44 // VARSITY April 10, 2014
INSIDE
MEN'S HOCKEY
Ranks of Badgers in the
pros continue to grow
Wave of signings, call-ups for former Badgers
BY PAUL CAPOBIANCO @BADGERMHOCKEY
I
t ended suddenly for the
Badgers at the NCAA tour-
nament in 2013-14, but for
the four seniors and a couple
of underclassmen, playing
hockey in the 2013-14 season
might not quite be over.
Since the UW season end-
ed on March 28, four seniors
and two underclassmen have
signed to play professional
hockey.
Senior forward Tyler Barnes
had a spectacular profes-
sional debut, scoring a pair of
goals and firing a game-high
five shots for the San Antonio
Rampage of the AHL to help
the team to a 5-2 victory over
former Badger Sean Dolan and
the Charlotte Checkers. The
game took place on Friday,
April 4.
Senior forward Michael
Mersch signed with the Los Angeles
Kings, but has since played a pair of
games with the Los Angeles-affiliated
Manchester Monarchs of the AHL, post-
ing one assist. As of April 9, Albany
(AHL) signee and senior defenseman Joe
Faust, Providence (AHL) signee and se-
nior defenseman Frankie Simonelli and
Anaheim (NHL) signee and sophomore
forward Nic Kerdiles had yet to make
their professional debuts, but each have
signed contracts.
THE TWO JAKES
● On the same day last week, Thursday,
April 3, a pair of Eau Claire, Wis., na-
tives and former Wisconsin hockey
players named Jake skated in their
first NHL games of the season.
Jake Dowell made his season debut
with the Minnesota Wild, skating in
just over seven minutes of action and
firing one shot on goal. The Wild fell in
a shootout to the Chicago Blackhawks
in the game.
Jake McCabe made his NHL debut
for the Buffalo Sabres in a 2-1 loss
at St. Louis. As of April 9, McCabe has
now skated in four NHL games.
Also, with McCabe's debut and Dow-
ell's action, UW has seen 21 alumni in
the NHL this season and now boasts
77 NHLers all-time.
SCHEDULE
COMING UP
Oct. 10-11 Kendall Hockey Classic
Anchorage, Alaska (Alaska, Alaska
Anchorage, Maine)