Thursday, February 18, 2016

UW Hockey: How the Mighty Have Fallen

This week, Tom Oates has a great piece in the Wisconsin State Journal on the Wisconsin Badgers hockey team and how far they have fallen. The Wisconsin Badgers fans that I talk to want head coach Mike Eaves gone.
The hockey team is losing at a historic rate — only 10 wins in its past 61 games — and fan support is in decline. The Badgers were 4-26-5 last season, the worst record in program history. They’re a more competitive 6-13-7 this season, but the stain of last month’s sweep at the hands of arch-rival Minnesota, a series in which UW was outscored 13-2, won’t go away soon.

Eaves won an NCAA title in 2006 and took UW to the national final in 2010, but, short of a miracle, this season will be the fourth in six years that UW won’t make the tournament. For a variety of reasons, including an ever-changing roster of assistants, UW’s recruiting has fallen off in the past few years as well. (Wisconsin State Journal)
Last year, the Badgers had the worst year in their storied program’s history. This season, the Badgers aren’t much better. They have improved slightly.

After going 13-6-1 in Big Ten Conference play during the 2013-14 season, the Badgers have won three Big Ten games 3-23-6 (187) over the past two seasons.

Since the 2010-11 season, attendance at Wisconsin hockey games has been trending downward. Comparing the 2011-12 to the current season, UW has averaged 4,407 less fans per game. In essence, the Badgers have gone from leading the nation in attendance (2010-11) to third in the nation. The Badgers have the second largest arena in college hockey so there only selling 57% of their tickets. (USCHO)

2015-16: 8,819
2014-15: 10,931
2013-14: 10,478
2012-13: 9521
2011-12: 11,773
2010-11: 13,226

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