UND MEN's HOCKEY: Simpson Emerging As a Top Defender | Grand Fo

FOR SETUP ASSISTANCE, PRESS ‘Z’ You won't find him lighting the lamp often, but there's no way the Badgers would pass on Mark Zengerle, the man that's always there to make the pass

BY MIKE LUCAS UWBADGERS.COM

• You won't find him lighting the lamp often, but there's no way the Badgers would pass on Mark Zengerle, the man that's always there to make the pass DAVID STLUKA DAVID hile eating breakfast Saturday morning Zengerle was impressed with the composure at their Columbus hotel, many of the play- shown by Oshie, a role player with the St. Louis W ers on the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, Blues. “Honestly, what I was thinking,” he said, “was including Mark Zengerle, had their eyes glued to the how much anxiety or pressure he was feeling.” Sochi Olympics. To a small degree, Zengerle could relate. “ I had a Everyone stood up, Zengerle said, when Patrick penalty shot against Michigan,” he said, “and I can Kane got the puck on his stick and had a breakaway remember it was one of my most nervous times in on Russian goalie Sergei Bobrovski, who happens to hockey.” play for the Columbus Blue Jackets. But he didn’t let his nerves get the best of him. In- Bobrovski came up with the overtime save on stead, he beat Michigan goaltender Zach Nagelvoort Kane ― one of the many young NHL stars on Team on the penalty shot ― he went 5-hole ― - USA and a childhood friend of Zengerle’s ― and the cessful Wisconsin conversion in 18 years. outcome of the game came down to a shootout. Nagelvoort later got the best of Zengerle, the stoppingfirst suc Fate may have intervened because if Kane, the - Chicago Blackhawks’ leading scorer, had beaten Bo- out attempt after a 2-2 tie between the Badgers and brovski ― he tried to go 5-hole ― America would Wolverineshim from close on Feb. range 1 inon Ann UW’s Arbor. third and final shoot have never been introduced to Timothy Leif Oshie. As it was, T.J. Oshie, who played collegiately at a shootout specialist on the Olympic stage, Zengerle North Dakota, became an instant folk hero, in Mike said,Reflecting “He had on a smileOshie’s on cool his face,and calmso I guessdemeanor that heas has the right personality for the job.” shootout attempts and had the game-winner. After watching the United States outlast the Rus- Eruzionesque fashion, when he scored on 4 of 6

30 // VARSITY February 20, 2014 “I KNOW THE FANS LOVE HIM. HE’S ONE OF

THEIR FAVORITES,” BARNES SAID OF ZENGERLE. STLUKA DAVID “HE’S A LITTLE BIT FLASHY AND HE PLAYS WITH ENERGY AND PASSION. THAT’S SOME- THING THE FANS REALLY NOTICE.”

sians in the “eight-inning” shootout, Zenger- le sent a congratulatory text to Kane, who assisted on a goal scored by Joe Pavelski, a former UW skater. Zengerle’s friendship with Kane dates back to their youth hockey days in New York state; Zengerle is from Rochester and Kane is from Buffalo. His text was to the point, “Nice game.” Kane could have returned the favor after Zengerle scored twice, including the game- winner, in Wisconsin’s 4-2 decision over - tiple-goal outing since 2011. OhioZengerle State last now Saturday. has six Itgoals was inhis 28 first games, mul with his last four points coming on goals; a distinct turnaround for someone who’s more accustomed to setting up others. He has 112 career assists. engerle arrived on campus as a 21-year-old During his Tuesday press conference, Wiscon- freshman who had• • gone• • away to prep school sin coach Mike Eaves made reference to the nine Z at Northwood Prep in Lake Placid, which also seniors who will be recognized before Saturday’s turned out former UW stars Tony Granato and Mike game against Michigan State at the Kohl Center. Richter. When asked who has come the furthest since their After playing three seasons of junior hockey ― freshman year, he said, “I don’t know if someone has one year with the Syracuse Stars of the EJHL and distinguished themselves as being way ahead of two with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in the BCHL somebody else.” ― he was more mature than most of his classmates. But he cited the Tuesday morning practice and “Coming in as a freshman, I had three years of singled out one of his seniors by name. juniors under my belt with different coaches who “Mark Zengerle goes in on a two-on-one,” Eaves preached different things,” he said. “I came in and I said, “and he absolutely read the situation and made was an immediate contributor. I didn’t have to sit.” a great move on the goaltender and scored himself. But he did have to learn how to learn again ― in “Two years ago, he would have tried to pass the the classroom. puck no matter what. So, on the ice, that (develop- “When you’re out of school for three years, you ment) has taken place. have to adjust and get back into the whole school “I could go through every player and tell you how thing,” he said. “I came back into organized life and each one has grown. I don’t know which one has there was a little change.” separated themselves the most … the growth of ev- Zengerle roomed with Tyler Barnes, a product of ery one of them has been substantial.” Burnsville (Minn.) High School and Waterloo of the

