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Mersch lands a spot with the Kings

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Motion WThe Los Angeles Kings of the NHL have called up former Wisconsin Badger forward Michael Mersch on Wednesday, marking the former Badger’s first NHL appearance in his three-year pro career.

The Kings made the move after an injury to forward Kyle Clifford.

If Mersch suits up in a game for the Kings while Clifford is sidelined, he would be the first Badger alum this season to make his NHL debut.  Wisconsin currently has the second most alumni in the NHL this season with 17 players who have played in at least one game.

Mersch, who earned All-American honors in his senior season at Wisconsin in 2013-14, is coming off a superb first full season in the AHL with the Kings’ affiliate the Manchester Monarchs, which are now the Ontario Reign.  After finishing fourth on Manchester with his 45 points last year, Mersch has started this season on a blistering pace for Ontario.  In just 19 games this season, he already has 12 goals and 15 points.  His goal total is five more than the next closest player on the Reign and is good for fifth overall in the AHL.

The Kings drafted Mersch number-110 overall in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Mersch will wear number 49 and could make his NHL debut as early as Friday when the Kings travel to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins.

McCabe, Mersch tabbed All-Americans

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Wisconsin Badger hockey stars Jake McCabe (Eau Claire, Wi.) and Michael Mersch (Park Ridge, Ill.) were tabbed as All-Americans by the American Hockey Coaches Association on Friday.

McCabe, who left the Badgers after the season ended to join the Buffalo Sabres, led the way by being named first team All-American.  McCabe led Badger defensemen with eight goals and 25 points in 36 games played during the 2013-14 campaign.  That total was good for second among Big Ten defenseman in all games.

Mersch is a second-team All-American, finishing his second season with a Big Ten-leading 22 goals in all games.  He also finished with 35 points in 37 games played, which ranked third on the team.

Mersch and McCabe become the 38th and 39th players in program history to be named All-Americans.

McCabe to make NHL debut tonight

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Wisconsin junior defenseman Jake McCabe (Eau Claire, Wis.) will give up his final year of eligibility to sign a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.  McCabe is expected to make his NHL debut tonight when the Sabres take on the St. Louis Blues in St. Louis.

McCabe was drafted 44th overall and in the second round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.  He’ll join former Badger All-American

Jake McCabe

Jake McCabe

defenseman Jamie McBain on the Sabres blue line.

McCabe led Wisconsin defensemen with eight goals and 25 points in 36 games played during the 2013-14 season.  That total was good for second among Big Ten defenseman in all games.

In 100 career games at Wisconsin, McCabe finishes with 14 goals, 58 points, 115 penalty minutes, seven power-play tallies, one short-handed goal and four game-winning goals.

McCabe also captained Team USA to a gold medal at the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia.

He’s the second Badger to sign a professional contract after the Badgers ended their season with a loss in the NCAA contract.  Forward Michael Mersch signed a entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings and is expected to report to play in the American Hockey League.

Mersch signs with LA Kings

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Now that the Wisconsin hockey season is over, Badger senior forward

Michael Mersch

Michael Mersch

Michael Mersch became the first to officially sign a 3-year, entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings organization.  Mersch was selected 110th overall and in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Kings.

Mersch finished his Badger career with 67 goals in 157 games, ranking 23rd all-time at Wisconsin.  He also finished with 120 career points, good for 49th at Wisconsin all-time.  Mersch skated in all 157 games that Wisconsin played during his four-year career as a Badger.

Mersch finished his senior season with a Big Ten-leading 22 goals in all games and 12 goals in conference play.  He also finished with 35 points in 37 games played, which ranked third on the team.

Mersch is expected to report to the AHL’s Manchester Monarchs.

Hockey Badgers earn split with Miami (Ohio)

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Trailing 2-1 in the third period, Wisconsin Badger senior right-winger Michael Mersch recorded his 50th career goal to tie the game and junior left

Michael Mersch

Michael Mersch

winger Joseph LaBate tallied the game winner with 4:43 left to give the Badgers a 3-2 win over Miami of Ohio in Oxford, Ohio on Saturday night.

12th ranked Wisconsin (4-3-1) split the 2-game road series after falling 2-0 on Friday night in the series opener.

The Badgers are back home to host North Dakota in a 2-game series at the Kohl Center starting Friday night.

Badgers tabbed as Big Ten hockey favorites

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Wisconsin has been chosen as the preseason favorite for the inaugural season of Big

Michael Mersch

Michael Mersch

Ten hockey as voted on by the coaches.

