Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

[granddaddyscout]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

Has Madison Packer changed lines? Dang, she's been productive as of late. Now, we just need that magic 8th double digit goal scorer like we had in all three championship years (yes, I'm prematurely chalking up 10+ goals for MP and yes, I realize it's arbitrary.) Would like to see Deluce get going.

Great to see MP getting on track, after the knee injury at Nationals there were questions about her being red shirted. Just what Wisco needs, a little more offensive firepower!

 

[GoBucky36]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

I was kicking around the idea of going to the UW/St Cloud game today and then hanging around for skate with the Badgers, but after seeing that St Clown is winless thus far this season and how badly the Badgers beat them up on Saturday, I passed on it.
Not that Im complaning, but it certainly makes the game boring to watch when the Badgers blow out their opponent in the first period.
Good 4 point weekend for the ladies! Its nice to see them getting back to playing at a level that Badger fans are used to seeing after the disappointment that was last season.

 

[Badger Booster]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

Badgers dominate the Huskies today, though Nixon was game in net for St. Cloud and was the reason it didn't get out of hand early. As a matter of fact, it was only 1-0 halfway through the game, but Wisconsin had something like a 35-1 edge in shots.

Eventually the goals came and there will be a run to Culver's later tonight to cash in on the free frozen custard.

Nice size crowd with it being "Skate with the Badgers" with both the women's and men's teams after the game. Probably not the 3,800+ officially announced, but seemed like the biggest crowd of the year to date. I did count that around 15 (out of 25-30?) of the luxury suites were open. Each not necessarily full, but people nonetheless.

Kind of an embarrassment that the UW doesn't seem to bother with a band for the team. Crowd would be much more into the game with a band....and/or more than a handful of actual UW students. At least Phil was there for the "1,2,3..we want more!" chant.

On to Duluth to help the Dogs christen the new arena.

 

[WHKY blogger]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

Kind of an embarrassment that the UW doesn't seem to bother with a band for the team. Crowd would be much more into the game with a band....and/or more than a handful of actual UW students. At least Phil was there for the "1,2,3..we want more!" chant.

wow.. do we really need another post complaining about not having a band.. are you unable to enjoy a hockey game without the band being present?

As I have stated to you previously, the band has a standing request for events. Its up to the Band to get its students to sign up to play the events. If nobody or not enough people sign up then the band doesnt play. Were you at the Men's Basketball game where there was no band because they were at the rose bowl? They couldnt even arrange an alumni band for that!

And since you brought him up, Phil is deffinetly not wanted at Womens games! Ask around. Most of the older folks there to watch the game would rather he sit down and shut up. Yes some like Phil but his acceptability ratings get lower every season..

Women's games are totally different from the beer fueled idots on parade culutre of mens games and for those of us that are there for the game and not the idoits, like it that way.

 

[D2D]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

Women's games are totally different from the beer fueled idots on parade culutre of mens games and for those of us that are there for the game and not the idoits, like it that way.

You can't possibly be a Wisconsin native, knocking beer drinking like that!

 

[Badger Booster]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

wow.. do we really need another post complaining about not having a band.. are you unable to enjoy a hockey game without the band being present?

As I have stated to you previously, the band has a standing request for events. Its up to the Band to get its students to sign up to play the events. If nobody or not enough people sign up then the band doesnt play. Were you at the Men's Basketball game where there was no band because they were at the rose bowl? They couldnt even arrange an alumni band for that!

And since you brought him up, Phil is deffinetly not wanted at Womens games! Ask around. Most of the older folks there to watch the game would rather he sit down and shut up. Yes some like Phil but his acceptability ratings get lower every season..

Women's games are totally different from the beer fueled idots on parade culutre of mens games and for those of us that are there for the game and not the idoits, like it that way.

Honestly, I'm very surprised by this response. First, I can perfectly enjoy watching the Badgers play with nobody at the game because they are so talented and it's fun to follow a championship caliber program.

In addition, I think that you are in the vast minority with thinking that the lack of band is not an issue and that Phil is a detriment to the gameday experience. Granted, I don't sit next to him so maybe he's being vulgar and offensive and I don't know about it, but the rest of the crowd seems to get into his cheers. He only does it after goals and maybe a "Let's Go Red" a couple of times during the game. Is that really that out-of-line?

With the band, there are a couple of issues. First, I would argue that at least 90% of the fans that attend the games would prefer a band versus no band. I miss a live "On Wisconsin", "Varsity" plus I think that the occassional "Bud Song" would fire up the crowd. Plus, the band initiates the Sieve chant which I don't think is inappropriate at the D-1 women's level. Bottom line is that I haven't had one person tell me over the 10+ years of the program existence that they like the canned music over a some kind of band, even if it was the three drummers back in the day.

