game like a freshman does."
The four-year cycle has been good to the Badgers.
"When we won in '06 we had a big (senior) class,
too," Eaves said of his first NCAA title. "And we were
an upperclassmen team
in '10 when we went to
the finals."
The historic twist this
season is the advent of
Big Ten hockey.
"I've been through the
WCHA for three years,
so it's exciting from that
sense," Zengerle said. "No
(disrespect) to Mankato
or Bemidji, they're just
not as well-known as Michigan and Ohio State.
"Maybe it will build a little more interest in the
student body."
Simonelli represented Wisconsin at the Big Ten
media day in St. Paul, Minn.
"I got to see the excitement from the Big Ten Net-
work (side)," he said. "In talking with other players
in the new league, they're excited. It brings a new
element to the hockey world."
Dahl is looking forward to experiencing different traditions and creating
new rivalries.
"It's a change for the way
a lot of us have grown up
with the WCHA," he said.
"But I'm excited to get into
other venues like Michigan
and Michigan State and see
what their atmospheres
are like."
It's not only a big year
for the Big Ten, Dahl said,
"It's a big year for us seniors and the program, as
well" in terms of building off the momentum that
the Badgers generated late last season.
"We've taken a lot of big strides our last three
years," he continued, "and hopefully we can put it all
together and start off with a bang."
GREG ANDERSON
GREG ANDERSON
"IT'S A BIG YEAR FOR US SENIORS AND
THE PROGRAM AS WELL," DAHL SAID.
"WE'VE TAKEN A LOT OF BIG STRIDES
OUR LAST THREE YEARS, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
AND START OFF WITH A BANG."
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