Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

[whoop87]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Per the UW pronunciation guide (bottom of page 2), it is Day-BE-en.

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/...uick_facts.pdf

[sergio191]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

It was a decent game, I enjoyed it. But I hope they can score some more goals with that many shots.

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Well, 1 day to go til we hit the real deal. I'm still on cloud nine having season tickets. I told my lovely and generous wife yesterday I'm living the dream being able to spend me weekends fishing/camping in the summer and hockeying in the winter. The fall is the best because I can fish in the am and hockey in the aft. I was thinking about musky fishing Monona in the am, then going to the women's game @ 3, but I don't feel warm and fuzzy about parking my fishing rig in the lot and leaving it set there unattended for 3 hours.

[Badger Booster]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/w-ho...-W-Hockey.html

Been meaning to post the series preview link, just got around to it. Students get in free tonight and get free pizza while it lasts. Hopefully that will draw a few more students than normal.

[Badger Booster]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

http://host.madison.com/sports/colle...589008b6c.html

Good article laying out the strengths and challenges of this year's team. Would have been nice to have both McKeough and Pankowski, but that's the way it is.

[WiscDC]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

If any of you use twitter, join the campaign to #PaintLaBahn by sending tweets to @BadgerWHockey. If you don't use twitter, you can sign up and contribute anyway!

[Badger Booster]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Solid 3-0 win for the Badgers last night. Decent size crowd, but thought it would be bigger. Seemed like there were more people at the exhibition game against Japan. Students got hooked up with free pizza, which was nice for them. With no other competing events, thought maybe the band would be there, but I've learned to not expect them on any kind of regular basis.

While Badgers controlled a majority of play, Mankato had some nice bursts and Rigsby had to make some big saves. I believe Wisconsin only dressed 5 defensemen as there was no sign of Jenny Ryan. Hopefully this is a short-term issue as they need every weapon out there they have.

Hopefully, they can complete the sweep today and get ready for the big showdown next week up in Minnesota.

[WiscDC]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

That was a fun one. Now it's 3 goals in 2 games for Ammerman, and a nice convincing victory (a wider margin than against Japan). I was disappointed, especially in the first period, that they couldn't connect on those one-timers.

[sergio191]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

What's the deal with #paintLaBahn?

[WiscDC]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

What's the deal with #paintLaBahn?

You know those walls high above the open concourses? They're plain white and beige/cream colored. Besides all the seating, it really feels just like a practice facility. Having some kind of ring of honor, a giant W, skating Bucky, Badger hockey mural...anything like that would make us all feel more immersed in the tradition of University of Wisconsin hockey.

During the second intermission, the staff by the ice resurfacer tunnel actually took pictures of our signs with their phones, and they asked us about it, we explained, and there were smiles all around.

During the Friday game, Dan started sending bombarding tweets to @BadgerWHockey requesting that the walls be improved. He told us to start doing that, and I hopped on the tweet-bombardment bandwagon. During this, the people in the press box who presumably run the twitter account gave us looks. Fairly early on, though not in the first handful of tweets, we decided to tie them all together with #PaintLaBahn.

[CrazyDave]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

You know those walls high above the open concourses? They're plain white and beige/cream colored. Besides all the seating, it really feels just like a practice facility. Having some kind of ring of honor, a giant W, skating Bucky, Badger hockey mural...anything like that would make us all feel more immersed in the tradition of University of Wisconsin hockey.

During the second intermission, the staff by the ice resurfacer tunnel actually took pictures of our signs with their phones, and they asked us about it, we explained, and there were smiles all around.

During the Friday game, Dan started sending bombarding tweets to @BadgerWHockey requesting that the walls be improved. He told us to start doing that, and I hopped on the tweet-bombardment bandwagon. During this, the people in the press box who presumably run the twitter account gave us looks. Fairly early on, though not in the first handful of tweets, we decided to tie them all together with #PaintLaBahn.

It's interesting that this is coming up. Every year, Minnesota has a "Brunch with the Coaches", where both Coach Frost and the visiting team coach attend. Last year the guest was Eric Means of Minnesota State, and it was the weekend after MSU had played in LaBahn. I specifically asked Means what he thought of LaBahn, and he made a comment about it being "very white." But Frosty followed up with the fact that Ridder Arena was also very "undecorated" the first few years it was open, and stuff was added later.

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Friday night I left LaBahn slightly concerned that the game was too even, essentially a 2-0 game, shots just about even, Kato out faceoffed UW, and the play after the first period was also even. I left Saturday aft feeling a lot better, UW had a more dominate game, handily outshooting and outplaying Kato, even thought it was 2-1 in the 3rd period, then UW melted Ms. Butters. I was bummed Ribsby didn't get the s/o, that shot was from the point, I didn't see if she was screened or what happened. UW did respond very nicely after that and closed the game out strong.

