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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.

NHL going to 3-on-3 overtimes (Video)

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Hockey GoalMost fans think NHL shootouts in overtime are a good thing.  But most NHL players want to see the game decided on the ice without a shootout.

The problem is, not enough overtime games were being decided in a 5-on-5 or 4-on-4 format within the five-minute overtime, time frame.

The American Hockey League (AHL) had incredible success cutting down on the number of shootouts by using seven minutes overtime’s and splitting them between 4-on-4 and 3-on-3.

Players benefit from fewer shootouts because their will be more goals and assists to pile up.  In a shootout format, goals [Read more…]

Two Badgers selected in NHL Draft

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Cameron Hughes

Cameron Hughes

Two Wisconsin Badgers were selected in the 2015 NHL Draft over the weekend.

Freshman goaltender Luke Opilka went in the fifth round, 146th overall, to his home town St. Louis Blues.

Opilka is the first drafted goaltender on its roster since Brett Bennett wrapped up his UW career in 2011.  All-time, 12 Badger goaltenders have been selected in NHL drafts, though that number increases to 13 when the old NHL supplemental draft is included.  Seven Badger goaltenders have played in the NHL, including current St. Louis Blues goalie Brian Elliott.

Opilka played last season for the U.S. Under-18 Team as part of the U.S. National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  He went 25-7-0 with a 2.77 goals-against average, .833 save percentage and three shutouts.  One of those victories included a 4-1 victory over the Badgers at the Kohl Center last December.

Wisconsin Sophomore forward Cameron Hughes, tied for the Badgers’ freshman scoring lead last season, posting 3 goals and 13 points in 34 games.  He was selected in the 6th round by the Boston Bruins.

Hughes is just the second Badger to get picked by the Bruins, joining 1985 11th-round pick John Byce, who went 220th to Boston.

With the picks of Opilka and Hughes, 151 Badgers have now been chosen in the NHL draft.

NHL players in the Olympics (Video)

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The controversy hasn’t reached full proportion because the NHL doesn’t want to steal the thunder of the current Olympic games.  But when the Sochi games end, expect the subject of NHL players continuing to play in the Olympics to hit epic proportion.

When the NFL season ends, NHL owners no longer have to compete for viewers and fans.  But every fourth year, the winter Olympics roll around and the NHL season gets interrupted and the player’s head off to represent the NHL in the Olympics.

There’s the potential for injury, not to mention some teams have little representation in the Olympics, so their players get a nice 2-week break.  Other teams, like the Chicago Blackhawks for example, have nearly half their roster in the Olympics and they get no rest at all.  NHL officials consider this a competitive disadvantage when the NHL season resumes. [Read more…]

Chelios named to the Hockey Hall of Fame

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The Hockey Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2013 Tuesday.  Among the four names on the list was for Wisconsin Badger Chris Chelios.

Chelios played 23-seasons in the NHL with Montreal, Chicago, Detroit and a few games with Atlanta.  In the 2009-2010 season, he became the 2nd oldest player to skate in a NHL game at 48-years-old.  Gordie Howe is the oldest at 52.

In 1983, Chelios was a member of the National Champion Badgers Men’s Hockey squad.  He skated two seasons with Wisconsin before going pro in 1983.  He is currently working in the Detroit Red Wings front office.

Joining Chelios in the 2013 Hall of Fame induction class are Scott Niedermayer, Brendan Shanahan, and Philly executive Geraldine Heaney, the third female to join the Hockey Hall.

WRN Sports Daily (Video)

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In today’s WRN Sports Daily, I take a look back at last night’s Stanley Cup Finals opener between Chicago & Boston.

The NBA Finals continue tonight with game 4 between San Antonio and Miami.  Can the Spurs push Miami closer to elimination and will they have Tony Parker (hamstring) on the court.

And the Brewers have a long way to go, but they’ve won 5 of 6 with a big series against the Reds coming this weekend.

WRN Sports Daily (Video)

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In today’s version of the WRN Sports Daily, I take a look at the history and tradion of the Octopus, in regards to the role it plays at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings.

Did you ever wonder by Wings fans throw Octopus’ on the ice?  I did, and I finally decided to look into it and its meaning.

I also touch on some great baseball stories to start the 2013 season as well.

Enjoy!