31 USHL. They meshed even though they hailed from “I’ve always told people,” he said, “that I played different regions of the country. soccer like I played hockey: make the passes. I don’t “We found out that we were roommates before know if it’s awareness I have. But I’ve always been we came here,” Barnes said, “so we were talking like that; looking around and being aware.” over Facebook and kind of feeling each other out. What sets him apart from many has been his “Right away, I could tell that we were going to be stickhandling ability. good friends because we had similar personalities. “He can dangle a little bit,” said Barnes. “I know the fans love him. He’s one of their favorites. He’s but hockey players have fairly similar personalities, - asWe is. definitely took different routes (to Madison), sion. That’s something the fans really notice.” a littleLately, bit if flashy they’ve and been he playspaying with attention, energy theyand paswill same thoughts on what we wanted.” notice that he’s hunting his own shots more. At“When various we times,met for Zengerle the first and time, Barnes we all have had been the linemates. Last weekend, they were reunited with Who doesn’t?” Zengerle said. “It’s a decent strength Nic Kerdiles. The trio combined for 20 goals and 54 of “I’mmine, obviously not as decent pass-first, as my but passing, I like butto score, anytime too. I get a chance I try to look for it (his shot).” “The best part about it,” Barnes said of playing - withpoints Zengerle, over the “is final when 14 gamesI have lastthe puckseason. I can give it ing more. “Down the stretch,” he said, “I just can’t to him and skate away from people and he will give beZengerle a passer definitelyand rely onsounded everyone committed else to shoot to shoot it. I it back to me. He has great vision.” made it a goal to put some in myself.” Seeing the ice has always come naturally for The Badgers have nine NHL draft picks on their Zengerle, a former soccer player. current roster. Zengerle is not one of them.

WATCH: TEAMMATES TALK MARK ZENGERLE

32 // VARSITY February 20, 2014 DAVID STLUKA DAVID

“I never expected to be drafted, so it was not like I weekend. Paul and Carol Zengerle will be at the Kohl had it out for anybody when I wasn’t,” said Zengerle, who will turn 25 in May. “I started developing more He grew up with a rink in his backyard and great between 19 and 20 years old. familyCenter support.to watch their son in his final home series. “When you go undrafted you do have something Family will also be something that Zengerle will to prove. But either way, if you’re drafted or not, you forever associate with this large senior class. have to get better, play well and get noticed some- “Our group is so close. If you ask any of them, how. That’s how I’ve always we’re all best friends,” said played.” There are many drafted “WE HAVE SAID IT BEFORE: OUR GOAL IS credits shy of his degree at players who do little with TO BE IN THE FROZEN FOUR IN PHILLY theZengerle, end of who the willsemester; be five a their skills. Zengerle has AND ULTIMATELY WIN IT, AND WE degree he promises that he gotten the most out of his ― what Eaves labeled as “of- THINK WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO “I know how everyone in fensive skills that you don’t DO THAT.” ZENGERLE SAID. “WE THINK WE ourwill definitelyclass talks; get. we wish it teach” when Zengerle was a was never going to come to freshman. HAVE THE RIGHT GUYS FOR THE JOB.” an end, we could stay here After Zengerle had start- forever. But it’s part of life and you have to move on. said, “He loves to play. He’s not the smoothest look- “We have said it before: our goal is to be in the inged his guy. career He’s awith little points awkward in his in first his sixskating. games, But Eaves he’s Frozen Four in Philly and ultimately win it, and we effective.” think we have the opportunity to do that. We think Eaves noted that Zengerle’s two older brothers, we have the right guys for the job.” John-Paul and Matt, were wrestlers and “Mark has The seniors will be counted on to do a lot of the kind of that wrestler’s mentality and it serves him well. When he gets the puck, he wants to keep it.” “We do everything together,” he said. “We live to- John-Paul, the oldest brother, was a state cham- gether,heavy lifting, we eat which together, is fine we with go to Zengerle. class together, we pion, Zengerle said. While he wrestled in a few sum- go to the rink together, and we’re with each other mer tournaments when he was in his early teens, all day. his parents wanted him to stick with hockey. “It’s going to be sad when we leave, but if we leave It’s something they can reminisce about this as champions, it will be a lot easier.”

