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Former Badger, Geoffrion considering NHL retirement

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Former Wisconsin Badger hockey standout Blake Geoffrion is considering retirement from professional hockey.

Geoffrion was dealt from Nashville to Montreal last season, spending time in the AHL with Hamilton.  In a November game, he was hit with a hip check along the neutral-zone boards and sent flying into the air.

When Geoffrion landed, he fractured his skull and sustained a concussion and he was sent to the hospital.  The Canadiens said the injuries were not life-threatening and Geoffrion is exepcted to make a full recovery, but there’s a decent chance his hockey career will be over.

ESPN’s John Buccigross reported this week that Geoffrion was indeed retiring, but Blake’s father Dan Geoffrion said his son has only told the Canadiens he’s considering the possibility of retirement.

Geoffrion had 28 goals and 22 assists in the 2009-10 season at the University of Wisconsin, earning the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top player.

Geoffrion had a difficult turning his success in college into a successful pro career, scoring just 11 points in 42 games.

Following is video from CBS Sports of the hit Geoffrion took in that November game which has changed his hockey future.

Badgers’ Schultz named a Hobey Baker top 10 finalist

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Wisconsin Badger junior defenseman Justin Schultz was named a 2012 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Top 10 finalist, earning the

Justin Schultz

honor for the second-straight year.

The Hobey Baker Award is an honor given annually to the top collegiate hockey player in the country.  Blake Geoffrion became the first Badger to win the honor when he took home the award in 2010.

The Badgers now have had 12 finalists overall since the award was founded in 1981, including the only school in the country with a finalist in each of the last four seasons. 

Schultz leads the nation’s defenseman with 44 points and a 1.19 points-per-game mark.  His 16 goals are tied for the national lead among defenseman, while his 28 assists rank second among rear guards.

Schultz was recently named the 2012 WCHA Defensive Player of the Year and a member of the 2012 all-WCHA First Team.  All three honors are the second straight for Schultz.  His defensive player of the year honor made him the third player in league history to earn the honor twice.