From Leader-Telegram
By Allan Brown
Part Two
Author’s Note: In Part One of this two-part feature on the UWEC Blugolds’ Men’s Hockey Club, the history of the organization and what separates it from the university-sanctioned team was discussed. In this final part of the series, a preview of the upcoming season, which starts at home this weekend, and a conversation about what motivates the players on the squad.
Motivation.
Most — if not all — competitive sports teams don’t need to get motivated to win.
It’s basically running through the blood in their veins as an athlete.
But if the UWEC Men’s Hockey Club’s players happened to require any extra motivation as they embark on their new season, this nugget of information should provide them with just the extra jump start they might need.
“Last year we missed a regional berth by .149 putting us at 15th in the Central Region standings. The top 14 get an invite to the regional tournament. The ultimate goal or our “Stanley Cup” would be to win the Carla Berg tournament in Blain, Minnesota, at the end of our season, said UWEC Men’s Hockey Club Head Coach Luke Myhers in an exclusive interview with the Leader-Telegram.
The newly minted leader of the Frozen Blugolds’ Club went on to explain just what winning that tournament would mean to his squad.
“With a win, there is an automatic berth to the regional tournament. After last year’s season, missing the cut by that slim of a margin has really motivated this years team to make the push to play beyond the Carla Berg tournament.” Myhers said.
The ultimate goal for the squad would be for the Blugolds to qualify for the American Collegiate Hockey Association’s national tournament in St. Louis next March.
The goals that Myhers has laid out before his team are certainly not lost on the squad as a whole and two of its Club officers and players in particular.
“Two years ago, 2021, we lost 6-5 against Trine in the regional quarterfinal. Last year, 2022, we missed the regional by one game,” Cade Marschall, a senior forward and president of the Club’s board of directors said.
And another forward and Club officer added similar comments and put last season into its proper perspective, allowing him and this year’s team to move forward and focus on the task at hand.
“I think the overall year last wasn’t what we were looking for and lacked success. We are more motivated this year than last based off are poor performance throughout the whole year and not just how it ended,” Garrett Husnick, a sophomore forward and secretary of the Club’s official operating board, said.
The club will begin its redemption tour this weekend when the puck drops on its 2023-24 season.
That’s when St. Cloud comes to the Hobbs Ice Center for two games this Friday and Saturday and the Blugolds’ players can put past seasons in the rear view mirror and look forward to reaching its goals for this year.
For an athlete, there’s something to be said about coming within a game or a point of making it to the postseason in any sport.
With emotions ranging anywhere from anger to disappointment — with likely a myriad of other feelings in between — it is without a doubt a defining moment for anyone who plays any sport.
As a player, you can either choose to let that defeat define you or you can focus all your energy on rising above that disappointment and even possibly some despair.
Marschall put the past seasons into perspective as it motivates him to move forward with this year’s squad.
“I think missing a regional birth by a point last year will motivate us and give us a spark this year,” Marschall said, adding, “We had no problem clinching a regional birth two years ago, my sophomore year, and lost in the quarterfinal in overtime. I think we not only will use our experience to our advantage, but will also be even hungrier to get back there this year, and hopefully achieve more.”
To supplement a roster of 16 returning players, Myhers has added 11 newcomers to the squad who he thinks will shake things up and push the team to that ultimate goal of tournament action.
“This years draft was very promising with the new cast of players. We balanced out the team with defensive and offensive players giving us the opportunity to move some of our returning players into a position that they have naturally played their entire hockey career. Team chemistry is very positive and I am extremely excited to start the season,” Myhers said.
The Eau Claire native went on to break the team down both offensively and defensively.
“Offensively, speed will definitely be one of our strengths. We have a lot of creative playmakers and this year will be exciting to watch. Defensively we have great balance. Consistency in both the offensive and defensive zones,” Myhers said.
Of course, any hockey team is only as good as the goaltender between the pipes.
And Myhers does not disagree with that assessment.
“Goaltending is a major part of the team. Our starting goalie graduated after last season so we were looking to replace that void with a solid candidate,” Myhers said. “We have one returning goaltender and selected two goaltenders in the rookie class. We need a solid net minder not only to protect the house but also to direct traffic in the defensive zone.”
While the ultimate performance of the team remains to be seen, both Husnick and Marschall echo Myhers’ sentiments about the positive direction the squad is taking entering its 14th season of club play.
“I am excited with the team we have right now, one spot we specifically grew stronger at was are defense. That was one thing the coaches targeted at tryouts was bringing in some defenseman. Also, we have large amount of returning players from last year who all had game experience,” Husnick said.
“This year we have a great group of rookies coming in, we lost a couple huge pieces this offseason so we were happy to see the turnout at tryouts and the coaching staff picked a great group of guys,” Marschall said.
Marschall, a Farmington, MN, native, went on to explain what this group of returnees now blended with an exciting number of new players will mean for this year’s team.
“Not only do I think our backend will improve significantly, but we added quite a bit of speed and skill up front. So I’m excited to see what we can accomplish,” Marschall said.
Both players have a lot to accomplish both on and off the ice as they work toward their chosen degrees.
Both say that balancing school, work, practice and their positions on the Club’s board is difficult, but not impossible.
“Balancing school can be challenging during certain times, but isn’t too overly challenging throughout the year,” Husnick said, adding, “My motivation is just to continue playing hockey and having fun doing it. I currently don’t work during the school year but I know there is quite a few people on the team who do.”
And, Marschall is one of them, who is working a job outside of his studies and team responsibilities.
“Balancing school and hockey can be really tough at times, but a lot of us guys work as well. I think what motivates us guys, especially me, is the love for the game of hockey and continuing to play it at a high and competitive level,” Marschall said.
The club’s president explained that “A lot of us guys could’ve gone the juniors route, and some of us did. But I think being able to play while getting an education right out of high school without having to go play juniors for two to three years, is a blessing in disguise. I work for a flooring company five days a week, from 8:00 to 1:00, then go to school.”
Both players feel the extra work being a club hockey member is worth the effort and hope it reaps the team dividends when they hit the ice this weekend.
Puck drop for the season opener at the Hobbs Ice Center is set for 7 p.m. Friday. Saturday’s second game against the Huskies is set to start at noon. Admission to the games is $5. Students and kids get in for free.
(Originally published at https://www.leadertelegram.com/townnews/sport/for-love-of-the-game/article_5990d28e-6163-11ee-b08b-73a7b97a04d0.html)