I loved hearing all the suggestions the students were telling the rink/ice resurfacing guys about sprucing the place up and I agree 100%. There needs to be more cardinal and white and less offwhite and beige. There needs to be heritage items listed on the walls. I'd email UW directly with your suggestions. I emailed them when they opened LaBahn with feedback and they did respond.

[NMH]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

My impressions after first weekend:

Someone has to step up and become the leader of the offense. Early front-runner is obviously Brittany Ammerman, but we'll see how that plays out. Clearly it's a team without a true offensive superstar, but right now it looks like a team without a leader. It's great that Rigsby is seen to be that person, but she can't run the team on the ice. Someone else has to step into that role and be the presence. It was especially clear on the Power Play that they need a point person/lead on offense. The Power Play on Sunday was abysmal at best - there was one where I'm certain the puck didn't stay in the zone for more than a few seconds at a time. Then they got it across the blue line, passed it around the boards, someone whiffed, and it just went right back out of the zone. It was so sad. I said on Twitter that it looked like the men's PP of the past few years and someone told me that was harsh, but that's when you know I'm serious. The team was more successful scoring shorties than they were on the PP.

They got owned in the faceoff circle both nights. They did better on Sunday, but overall this is something they need to improve upon immediately. If they struggle against Mankato, how do you think it will go next week against Minny?

They responded to adversity very well and they are spreading the puck. Mankato cut it to 2-1 in the early third and suddenly Rigsby was all but standing on her head. I was literally tweeting that Johnson might want to call the TO when UW scored. Then they scored again. The momentum flipped on a dime. It was well done of the Badgers to withstand the onslaught - this is where Rigsby will be so crucial for them - and then turn and make their own push.

Blayre Turnbull is going to be a force on this team. I think it'll be somewhat quiet, but it felt a bit like she's been biding her time until she could be an impact player. She was beyond fired up to score her goal yesterday.

The freshman made an immediate impact. Aside from the goals, I noted Nurse and McKibbon in scrums in front of the net quite a bit. Mellissa Channell was a factor in the middle of the ice quite a bit. It was great to see Jenny Ryan suit up on Sunday.

This early schedule is going to be so interesting. Mankato, Minny, St. Cloud, Lindenwood. They have to be ready for Minny and then that's a big ramp down again for a few weeks.

[NMH]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

In regards to #PaintLeBahn:

Timothy A, there is all kind of heritage stuff out in the main hallway. Why would they repeat that inside? Not to mention that the program is only 14 years old - there's only so much heritage information.

I can get behind the idea of some red/motion W's/Bucky's. Heck, I'd like to see "It's a great day for hockey" much larger than the small silver letters they have somewhat hidden right now. That phrase painted larger than life with a red stripe from either side would work. Put white motion w's inside the red stripe, like you sometimes see NHL teams do with their red line on the ice.

I don't see a need for a LOT of stuff - it doesn't need to be busy. I don't feel passionate about it like some of the above guys. But some simple improvements wouldn't run amiss.

[Badger Booster]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2013-2014 Season

Couple of thoughts on the weekend. I didn't notice all the blank wall spaces in the main bowl area until this discussion came up. No doubt there is room for improvement, even if it's nothing more than adding some motion W's or some basic additions like previously mentioned. UW has done a very nice job in designing the outer corridor hallway with a lot of stuff honoring both the men's and women's programs. The only problem (and that may not be the right term) is that the only time I'm in that area is when I come in and when I leave the arena. With no concessions or bathrooms in that area, there is no real reason to go back out there during the game.

Personally, if I was still a student and going to the games, I would be calling/tweeting/e-mailing the athletic department why the band doesn't show up for more games. I know I've mentioned it a ton on these boards over the years, but it still a big issue in my mind. As far as leaders, I would guess that Madison Packer, Brittany Ammerman and Courtney Burke will be the go-to players from a seniority and skill stand-point.

I really liked the way they responded when Mankato scored their lone series goal on Saturday. Mavericks were playing pretty well, had the momentum and were putting heavy pressure on Rigsby. But when Nurse scored on a mini-breakway, the Badgers took control for the rest of the game. The last short-handed goal by Turnbull was a beauty and hopefully a sign of many more goals to come.

No doubt that they'll have to play very well up in Minnesota in order to break that streak, but getting a win (hopefully two) is certainly doable.