I won't debate the fact that there's not a band because no one wants to play. That in itself is frustrating. I could understand if the program was floundering, but women's hockey is consistently the best team within the UW athletic department. Plus, it really only takes 10 or so band members to be effective at the games. With that said, I have to believe that if Sean Frazier (Associate AD for Women's Hockey) and/or Mike Leckrone really wanted to make sure that women's hockey had a band there every game, it would happen. My personal conclusion is that they don't care enough. I'm guessing that's what happened at the Badger-Gopher BB game. Everybody was so enthralled with the Rose Bowl, that they didn't have any contingency plan or no interest in contacting a local high school to play at the game (which has happened recently when football was at a major bowl). I was at that game and yes, not having a band was odd. Did it make for a bad experience? No, the win over the Gophers took care of that, but would have more enjoyable time even if it had been the Verona band playing.

Bottom line is that the gameday experience could be better for the women's games. While I don't need the crowd of the men's game replicated for the women's game, why not take the best elements and go from there? As is, Wisconsin leads the nation in attendence, which is great, but there is room for growth. Granted, the new arena will cap that growth potential, but that's an issue for another time

 

[Carter]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

wow.. do we really need another post complaining about not having a band.. are you unable to enjoy a hockey game without the band being present?

As I have stated to you previously, the band has a standing request for events. Its up to the Band to get its students to sign up to play the events. If nobody or not enough people sign up then the band doesnt play. Were you at the Men's Basketball game where there was no band because they were at the rose bowl? They couldnt even arrange an alumni band for that!

And since you brought him up, Phil is deffinetly not wanted at Womens games! Ask around. Most of the older folks there to watch the game would rather he sit down and shut up. Yes some like Phil but his acceptability ratings get lower every season..

Women's games are totally different from the beer fueled idots on parade culutre of mens games and for those of us that are there for the game and not the idoits, like it that way.

Wow. Absolutely one of the most pompous, hateful posts I can ever remember reading from a Badger fan about Badger hockey. Of course a band would be a wonderful addition. Of course Phil is enjoyed and respected by the fans. And only a complete idiot himself would suggest that the fans at men's games are "beer fueled idiots". I've had men's season tickets for thirty-five years, and alcohol doesn't factor into it at all. In the student section, no doubt, but that's a small percentage of the large and loyal fan base that the men's team enjoys. And without out that fan base, I have a feeling that women's hockey wouldn't exist here at all. Jesus, what the hell's the matter with you anyway?

 

[MAOFDJJD]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

wow.. do we really need another post complaining about not having a band.. are you unable to enjoy a hockey game without the band being present?

As I have stated to you previously, the band has a standing request for events. Its up to the Band to get its students to sign up to play the events. If nobody or not enough people sign up then the band doesnt play. Were you at the Men's Basketball game where there was no band because they were at the rose bowl? They couldnt even arrange an alumni band for that!

And since you brought him up, Phil is deffinetly not wanted at Womens games! Ask around. Most of the older folks there to watch the game would rather he sit down and shut up. Yes some like Phil but his acceptability ratings get lower every season..

Women's games are totally different from the beer fueled idots on parade culutre of mens games and for those of us that are there for the game and not the idoits, like it that way.

WOW....I wanna party with you!!!

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

wow.. do we really need another post complaining about not having a band.. are you unable to enjoy a hockey game without the band being present?

As I have stated to you previously, the band has a standing request for events. Its up to the Band to get its students to sign up to play the events. If nobody or not enough people sign up then the band doesnt play. Were you at the Men's Basketball game where there was no band because they were at the rose bowl? They couldnt even arrange an alumni band for that!

And since you brought him up, Phil is deffinetly not wanted at Womens games! Ask around. Most of the older folks there to watch the game would rather he sit down and shut up. Yes some like Phil but his acceptability ratings get lower every season..

Women's games are totally different from the beer fueled idots on parade culutre of mens games and for those of us that are there for the game and not the idoits, like it that way.

I'm going to have to agree w/ Carter. I've only been offended twice on USCHO, and there is a lot of crap on these forums, but this takes 1st place.