33 Badgers men's hockey: Michael Mersch not afraid of rough stuff : Sports http://host.madison.com/sports/college/hockey/badgers-men-s-hockey-m...

UW HOCKEY

DECEMBER 13, 2012 4:45 AM • ANDY BAGGOT | WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL | [email protected] | 608-252-6175 It's not unusual to see Michael Mersch among the last to leave the ice after the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team is done practicing for the day.

Take Tuesday, for example. A good 20 minutes after the final drill was conducted at LaBahn Arena, while Artie Schultz waited at the other end of rink to perform his magic on the Zamboni, Mersch was working on his game.

Under the watchful eye of former UW captain and current NHL winger Brad Winchester, Mersch, the junior right winger, stood in front of the net and tried to tip shots from the point past backup goaltender Adam Miller.

The exercise demands considerable eye-hand coordination — not to mention elements of craziness and courage — and helps explain why Mersch has emerged as an offensive force for UW this season.

Heading into a non-conference series with Alabama-Huntsville (3-12-1) Thursday night and Friday night at the Kohl Center, Mersch not only leads the Badgers (2-7-5) with nine goals in 14 games, he's accounted for 35 percent of the offense to date (26 goals). Nationally, only Brown center Matt Lorito has been a single greater source of production for his team this season: nine of 25 goals, 36 percent.

Mersch, from Park Ridge, Ill., has become a force in the offensive zone this season, using his 6-foot-1, 215-pound frame to maintain possession of the puck and create room to maneuver along the walls and below the hash marks.

"When he goes into the corner he can control the space around him with his reach, his size, his stick," UW coach Mike Eaves said. "He's a man out here now."

Nowhere is that more evident than when Mersch, a fourth-round NHL draft pick of Los Angeles in 2011, barges to the edge of the crease and drops anchor. If he isn't getting a stick on shots from the perimeter, he's making it difficult for the goaltender to track the puck and locate rebounds.

Every goal Mersch has scored this season has come from close quarters around the net. Either he's redirected a shot from the perimeter, beat everyone to a rebound or found space below the hash marks and created a shot.

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"If you want to be a goal-scorer, the puck's going to end up there," UW assistant coach Gary Shuchuk noted.

"That's where you get the glory," Mersch said.

That's not all you get. Opposing defenders will employ a variety of painful tactics to discourage guys such as Mersch. It may be a jab to the ribs or a stick to kidneys. It may be a chop at the ankles or the wrist. It may be a knee to the backside. It may be all of the above.

"He's not afraid to stand there and take abuse," Shuchuk said of Mersch.

Asked where he feels the most pain after a series, especially in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, Mersch smiled.

"A little bit of everywhere," he said. "There's a lot of pain in the game, but if you go into the dirty areas, good things happen."

After scoring eight goals as a freshman and 14 as a sophomore, Mersch is on pace for 24 this season. Only four players from the Eaves Era, which began in 2002, have scored 20 or more in a season: winger Robbie Earl in 2005 and '06; center Joe Pavelski in '06; center Blake Geoffrion and winger Michael Davies in 2010.

Mersch has been the anomaly in the offense this season for UW. The rest of the forward have 13 goals between them and the Badgers rank 55th out of 59 NCAA Division I programs in scoring at 1.86 goals per game.

Asked if he's carried his weight this season, Mersch demurred.

"To some extent," he said. "You look at the win-loss column and we're not where we want to be, so you're thinking, 'I could help more.' That's what I'm trying to do."

WCHA suspends Little UW left winger Ryan Little will sit out Thursday night's game after receiving a one-game suspension Wednesday from WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod for his hit on Michigan Tech's Jujhar Khaira Dec. 8.

Video showed Little left his feet while checking Khaira at the offensive blue line in overtime. Little wasn't penalized at the time.

Eaves didn't dispute the severity of the hit or the punishment but was upset the WCHA refused to take further action against Khaira for a third-period hit on UW defenseman Jake McCabe in the series opener Dec. 7.

