October 31, 2023
by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor (@CHN_AdamWodon)
When Wisconsin brought in Mike Hastings as its new head coach, there was a lot of optimism. They backed up the truck to get him, and rightfully so, getting someone who brought Minnesota State to a couple Frozen Fours and within half a period of a national championship. The expectation was that Wisconsin would look better this season, but would take some time to be true national contenders.
Well, a funny thing happened. The Badgers are currently 7-1 and just swept Minnesota — on the road — to earn CHN Team of the Week. There’s a long way to go of course. But a team that often looked disorganized in the past, is already playing with the smooth efficiency that is symbolic of a Hastings-coached group.
The NCAA Tournament is well within its grasp.
This past weekend’s games saw it all on display.
Thursday, Wisconsin fell behind 15 seconds into the game. That could’ve been an “uh-oh” moment, like, hey, we’re playing up in class now, this is going to be different. But in fact it was the opposite. Wisconsin outshot Minnesota 11-4 from that point in the period on, and took a 2-1 lead. After the Gophers tied it in the second, Wisconsin scored twice more towards the end of the period, including Mathieu De St. Phalle’s second of the game.
Friday, the Badgers were able to withstand the expected early onslaught, and got the only goal of the first period, a power-play score from Minnesota State transfer Simon Tassy. After Minnesota tied it, 2-2, early in the third, it was Tassy again who scored the game winning with 2:31 remaining. He also had an assist, and fellow MSU import Christian Fitzgerald had two assists.
“It was fun going there and doing that,” said Wisconsin senior defenseman Mike Vorlicky, who grew up in Edina, Minn. “They have a good team. The Big Ten’s going to be a battle all year long. And I definitely enjoyed it, especially the last couple of years, it’s been tough seeing my buddies who went to Minnesota and then just being like, ‘Hey, maybe next year.’ And I’m a little salty about that.
“We use each week as just a way to learn and get better. Just going in there, making sure we play our game, respecting the opponent, and then just kind of going from there just taking it 5 minutes at a time in blocks of five. Obviously it went well for us and I think that’s how hard we’ve been working and the…
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