I'm amazed by the rampant elitist of this post. Did UW or Mark Johnson deem you the official spokesperson of UW Women's Hockey? You are the authority on what people's opinions and feelings should be about the UW band and Badger Phil? Just state why the band doesn't show up, I appreciate the background information since I didn't know that, but to talk down to another poster for an honest question, really? So you don't like Badger Phil, sure he is a Men's Hockey legend and I respect your opinion of him bringing his signs to the Women's games. Having gone to as many of both the last 3 season (season ticket holder for both), they are certainly two different environments and crowd types. Maybe Phil signs and cheers aren't as welcomed, but the crowd seemed to respond on sunday, and the place can be pretty dull and boring otherwise, even when the Women score a bunch. About the only game I recall where the crowd was really into it in recent memory was against the Olympic team last season. Anyway, if I ask around the people I regularly sit w/ I would get the OPPOSITE response about Phil.

While I can agree to disagree w/ your opinions on those two points, your last comment is completely assnine. I'm a convert from Men's hockey, I went to a Women's game at the end of 2007 and was hooked ever since. Apparently, I'm one of those beer fueled "idots" on parade from the Men's game who gave the Women's team a chance even though its a very different game, which I "thought" I wouldn't like. On the blog I contribute to, I've encouraged any Men's fan to show up and give the Women a chance, because like me, they might change their mind after seeing players like Hilary Knight or Jessie Vetter (in past seasons) on the ice. I've heard several testimonials from people who converted after seeing a game, who thought they would hate it, who were Men's fans, but converted over. So the question I have, based on your gross generalization, are we not welcome at the Women's game because we don't fit the mold YOU want at the games? For the record, I can't remember the last time I was drunk at a Men's game. Do you enjoy friday afternoon's when there are maybe 1,000 people in the Kohl Center and the place feels like a morgue, or would it be ok if some of the Men's fans were to show up early before they start their beer fueled idiot parade culture at 7 PM?

For me, I don't give a **** who shows up for Women's hockey. There is no mold to fit for me. I would love to see the KC filled w/ 15,000 people on a sunday afternoon to see the best Women's team in the country play, all that I'd ask is other fans be respectful of others, and come to cheer hard for some of the most talented women hockey players in the world who we are very lucky decided to make UW their home for 4 years.

There should be encouragement for everyone to come and enjoy arguably the best product UW has to offer year in and year out, instead of deriding one of the most likely sources of additional fans (Men's hockey) w/ completely baseless and hatefilled generalizations.

If you want a sport to grow, the way to do that is not to spit in the face of a potential fan.

 

[GoBucky36]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

Definetly not cool, WHKY Blogger! Im pretty sure that you dont speak for the majority of Badger hockey fans on this one.
Honestly, the womens games could you a bit of the crowd participation that we enjoy at the mens' games. The band and Phil and the chanting is part of what makes Badger hockey so much fun.
I enjoy Badger womens hockey, but its definetly a much different vibe than the mens game and IMO there is definetly something missing, especially if you are someone who is accustomed to going to the mens' games. To hear the Kohl so quiet is very strange.

 

[JosephPSchmoe]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

I would love to see the KC filled w/ 15,000 people on a sunday afternoon to see the best Women's team in the country play...

But the Bulldogs play at Amsoil Arena.

 

[Badger Booster]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

But the Bulldogs play at Amsoil Arena.

I'd be more worried about the Dogs precarious hold on third place in conference.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

Definetly not cool, WHKY Blogger! Im pretty sure that you dont speak for the majority of Badger hockey fans on this one.
Honestly, the womens games could you a bit of the crowd participation that we enjoy at the mens' games. The band and Phil and the chanting is part of what makes Badger hockey so much fun.
I enjoy Badger womens hockey, but its definetly a much different vibe than the mens game and IMO there is definetly something missing, especially if you are someone who is accustomed to going to the mens' games. To hear the Kohl so quiet is very strange.

I think the atmosphere for the women's game is much improved and better served in a smaller arena with the typical number of fans in attendance for the women. The Kohl center is a very nice facility...but too big to create the atmosphere we'd all like to experience at a game between women's WCHA conference opponents with current attendance levels. Will the Badger women be playing their games in the new facility when completed? That would help with the atmosphere I would guess.

The "quiet" factor is the same at The Ralph when I've attended games there...very comparable to games I've been to in Madison, as I imagine it is at any arena of like size.

 

[GoBucky36]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

Will the Badger women be playing their games in the new facility when completed?

Thats the plan. Hopefully a smaller arena will result in more noise. Like I said, I still enjoy the womens' games but its just missing a little something when compared to the mens' games.
I must admit though, being a season ticket holder to the mens' games, I am a little spoiled when it comes to atmosphere. It doesnt get much better than Badger mens' hockey and its a difficult standard for any team (mens' or womens') to measure up to.

