FROZEN IN TIME
A photo captured the moment, but Steve Alley needs only his memory to recall how he lifted the Badgers — and teammates Mike Eaves and Mark Johnson — to an NCAA title
BY MIKE LUCAS • UWBADGERS.COM T
he framed photo holds a prominent spot on the "Cham- pions Wall'' in Wisconsin hockey coach Mike Eaves' of- fice at the Kohl Center. It also can be found in Steve Al- ley's den in Lake Forest, Ill. "It has gone with us wherever we've gone,'' Allen said. Today, whenever the 58-year-old
Alley walks past the photo, he still has flashbacks to the 1977 UW team that won the NCAA championship at the historic Detroit Olym- pia on Grand River Avenue. Alley is the focal point of the picture. With his arms extended to
the heavens, he's shown celebrating his game-winning goal 23 sec- onds into overtime against Michigan in the title game. "I have the final 23 seconds memorized,'' Alley said. "I still remember the play perfectly.'' The backdrop to the final sequence is worth remembering, too. Be- fore going out for the overtime, UW coach Bob Johnson had a heart- to-heart with his players, which included his son, Mark; and his cap- tain, Eaves; who skated on a line with Alley. As a form of motivation, Bob Johnson showed off the rings that he was wearing. One was his 1976 Olympic ring; the other was Wisconsin's 1973 NCAA champion- ship ring. Alley was on both teams. Johnson's locker room message was simple and to the point. "I
just told them that winning here would mean a lot more to them 10 and 20 years from now than it would tonight,'' Badger Bob explained. "It's hard for 19- and 20-year-olds to comprehend what they're play- ing for. Some of our key players were tired but I reminded them of
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