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Frederic named to U.S. National Junior Team preliminary roster

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Trent Frederic

Wisconsin hockey star Trent Frederic has been named to USA Hockey’s preliminary roster for this year’s U.S. National Junior Team, which will compete in this years event in Buffalo, New York.

The preliminary roster consists of 28 players.  The group will gather in Columbus, Ohio for training camp Dec. 15-19, then again Dec. 20-23 in Jamestown, New York, where they will play pre-tournament games against Belarus on Dec. 20, and then against Sweden in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 22.

The team will be cut down to 23 player for the 2018 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.

If Frederic makes the final cut, he would become the 54th Badger all-time to skate in the event, dating back to its official sanctioning in 1978.

The U.S. owns four gold medals, all since 2004, when then UW head coach Mike Eaves led the country to its first gold medal.

The other three gold medals came with Badgers as captains as Luke Kunin (2017), Jake McCabe (2013) and John Ramage (2011) served in the official capacity. [Read more…]

Kunin leaving Wisconsin for the pro’s (AUDIO)

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Luke Kunin

Wisconsin hockey captain Luke Kunin will bypass his final two years of eligibility after signing a three-year entry level contract with the Minnesota Wild.

The 19-year-old forward was the 15th overall pick in last year’s NHL Draft.

In two seasons with the Badgers, Kunin scored 41 goals and 70 points in 69 games.  Coach Tony Granato said earlier this week that if Kunin felt he was ready for pro hockey, then he should go.

Kunin helped the Badgers win 20 games this season, a 12-win improvement from a year ago.  Their season ended last Saturday night, one win shy of an NCAA Tournament bid, when they lost to Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament title game.

Kunin was assigned to Minnesota’s American Hockey League affiliate in Iowa and he’ll make his pro hockey debut on Friday night in Cleveland.

AUDIO: Luke Kunin on the contract offer from Minnesota coming so quick :10

AUDIO: Luke Kunin was asked why leave now :10

 

Wisconsin Hockey in Big Ten Championship game

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The Wisconsin Badgers avenged a pair of losses last weekend to Ohio State, knocking off the Buckeyes 2-1 in Friday’s Big Ten tournament semifinals at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

The second-seeded Badgers (20-14-1) knows it has to win the championship game to make the NCAA Tournament and they’re one win away from pulling it off.

Luke Kunin gave the Badgers a 1-0 lead, scoring on a rebound 17 minutes into the opening period.

Ohio State (21-11-6) evened the game in the second period on a Dakota Johnson power play goal.

Will Johnson scored the go-ahead goal and eventual game winner in the third for the Badgers.

Wisconsin played keep away from the Buckeyes in the final minutes to preserve the win after Ohio State’s Josh Healey was whistled for a 5-minute major and game misconduct with 2:28 left to play.

The Badgers will face Penn State in Saturday night’s title game.  The Nittany Lions knocked off Minnesota in double overtime in Friday’s semifinals.

Granato named Big Ten Coach of the Year

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Tony Granato

Wisconsin Badger men’s hockey coach Tony Granato was named the Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Badgers to a second place finish in the league this season.

Granato’s Badgers are 19-14-1 entering the Big Ten Tournament in Detroit this week.  That’s an 11-win improvement over last season, when the Badgers finished last in the conference.

Granato joins the late Bob Johnson, who was the WCHA’s Coach of the Year in 1977.

The Badgers also had three players named to the all-Big Ten second team, forwards Luke Kunin and Trent Frederic and defenseman Jake Linhart.  Frederic was also named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Kunin leads the Badger in scoring with 21 goals and 36 points.  Frederic is second with 15 goals and 33 points.  Both are first-round NHL draft picks and Kunin served as the Badgers captain in this, his sophomore season.

Minnesota’s Tyler Sheehy, who shared Big Ten scoring honors this season, was named the Big Ten’s Player of the Year.

Hockey Badgers swept by Ohio State (AUDIO)

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Luke Kunin

The Wisconsin Badger men’s hockey team wrapped up the regular season on Saturday with a 3-1 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers (19-4-1, 12-8-0-0 Big Ten) fell behind 2 minutes and 46 seconds into the first period when Ohio State’s Mason Jobst scored on the power play.  The Buckeyes (20-10-6, 11-8-1-1) never trailed, adding two more goals in the second period.

The Badgers only goal came from captain Luke Kunin on the power play in the third period.

Wisconsin seniors Grant Besse, Corbin McGuire, Jedd Soleway and Aidan Cavallini played their final home games.