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

I think the atmosphere for the women's game is much improved and better served in a smaller arena with the typical number of fans in attendance for the women. The Kohl center is a very nice facility...but too big to create the atmosphere we'd all like to experience at a game between women's WCHA conference opponents with current attendance levels. Will the Badger women be playing their games in the new facility when completed? That would help with the atmosphere I would guess.

The "quiet" factor is the same at The Ralph when I've attended games there...very comparable to games I've been to in Madison, as I imagine it is at any arena of like size.

I don't disagree w/ these points, but why shoot for 2,000 fans when UW has a great product on the ice each afternoon/evening? My goal is to grow people's admiration and attendance of the UW Women's Hockey team. Do I think the new 2,400 seat arena will be nice? I sure do, but would love to see the occasional saturday evening or sunday afternoon (especially non Packer sundays) in the Kohl Center w/ a pretty full bowl. I just find it sad that a 22-2 team can't draw a bigger crowd, and has to do gimmick events to "fill the bowl." Its tough to break the stereotypes, but shooting for medocrity is not a worthy goal.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

I don't disagree w/ these points, but why shoot for 2,000 fans when UW has a great product on the ice each afternoon/evening? My goal is to grow people's admiration and attendance of the UW Women's Hockey team. Do I think the new 2,400 seat arena will be nice? I sure do, but would love to see the occasional saturday evening or sunday afternoon (especially non Packer sundays) in the Kohl Center w/ a pretty full bowl. I just find it sad that a 22-2 team can't draw a bigger crowd, and has to do gimmick events to "fill the bowl." Its tough to break the stereotypes, but shooting for medocrity is not a worthy goal.

I guess I wouldn't equate building a smaller arena which would most likely be filled closer to capacity and therefore potentially resulting in a louder, more intense hockey atmosphere as shooting for mediocrity. My comments are probably based on my own experience, following a team that not too long ago had seasons as dominant as the Badgers with an excellent product on the ice. Everyone connected to those teams, as well as the fans had the same goal as you speak of, along with a fair amount of bewilderment by smallish crowds in the stands. I'm possibly a little jaded in that I've come to believe were just not going to see capacity crowds anytime soon, regardless of the outstanding quality of product and entertainment on the ice...at least consistently throughout a teams home schedule. I have no idea why these teams don't have bigger crowds than they typically do. In light of the product, it makes no sense to me, even with the stereotypes that exist for many that won't even give the sport a look...in places like Madison, Minneapolis or Grand Forks.

 

[GoBucky36]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

I don't disagree w/ these points, but why shoot for 2,000 fans when UW has a great product on the ice each afternoon/evening? My goal is to grow people's admiration and attendance of the UW Women's Hockey team. Do I think the new 2,400 seat arena will be nice? I sure do, but would love to see the occasional saturday evening or sunday afternoon (especially non Packer sundays) in the Kohl Center w/ a pretty full bowl. I just find it sad that a 22-2 team can't draw a bigger crowd, and has to do gimmick events to "fill the bowl." Its tough to break the stereotypes, but shooting for medocrity is not a worthy goal.

I would call it shooting for mediocrity as much as I would accepting the reality of womens' hockey. Its just not a huge draw and might never be. Thats why we need to continue supporting womens' hockey and turning our friends and family on to it whenever possible.
Sadly, even in a place like Madison that is fairly progressive and open-minded, a lot of people still have the perception that womens' hockey is a joke. Thats a shame, because a lot of these girls are amazing players and other than the lack of checking, its great hockey.

 

[GoBucky36]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

BTW, speaking of filling the bowl:
http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/010311aaa.html

Members of the University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team are getting ready for this season’s Fill the Bowl game, set for Jan. 29, when Wisconsin hosts Minnesota at the Kohl Center.

The Fill the Bowl game is set for 7 p.m., and all fans will receive admission for only $1.

The Badgers invite fans to help them in their quest to break the NCAA attendance record while also helping Second Harvest Foodbank. For every person in attendance at the game, Becker Law Office will donate $1 to Second Harvest, and UW will collect non-perishable food items to be donated as well.

I'll be there and I hope lots of other people will be as well.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

I would call it shooting for mediocrity as much as I would accepting the reality of womens' hockey. Its just not a huge draw and might never be. Thats why we need to continue supporting womens' hockey and turning our friends and family on to it whenever possible.
Sadly, even in a place like Madison that is fairly progressive and open-minded, a lot of people still have the perception that womens' hockey is a joke. Thats a shame, because a lot of these girls are amazing players and other than the lack of checking, its great hockey.

