAA Division I team and scheduling 8 games against Western Collegiate Hockey Association teams, losing all 8 games. Late in the 1965–66 season, the Badgers finally broke through, beating the Minnesota Golden Gophers 5–4 in overtime, their first win over a WCHA opponent. At the end of that season, Coach John Riley retired.

Johnson era

In 1966, Wisconsin hired "Badger" Bob Johnson. Under Johnson, Wisconsin was offered WCHA membership for the 1969–70 season. In that same season the Badgers received a bid to the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Tournament. The Badgers won their first national championship at the 1973 Frozen Four. Badger Bob's 1977 team was one of the most successful to date, as the team swept through WCHA tournament and 1977 NCAA Tournament. Behind the efforts of four first team All-Americans, Mike Eaves, Mark Johnson, Craig Norwich and Julian Baretta, the 1977 team won the title with a 6–5 victory in overtime against Michigan.
Despite losing one of their top players, Mark Johnson, to the 1980 American Olympic Team, the Badgers reached the NCAA title game three consecutive times in 1981, 1982, and 1983. Winning the program's third title in 1981 by defeating rival Minnesota in the championship game 6–3. After again reaching the championship game in 1982, where the Badgers lost to North Dakota, the program was dealt a second blow with the departure of Johnson. He would later coach in the NHL and win the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He left Wisconsin after 15 seasons with 3 NCAA championships, a record of 367–175–23, and having built the program into an NCAA powerhouse.

Sauer era

Former Badger assistant coach Jeff Sauer was hired in 1982 to replace Bob Johnson as head coach. Sauer won the 1983 NCAA championship in his first season. Wisconsin defeated Harvard 6–2 to earn the program's fourth NCAA title. Under Sauer's leadership, the Badgers qualified for eight consecutive NCAA tournaments from 1988 to 1995, and won the program's 5th NCAA title in 1990, with a 7–3 victory over Colgate. Also, Sauer presided over the team's move from the aging Coliseum to the new, on-campus Kohl Center in 1998. The Badger men led the nation in college hockey attendance every year from moving to the Kohl Center through the 2011 season.
Wisconsin again reached the 1992 NCAA Championship game against Lake Superior State, losing 5–3. The game, which featured some questionable calls by the referee that continually put the Badgers at a two-man disadvantage, irked several players so much that they lashed out beyond Sauer's control, verbally abusing the referees and earning Sauer a one-game NCAA suspension. Assistant Coach Bill Zito received a two-game suspension, while players Blaine Moore and Jason Zent each received a one-game suspension. That game was later vacated by the NCAA for rules violations unrelated to the incidents in the championship game. In the mid-1990s, Badger hockey earned NCAA bids in 1998 and 2000, but generally underachieved compared to the high standards of the 1970s and 1980s. The 1999–2000 team featured a duo of second overall NHL draft pick Dany Heatley and Steven Reinprecht, won the MacNaughton Cup, and earned a No. 1 position in the polls for most of the season, only to be upset by Boston College in the NCAA regionals. Two seasons later, during the 2001–02 season, coach Sauer announced his retirement. Jeff Sauer left Wisconsin with two NCAA titles and a record of 489–306–46 at Wisconsin, and a 655–532–57 overall record as a head coach.

Eaves era

Sauer's replacement was Mike Eaves, a former player who was a captain on the 1977 NCAA championship team and still holds the record as Wisconsin's all-time leading scorer. In 2003–04, Eaves brought the Badgers just short of the Frozen Four, falling in overtime to Maine in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. The Badgers returned to national prominence by winning the 2006 NCAA championship in Milwaukee with a 2–1 win over Boston College. In 2010, the Badgers returned to the NCAA championship, vying for a seventh NCAA title but lost 5–0 to Boston College at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, in front of a then-record crowd for an indoor ice hockey game of 37,592. In 2011, they missed the WCHA Final-Five and NCAA tournament completely. In 2012, the team missed the NCAA Tournament again. In 2013 they were winners in their last-ever appearance in WCHA final 5 before the team joins the newly established Big Ten Hockey conference for the 2013–14 season. In the inaugural season of the Big Ten Hockey conference, the Badgers won the Big Ten Tournament, their second consecutive conference tournament championship. The 2014–15 season was the worst season in team history. They finished the season with a record of 4–26–5, setting school records for fewest wins and most losses in a season. Eaves was fired on March 18, 2016 after finishing the 2015–16 season with an 8–19–8 record.

