Varsity is the free Official Digital Magazine of Wisconsin Athletics, covering Badgers football, basketball, hockey and more each week.
Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/251020
40 // VARSITY January 30, 2014 O n Monday night, Los Angeles Kings goal- tender Jonathan Quick made a key third period stop on Joe Pavelski, one of the hot- test scorers in the National Hockey League. Quick's save helped preserve a 1-0 victory over the San Jose Sharks. In a couple of weeks, Quick and Pavelski will be teammates. Such is the melting pot that is Olympic hockey. Whereas the 29-year-old Pavelski will be joining Team USA for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Rus- sia, two of his San Jose teammates, Patrick Marleau and Marc-Edouard Vlasic will be playing for Team Canada while a fourth Sharks representative, Antti Niemi, will skate for Team Finland. "When the puck drops, you want to compete," said Pavelski, a member of the 2010 Olympic team that won a silver medal in Vancouver. "Your competitive juices just take over." In December, the United States and Canadian women's national teams brawled during an exhibi- tion game in Grand Forks, N.D. Hilary Knight was one of five USA players who received fighting ma- jors. Meaghan Mikkelson was one of five Canadian players who were likewise penalized. Knight and Mikkelson each won two national championships at Wisconsin. "There's a lot at stake," said 22-year- old Team USA forward Briana Deck- er, who was raised in Dousman and played on the 2011 UW team that won the NCAA title. "It gets physical out there. The players don't want to lose. That's the main thing, that's why it gets a little rowdy." A little rowdy? The women brawled not once, but twice during their exhi- bition tour. They also brawled in 2010. "They've won the gold medal for the last how many Olympics (three)? And we haven't won since '98," said Decker, who's a rookie to the Winter Games. "It's everyone's goal to win the gold." Such is the competitive fire when you're representing your country. "That's what the Olympics bring. It was cool being a part of Team USA (in Vancouver)," said Pavelski, who had three assists in six games. "You work hard to hopefully get recognized over your career and to play and perform for your country on a stage like that, it's pretty special." Wisconsin will be well-represented on the Olympic hockey rosters in Sochi. Joining Pavelski will be defenseman Ryan Suter of the Minnesota Wild and forward Derek Stepan and defenseman Ryan McDonagh of the New York Rang- ers. Another former Badger forward, Tony Granato, currently an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins, will be an assistant coach with the Americans. One of the hottest players in the NHL, Pavelski has scored 28 goals in San Jose's first 53 games.