November 5, 2023
Denver Sweeps CC to Retain ‘Gold Pan’
CHN Staff Report
Wisconsin just keeps turning heads and building the resume.
Friday, the Badgers won a back-and-forth affair, 5-4. Saturday, things took another twist, and Wisconsin took advantage.
With 1:40 left in regulation, Michigan challenged a no-goal call, despite already having used its timeout. Michigan contended that it had scored a goal, saying that a shot by Rutger McGroarty from the right circle had gone in before the whistle for a net coming off. A Wisconsin player pushed Michigan’s Dylan Duke into the net, causing it to dislodge just as McGroarty was shooting. The puck seemed to go in, but officials ruled that it only went in because the net came off.
Michigan lost the challenge, and because it had already used its timeout, was called for a bench penalty for delay of game.
That opened the door for Mathieu De St. Phalle to jam in a rebound with six seconds remaining in regulation for a 2-1 win. The initial shot was stopped by Michigan goalie Jake Barczewski, but he couldn’t gather in the rebound and De St. Phalle was able to poke it in.
What more can be said that hasn’t already been about the job first-year coach Mike Hastings is doing with the Badgers, a program that had been in the doldrums for years. After sweeping Minnesota on the road last week, Wisconsin came back home to a fired up Kohl Center, and won two more games against Michigan. That’s taking care of two straight Frozen Four teams from a year ago.
“That was just such an unbelievable feeling, seeing that many people in the Kohl Center, the student section, all of it,” said De St. Phalle to BadgersExtra.com. “That’s just what we’ve been dreaming about going into the season, and it’s awesome to get that support.”
Senior Carson Bantle was credited with the first Wisconsin goal, after a pucked bounced off him and in. He’s one of the those players, a former fifth-round draft pick, that seems to be rejuvenated this year.
“Carson’s just a big body that I think has made a significant contribution to our group from Day 1 here,” Hastings told BadgersExtra.com. “One as a hockey player but two as a human being. He’s a guy that I think people listen to and respect in the locker room, and his play is speaking volumes.”
Wisconsin played without senior defenseman Mike Vorlicky, a recent guest on the CHN Insiders Podcast,…
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