Granato era

Athletic director Barry Alvarez hired Detroit Red Wings assistant Tony Granato to replace Eaves in late March 2016. Also hired were Tony's younger brother Don Granato, coach of the U.S. National Team Development Program's under-17 team, and Mark Osiecki, associate head coach of the American Hockey League's Rockford IceHogs and former assistant coach at Wisconsin for six years in the 2000s. Tony Granato signed a five-year contract worth $2.75 million while Osiecki and his brother signed three-year deals worth a total of $660,000 a piece. The hires were seen as getting UW Men's Ice Hockey back on track, and was noticed by media, such as the Wisconsin State Journal, when they said "Alvarez answered the critics who think UW no longer cares about men’s hockey in the best way he could" during the press conference introducing all three coaches Alvarez stated "I’m very confident that we’ve taken the right steps today in re-establishing the dominance of our hockey program" All three coaches are Wisconsin alums; Tony Granato played from 1983 to 1987 where he was an All-American, Don Granato played from 1987 to 1991, and Osiecki played from 1987 to 1990. After all three coaches were hired the phrase "Dream Team" came to be used when referring to UW's new coaching staff, it was first used by Barry Alvarez when he said "It was more than I could dream for to get all three of those guys. To me, it's the Dream Team."
In Granato's first season, he led the team back to respectability with a 20-15-1 overall record and a 12-8 conference record, good enough for second place. On March 18, they lost the conference championship game to Penn State 2-1 in double overtime.

Season-by-season results

Coaches

All-time coaching records

As of the end of the 2019–20 season
* Interim

Championships

Big Ten Tournament

WCHA Final Five

Frozen Four

YearChampionScoreRunner-upCityArena
1973Wisconsin4–2DenverBoston, MABoston Garden
1977Wisconsin6–5 OTMichiganDetroit, MIOlympia Stadium
1981Wisconsin6–3MinnesotaDuluth, MNDECC
1982North Dakota5–2WisconsinProvidence, RIProvidence Civic Center
1983Wisconsin6–2HarvardGrand Forks, NDRalph Engelstad Arena
1990Wisconsin7–3ColgateDetroit, MIJoe Louis Arena
1992Lake Superior State5–3WisconsinAlbany, NYKnickerbocker Arena
2006Wisconsin2–1Boston CollegeMilwaukee, WIBradley Center
2010Boston College5–0WisconsinDetroit, MIFord Field

Statistical Leaders

Career points leaders

PlayerYearsGPGAPtsPIM
1974–197816094173267
1976–1979125125131256
1977–198116134194228
1983–1987152100120220
1977–198115183127210
1978–198215975131206
1988–199215275114189
1966–19709510880188
1975–19791638398181
1981–19851658295177
1984–19881618889177

Career Goaltending Leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Minimum 30 games played
PlayerYearsGPMinWLTGASOSV%GAA
2003–20078448644927614516.9301.78
2005–20099053044136112118.9132.39
2007–2011704022381971607.9122.39
2001–200511466305141162748.9162.48
1988–198939226721115941.9192.49

Statistics current through the start of the 2019-20 season.

Players

Current roster

As of March 16, 2019.

Awards and honors

Hockey Hall of Fame">List of members of the Hockey Hall of Fame">Hockey Hall of Fame

Individual Awards

Hobey Baker Award
Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award
NCAA Scoring Champion
Tournament Most Outstanding Player
AHCA First Team All-Americans
AHCA Second Team All-Americans

Individual Awards

Most Valuable Player
Freshman of the Year
Coach of the Year
Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Defensive Player of the Year
Student-Athlete of the Year
First Team All-WCHA
Second Team All-WCHA