The Badgers won 22 games last season and advanced to the NCAA tournament, finishing up its time as a member of the WCHA by capturing the 2013 WCHA Final Five.  The Badgers return nine seniors and six juniors, the most upperclassmen on their roster since the 2009-10 squad that reached the 2010 NCAA Championship game.  The Badgers also return 81.3% of their goal scoring (91 of 112 goals) and 78.9% of their points (239 of 303 points) for the 2013-14 campaign. [Read more…]

Mersch returning to hockey Badgers for senior season

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Wisconsin winger Michael Mersch has decided to return for his senior season in

Michael Mersch

Michael Mersch

Madison, rather than turn pro.

Mersch was a fourth round NHL Draft pick by the Los Angeles Kings in 2011.

AUDIO: Mersch said it felt best to return to UW :13

The announcement is good news for Mike Eaves’ Badgers, who last week lost sophomore Brendan Woods two years early to sign with the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes.

Mersch scored 23 goals this season, fourth most in College Hockey.

AUDIO: Mersch says if they stay together, next season could be special :17

Besides Mersch, it’s likely that teammates Mark Zengerle, Tyler Barnes, Nic Kerdiles and Jake McCabe will return as well.  With that group, Wisconsin figures to be a serious contender to win the new Big Ten Hockey Conference and make a run at the National Championship next season.

Badger hockey undefeated in past seven games

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The last time the Wisconsin Badger hockey team lost a game, it was Thanksgiving.  Needless to say, they have been on a roll since then.  They are undefeated in their last seven games, and on a three game win streak.

Friday’s 5-3 win over the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves allowed the team to start 2013 off on a strong win.

The Badgers (5-7-5, 3-5-5 WCHA) scored early in the first period through senior defenseman John Ramage, lighting the lamp at the 2:56 mark.  Sophmore forward Joseph LaBate was next to get on the Badger scoresheet, making the game 2-0 at the 8:17 mark.

Matt Bailey brought the game within reach for the Seawolves (3-10-4, 1-9-3 WCHA), making the game 2-1 with a goal at the 8:10 mark.  Alaska-Anchorage continued the pressure, forcing another nine saves from Badger goalkeeper Landon Peterson for the remainder of the second period.

In the third period, Wisconsin scored two goals within 70 seconds to make the game 4-1.  Junior forward Michael Mersch scored at the 6:29 mark to increase the lead to 3-1.  Tyler Barnes, another junior forward, furthered the lead with a goal at the 7:34 mark in the third period.

The Seawolves mounted a comeback midway through the third period, scoring at the 11:04 and 12:19 mark.  Blake Tatchell scored first, making the game 4-2, and Jordan Kwas scored second, making the game 4-3.

Badger junior forward Mark Zengerie put the proverbial “nail in the coffin” at the 19:29 mark, scoring on an empty net and making the game 5-3.

Wisconsin goalkeeper Landon Peterson recorded 26 saves in the win, and Alaska-Anchorage goalkeeper Chris Kamal recorded 22 saves.

The Badgers look to make it four wins in a row as they take on the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves in the finale of their two game series Saturday night.

Hockey Badgers blank Alabama Huntsville

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The Wisconsin men’s hockey team earned their first victory at the Kohl Center

Nic Kerdiles

this season, blanking Alabama Huntsville 5-0 in the first of a two-game weekend series. 

Wisconsin’s Nic Kerdiles scored his first goal as a Badger at the 4:00 mark of the first period to give Bucky a 1-0 lead. 

Kerdiles joined fellow Badger Michael Mersch in lighting the lamp twice on the night.

The Badgers will go for the sweep when the face the Chargers again tonight (7pm) at the Kohl Center.

Minnesota State sweeps Badgers in hockey

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The Minnesota State Mavericks (5-5-2, 3-5-0 WCHA) completed their sweep over the Wisconsin Badgers (1-7-2, 1-5-2 WCHA) with a score of 4-2 on Saturday night.

The Mavericks jumped out to an early lead with a goal provided by Matt Leitner at the 4:38 mark in the first period.  At the 6:45 mark of the first period, the Badgers equalized on a power play goal from Jake McCabe.

Minnesota State was not done scoring goals in the first period however.  Eriah Hayes, at the 13:29 mark, and Bryce Gervais, at the 15:10 mark, made the score 3-1 in the first period.

The second period saw a Badger goal from Michael Mersch, at the 0:49 mark, saw the game at 3-2.

The third period saw the decisive goal go to Minnesota State’s Eriah Hayes at the 3:54 mark to put the game out of the Badgers’ reach.

The Badgers travel to the University of Denver for a two-game road series next weekend.