The sweep cost the Badgers a chance to secure an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.  They did still finish second place in the Big Ten Conference, which gives them a first round bye in the conference tournament in Detroit this week.  But the Badgers will have to win the tournament to gain a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

AUDIO: Tony Granato says an at large bid is out of reach :19

AUDIO: Sr. Def. Corbin McGuire on another chance to make the NCAA’s :12

 

Badgers split with Gophers, remain 3-points out of first

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Luke Kunin

The 19th ranked Wisconsin men’s hockey team fell just short in their attempt to sweep the rival Minnesota Gophers in Big Ten hockey action at Mariucci Arena on Saturday night.

The Badgers fell to the 4th ranked Gophers 3-2.  Wisconsin fell behind 2-0 before scoring Luke Kunin and Jake Linhart goals tied the game.

Minnesota’s Justin Kloos scored the game-winner with 5:06 left in the third period to win it for the Gophers (21-9-2, 12-4-0-0 Big Ten).

Wisconsin (18-11-1, 11-5-0-0) remains three points behind Minnesota and in second place in the Big Ten Conference with four games left to play.  The Badgers play a weekend series at Penn State this weekend.

AUDIO: Tony Granato said it was a heck of a series :18

Hockey Badgers knock off 8th ranked Ohio State

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Luke Kunin

The Wisconsin men’s hockey team won its second straight game against a top-10 ranked opponent on Thursday night, knocking off 8th-ranked Ohio State 3-1 in Columbus.

It’s the second straight win over a top-10 ranked opponent, having beaten 7th ranked Minnesota in the second game of their series last weekend in Madison.

Luke Kunin scored Wisconsin’s first goal, 3 minutes 24 seconds into the game, short handed.  Matthew Freytag scored later in the first, giving the Badgers a 2-0 lead at intermission.

Ryan Wagner added an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal the 3-1 win.

The Badgers (12-8-1, 5-2-0-0 Big Ten) won their 12th game of the season.  It equals the win today for the team over the last two seasons combined.

The two teams wrap up the series on Saturday night (6 p.m.) at Madison Square Garden.

Two Badgers claim two of the Big Ten’s top three Hockey stars

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Seamus Malone

Wisconsin’s Seamus Malone and Luke Kunin were named the Big Ten’s first and  third stars of the week for their performances in last weekend’s sweep of Michigan State at the Kohl Center.

Malone was named the first start of the week after a goal and two assists during the series.  He opened the scoring just 33 seconds into Saturday’s game with a wrist shot off the post and in to give the Badgers the early 1-0 lead.

Wisconsin captain Luke Kunin sat out Friday night’s series opener after returning from the World Junior Championships with a gold medal.  He scored a pair of goals in Saturday’s 5-1 victory.  His first goal proved to be the game winning tally.

Kunin now has a team leading 13 goals for the season.  He claimed his fourth career weekly award and his third of the season.

The Badgers are off this weekend.  They’ll return the week after to host the rival Minnesota Gophers at the Kohl Center.

Kunin named Team USA captain

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Luke Kunin

Wisconsin sophomore captain Luke Kunin will assume that same role with Team USA for the upcoming 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship later this month.

Kunin, who leads the Badgers with 11 goals through this season’s first 16 games, has already been captain for another version of Team USA.

The Chesterfield, Missouri, native captained Team USA to gold at the 2015 IIHF Under-18 World Championship and scored six goals in seven games during the tournament.

Kunin is the 15th overall pick by the Minnesota Wild in the 2016 NHL Draft and spent 2013-15 with the U.S. National Team Development Program on the U-17 and then the U-18 team, taking part in a number of international tournaments.

The upcoming World Junior Championship takes place in Montreal and Toronto from Dec. 26-Jan. 5.  The United States will open up group play against Latvia on Dec. 26 at 2:30 p.m. CT at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

AUDIO: Luke Kunin looks forward to the World Junior Championships :13

AUDIO: Luke Kunin says the U.S. team is talented and experienced :19

 

Kunin earns Big Ten weekly award

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Luke Kunin

Luke Kunin

For the second time this season, Wisconsin sophomore Luke Kunin has been named the Big Ten’s second star of the week, after a three-point series split with Michigan over the weekend.

Kunin scored two goals in the Badgers 7-4 Friday night victory over the Wolverines.  He added an assist in the Badgers 4-1 loss to Michigan on Saturday.

The two-goal weekend for Kunin extended his lead for most goals on the team with 11, three in front of teammate Grant Besse.

The Badgers are on finals and in their holiday break, but Kunin’s time off will be short.  He’s been selected to Team USA’s 27-man preliminary roster for the upcoming World Junior Championship in Toronto and Montreal from Dec. 26-Jan. 5.  If Kunin makes the final roster, the United States’ first game will be Dec. 26 against Latvia in Toronto.