What's the deal with #paintLaBahn?
It's interesting that this is coming up. Every year, Minnesota has a "Brunch with the Coaches", where both Coach Frost and the visiting team coach attend. Last year the guest was Eric Means of Minnesota State, and it was the weekend after MSU had played in LaBahn. I specifically asked Means what he thought of LaBahn, and he made a comment about it being "very white." But Frosty followed up with the fact that Ridder Arena was also very "undecorated" the first few years it was open, and stuff was added later.You know those walls high above the open concourses? They're plain white and beige/cream colored. Besides all the seating, it really feels just like a practice facility. Having some kind of ring of honor, a giant W, skating Bucky, Badger hockey mural...anything like that would make us all feel more immersed in the tradition of University of Wisconsin hockey.
During the second intermission, the staff by the ice resurfacer tunnel actually took pictures of our signs with their phones, and they asked us about it, we explained, and there were smiles all around.
During the Friday game, Dan started sending bombarding tweets to @BadgerWHockey requesting that the walls be improved. He told us to start doing that, and I hopped on the tweet-bombardment bandwagon. During this, the people in the press box who presumably run the twitter account gave us looks. Fairly early on, though not in the first handful of tweets, we decided to tie them all together with #PaintLaBahn.
They got owned in the faceoff circle both nights.
My impressions after first weekend:
Someone has to step up and become the leader of the offense. Early front-runner is obviously Brittany Ammerman, but we'll see how that plays out. Clearly it's a team without a true offensive superstar, but right now it looks like a team without a leader. It's great that Rigsby is seen to be that person, but she can't run the team on the ice. Someone else has to step into that role and be the presence. It was especially clear on the Power Play that they need a point person/lead on offense. The Power Play on Sunday was abysmal at best - there was one where I'm certain the puck didn't stay in the zone for more than a few seconds at a time. Then they got it across the blue line, passed it around the boards, someone whiffed, and it just went right back out of the zone. It was so sad. I said on Twitter that it looked like the men's PP of the past few years and someone told me that was harsh, but that's when you know I'm serious. The team was more successful scoring shorties than they were on the PP.
They got owned in the faceoff circle both nights. They did better on Sunday, but overall this is something they need to improve upon immediately. If they struggle against Mankato, how do you think it will go next week against Minny?
They responded to adversity very well and they are spreading the puck. Mankato cut it to 2-1 in the early third and suddenly Rigsby was all but standing on her head. I was literally tweeting that Johnson might want to call the TO when UW scored. Then they scored again. The momentum flipped on a dime. It was well done of the Badgers to withstand the onslaught - this is where Rigsby will be so crucial for them - and then turn and make their own push.
Blayre Turnbull is going to be a force on this team. I think it'll be somewhat quiet, but it felt a bit like she's been biding her time until she could be an impact player. She was beyond fired up to score her goal yesterday.
The freshman made an immediate impact. Aside from the goals, I noted Nurse and McKibbon in scrums in front of the net quite a bit. Mellissa Channell was a factor in the middle of the ice quite a bit. It was great to see Jenny Ryan suit up on Sunday.
This early schedule is going to be so interesting. Mankato, Minny, St. Cloud, Lindenwood. They have to be ready for Minny and then that's a big ramp down again for a few weeks.
It was especially clear on the Power Play that they need a point person/lead on offense. The Power Play on Sunday was abysmal at best - there was one where I'm certain the puck didn't stay in the zone for more than a few seconds at a time. Then they got it across the blue line, passed it around the boards, someone whiffed, and it just went right back out of the zone. It was so sad. I said on Twitter that it looked like the men's PP of the past few years and someone told me that was harsh, but that's when you know I'm serious. The team was more successful scoring shorties than they were on the PP.
As a season ticket holder, I was able to purchase additional tickets today for Fill the Bowl. Still not sure about the reserved ticket policy, but we'll see. Was able to request location and put in for center ice. Not only are the tickets only a $1 each, but there didn't look like any service charges for the on-line purchase which is not the norm for UW. Quite the deal.
It's true there is no "star" but A LOT of good teams play as a complete team. I think they are a more complete team than last year. I think that Nurse is going to be one of those star players in the future though when she gets more experience just watching the way that she plays.
According to a ticket office representative, the student section will be more organized - go in through the student gate and get tickets.
I have never bought anything from the concession stand, is there anything good?