I assume everyone who follows the Badger women closely is supportive of the idea to have an arena / rink for the women to play their home games and behind the plan to build a facility for that purpose. If that is seen as shooting for mediocrity, what would you like to see / have constructed as far as capacity for the women to have for their own arena, separate from the Kohl Center?

Thats a shame, because a lot of these girls are amazing players and other than the lack of checking, its great hockey.

That kinda sounds like one of those unfortunate stereotypes held by those who denigrate the sport. It is great hockey. I don't think the lack of checking negatively affects the sport in general, or it's entertainment value for a large percentage of die hard fans. I know there are fans that want to see checking allowed in women's hockey. Many current fans believe no checking actually enhances the game as well. Just the way I see it...no desire to spark that age old debate yet again.

 

[WHKY blogger]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers '10-'11

Honestly, I'm very surprised by this response. First, I can perfectly enjoy watching the Badgers play with nobody at the game because they are so talented and it's fun to follow a championship caliber program.

So why keep pressing the band issue? I dont mean to bust your balls but hearing over and over about the lack of the band being present when their are soooo many positives to note with this team drives me crazy!

In addition, I think that you are in the vast minority with thinking that the lack of band is not an issue and that Phil is a detriment to the gameday experience. Granted, I don't sit next to him so maybe he's being vulgar and offensive and I don't know about it, but the rest of the crowd seems to get into his cheers. He only does it after goals and maybe a "Let's Go Red" a couple of times during the game. Is that really that out-of-line?

Ever sat behind Phil for a season? While he is neither vulgar nor offensive he blocks the ice evertime he stands up to wave his signs around. The people I go to alot of womens games with previously had mens season tix behind phil and even asked if he could only stand up and do his thing during a stoppage. He not only refused but made them think that he was part of the program... They asked and were relocated for the rest of that season and for the last three seasons now. Its only in hearing them tell this story over and over to people that people nearly always make a mention that they could do without him just fine or say worse..

Anyone that feels that Phil is a rich part of Wisconsin Hockey history, should take the time to read up on the history of the program. I would much rather have the chorus of cowbells return!

With the band, there are a couple of issues. First, I would argue that at least 90% of the fans that attend the games would prefer a band versus no band. I miss a live "On Wisconsin", "Varsity" plus I think that the occassional "Bud Song" would fire up the crowd. Plus, the band initiates the Sieve chant which I don't think is inappropriate at the D-1 women's level. Bottom line is that I haven't had one person tell me over the 10+ years of the program existence that they like the canned music over a some kind of band, even if it was the three drummers back in the day.

The three drummers were great and had a solid nitche, even the small band or alumni band is fine (when they show up), a tuba and a flute that we have seen a few times over the years is not.. And I am sure you would prefer no band to that as well!

I won't debate the fact that there's not a band because no one wants to play. That in itself is frustrating. I could understand if the program was floundering, but women's hockey is consistently the best team within the UW athletic department. Plus, it really only takes 10 or so band members to be effective at the games. With that said, I have to believe that if Sean Frazier (Associate AD for Women's Hockey) and/or Mike Leckrone really wanted to make sure that women's hockey had a band there every game, it would happen. My personal conclusion is that they don't care enough. I'm guessing that's what happened at the Badger-Gopher BB game. Everybody was so enthralled with the Rose Bowl, that they didn't have any contingency plan or no interest in contacting a local high school to play at the game (which has happened recently when football was at a major bowl). I was at that game and yes, not having a band was odd. Did it make for a bad experience? No, the win over the Gophers took care of that, but would have more enjoyable time even if it had been the Verona band playing.

As Ive said before, its up to the band members to play. If you think mike or Sean Frazier can make a difference, contact them. They will respond, they make take your suggestions, but I doubt it will change much unless they overhaul their policies.. Did I complain about the band, no. I just stated the facts. remember that.

Bottom line is that the gameday experience could be better for the women's games. While I don't need the crowd of the men's game replicated for the women's game, why not take the best elements and go from there? As is, Wisconsin leads the nation in attendence, which is great, but there is room for growth. Granted, the new arena will cap that growth potential, but that's an issue for another time

Best Elements? We are going to have to agree to disagree there... The game is the best element, the features on the video board that draw the fans closer to the players would have to be second and everything else from there..

While I would like to see more fans that care, the experience is much better off as far as I am concerned without a bunch of drunken students or idotic men in their 40s yelling hit'em or *****ing about the lack of checking or the fact that its girls on skates... all game long..

As for everyone else that doesnt share my views.. its my opinion and if you dont like it, too bad for you!