T
here has been a certain "Je ne sais quoi'' element to Nic Kerdil- es' freshman season at Wisconsin. After sitting out a 10-game NCAA suspension — during which there
was an additional setback from an injury — the 18-year-old Kerdiles is finally going to make his long-awaited college debut. "There are a lot of expectations from a lot of people,'' he said. Despite the accelerated growth that he has
shown at various levels of competition ― he was a second-round choice of the Anaheim Ducks and the 36th overall pick in the 2012 draft ― he knows that he must resist trying to make up for lost time. He can't make up for 10 lost games in his first 10 shifts. Eyeing Friday's series opener at Denver, Kerdiles said, "I'm not going to be Superman out there. I'm going to play a simple game ― do what Coach (Mike Eaves) tells me ― and get back into the swing of things. I'm not going to be in game shape right away. Nobody can be. You've got to play games.'' Kerdiles isn't into playing mind games. That was obvious in late October when he
joined Eaves weekly news conference and read from a prepared statement addressing his NCAA suspension, which had been reduced from one year to 10 games for a violation of its code of amateurism; rules pertaining to agents and impermissible benefits. At the time, Kerdiles talked about his com- mitment to being a role model for other young hockey players who aspire to realize their NHL dream by taking the college route instead of going to juniors. He also stressed, "I truly be- lieve that I am meant to be here'' and "I'm so glad to call myself a Badger.''
There have been some trying moments, to be sure; especially after he was injured. "I asked myself that every day, 'What did I
do (to deserve this)?''' he said. "But I'm a firm believer everything happens for a reason. At some points, I really questioned that belief. But, at the end of the day, I still believe in that.
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