Individual Awards

Freshman of the Year
Coach of the Year
Tournament Most Outstanding Player
First Team All-Big Ten
Second Team All-Big Ten
Big Ten All-Rookie Team
The following is a list of people associated with the Wisconsin men's ice hockey program who were elected into the University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.
PlayerPositionTeamYearsStanley Cup|
Steve AlleyLeft WingHFD1979–19810
Marc BehrendGoaltenderWPG1983–19860
Mike BlaisdellRight WingDET, NYR, PIT, TOR1980–19890
Rene BourqueRight WingCHI, CGY, MTL, ANA, CBJ, COL2005–20170
Alex BrooksDefensemanNJD2006–20070
Adam BurishRight Wing', DAL, SJS2006–20151
John ByceRight WingBOS1989–19920
Jim CareyGoaltenderWSH, BOS, STL1994–19990
Chris CheliosDefenseman', CHI, ', ATL1983–20103
Steve ClippingdaleLeft WingLAK, WSH1976–19800
Jake DowellCenterCHI, DAL, MIN2016–20170
Davis DrewiskeCenter', MTL2008–20131
Bruce DriverDefenseman', NYR1983–19981
Bruce EakinCenterCGY, DET1983–19860
Robbie EarlLeft WingTOR, MIN2007–20110
Mike EavesForwardMNS, CGY1978–19860
Brian ElliottGoaltenderOTT, COL, STL, CGY, PHI2007–Present0
Brian EngblomDefenseman', WSH, LAK, BUF, CGY1976–19872
Brian FaheyDefensemanWSH2010–20110
Kelly FairchildCenterTOR, DAL, COL1995–20020
Patrick FlatleyRight WingNYI, NYR1983–19970
Trent FredericCenterBOS2018–Present0
Jake GardinerDefensemanTOR, CAR2011–Present0
Blake GeoffrionLeft WingNSH, MTL2010–20120
Tom GilbertDefensemanEDM, MIN, FLA, MTL, LAK2006–20170
Cody GoloubefDefensemanCBJ, COL, OTT2011–Present0
Tony GranatoLeft WingNYR, LAK, SJS1988–20010
Dany HeatleyLeft WingATL, OTT, SJS, MIN, ANA2001–20150
Sean HillDefenseman', ANA, OTT, CAR, STL, FLA, NYI, MIN1990–20081
Paul HouckRight WingMNS1985–19880
Matt HusseyCenterPIT, DET2003–20070
John JohannsonForwardNJD1983–19840
Mark JohnsonDefensemanPIT, MNS, HFD, STL, NJD1976–19870
Curtis JosephGoaltenderSTL, EDM, TOR, DET, PHO, CGY1989–20090
Andrew JoudreyCenterCBJ2011–20120
Nic KerdilesLeft WingANA2016–20180
Terry KleisingerGoaltenderNYR1985–19860
Luke KuninDefensemanMIN2017–Present0
Joseph LaBateLeft WingVAN2016–20170
Doug MacDonaldCenterBUF1992–19950
David MaleyLeft Wing', NJD, EDM, SJS, NYI1985–19941
Jamie McBainLeft WingCAR, BUF, LAK, ARI2009–20170

PlayerPositionTeamYearsStanley Cup|
Jake McCabeDefensemanBUF2013–Present0
Ryan McDonaghDefensemanNYR, TBL2010–Present0
Mike MeekerCenterPIT1978–19790
Scott MellanbyRight WingPHI, EDM, FLA, STL, ATL1978–19860
Michael MerschForwardLAK2015–20160
Brian MullenForwardWPG, NYR, SJS, NYI1982–19930
John NewberryForwardMTL, HFD1982–19860
Craig NorwichDefensemanWPG, STL, COR1995–20020
Mark OsieckiDefensemanCGY, OTT, WPG, MNS1991–19930
Joe PavelskiCenterSJS, DAL2006–Present0
Joe PiskulaDefensemanLAK, CGY, NSH2006–20150
Dan PlanteRight WingNYI1993–19980
Victor PosaDefensemanCHI1985–19860
Brian RafalskiDefenseman', '1999–20113
John RamageDefensemanCGY, CBJ2014–20160
Paul RanheimLeft WingCGY, HFD, CAR, PHI, PHO1988–20030
Steven ReinprechtCenterLAK, ', CGY, PHO, FLA1999–20111
Barry RichterRight WingNYR, BOS, NYI, MTL1995–20010
Mike RichterGoaltender'1988–20031
Shaun SabolDefensemanPHI1989–19900
Peter ScamurraDefensemanWSH1975–19800
Justin SchultzDefensemanEDM, '2012–Present2
Steve ShortDefensemanLAK, DET1977–19790
Gary ShuchukCenterDET, LAK1990–19960
Jack SkilleRight WingCHI, FLA, CBJ, COL, VAN2007–20170
Brendan SmithDefensemanDET, NYR2011–Present0
Craig SmithRight WingNSH2011–Present0
Paul StantonDefenseman', BOS, NYI1990–19952
Derek StepanCenterNYR, ARI2010–Present0
Ben StreetLeft WingCGY, COL, DET, ANA2012–Present0
Gary SuterDefenseman, CHI, PHO, SJS1985–20021
Ryan SuterDefensemanNSH, MIN2005–Present0
John TaftDefensemanDET1978–19790
Dean TalafousForwardATF, MNS, NYR1974–19820
David TanabeDefensemanCAR, PHO, BOS1999–20080
Chris TancillRight WingHFD, DET, DAL, SJS1990–19980
Kyle TurrisCenterPHO, OTT, NSH2007–Present0
Steve TuttleRight WingSTL1988–19910
Brad WinchesterDefensemanEDM, DAL, STL, ANA, SJS2005–20110
Brendan WoodsCenterCAR2014–20160
Andy WozniewskiDefensemanTOR, STL, BOS2005–20100
Jason ZentLeft WingOTT, PHI1996–19990