Replays showed Khaira grabbed McCabe's facemask from behind, wrenched the headgear sideways and threw McCabe to his back. Khaira was assessed a minor penalty for holding.

Andy Baggot

Andy Baggot has been on the Wisconsin State Journal sports staff since 1978, when he was thrilled to be hired to take prep scores over the telephone. Now a columnist and the beat writer for the UW men’s hockey team, Baggot also covers the UW athletic department.

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A Tomah High School graduate, he's been fortunate enough to attend two Olympics, three Rose Bowls, one Super Bowl and four NCAA championship games.

Follow @AndyBaggotWSJ

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College Hockey News: Transfer of Power http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2012/12/07_transfer_of_powe...

December 7, 2012

Recommend Sign Up to see what your friends by Mike McMahon/Staff Writer recommend.

It was both exciting and bittersweet at the same time.

Clarke Saunders was wrapping up his sophomore season at Alabama-Huntsville. The Chargers were limping to a 2-28-1 finish and licking their wounds while the program’s future teetered in the balance throughout the entire season. Long road trips to places like Colorado College and New Hampshire were practically weekly occurrences. And there were no planes – the Chargers road up, down and across the United States in a modified bus – really, it was more like a box truck – that allowed Saunders and his teammates to set up beds for the seemingly never-ending travel.

While the hockey team was balancing the challenges of hockey, schoolwork and travel, people back in Huntsville were battling with the school’s administration to save its hockey program from the chopping block due to budgetary issues.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was tough last year,” Saunders said. “We tried to keep our focus on what we were doing and at the end of the day you’re just out there battling with your friends and your teammates every night.”

But Saunders knew before last season ended that his teammates were about to change. Last December, after it was announced that UAH was going to cut its hockey program, Saunders finalized plans to transfer to North Dakota. Because UAH’s program was going under – at least it appeared that way at the time – he was going to be eligible to transfer without sitting out a year, which is typically required by NCAA regulation.

Of course, you know the rest of the story. The Chargers’ program was saved in the 11th hour, a relief, he says, but Saunders was still trading in his Charger jersey for a North Dakota sweater.

Now, when he returns to his dorm after a game for the Sioux, he regularly keeps an eye on his old teammates are faring.

It’s easy to still feel a part of it.

“My focus first and foremost is with my teammates here at North Dakota,” Saunders said. “But of course I keep an eye on those guys. They’re all still my really good friends and I want to see them do well, of course.

"We were really like a family last year. Everyone involved with the program, not just the players, we all really came together trying to do all we could. Even though I was transferring, I was really happy for everyone when they announced they were able to save it.”

At North Dakota, Saunders jumped from a situation where he was a go-to starter into a frying pan where he would be battling for playing time the moment he stepped onto the ice for the first captains’ practice.

At the start of the year, Saunders split time with freshman Zane Gothberg. Recently though, he’s earning more and more minutes.

In 10 games, the junior is 5-3-2 with a 2.38 goals-against average and .921 save percentage. Gothberg has started four games.

“I k th j b ld b i ll b f th t f t t f ” S d id “Z i f h d I

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had some experience, but I knew that we’d be battling for the job. So far it’s really been great competition and I think it will continue to be.”

Saunders’ experience was second to none.

Coming from UAH, he was battle tested. Last season, he faced a whopping 37.5 shots per game, the most of any goalie in the nation.

“Just like any other guy, I want to win,” he said. “Stats really don’t mean anything to me at the end of the day. The only stat I care about is the W.”

“I mean, with the amount of shots, it all depends on the game and it depends on the type of scoring chances as well. If you’re getting a few more shots you might ease into the game a little bit. If you go on droughts without shots it’s easy to get cold but you have to stay mentally tough. It is what it is. You have to go with the flow.”

For the rest of his North Dakota teammates, Saunders and his experience against heavy artillery is a welcome addition.

“Yeah, Clarkie, he’s been a rock this year for us back there right from the beginning,” said North Dakota senior Corban Knight, who is tied for the team lead with 14 points. “It’s nice having a guy come in that has already played a couple of years in college hockey. Where he came from, he got a lot of experience.

"Obviously with a lot of shots and stuff, I think all of the guys have a lot of faith in him and what he can do back there. Just the kind of person he is, he puts a lot of confidence in you because he holds himself so well. He really works hard on his game, always trying to get better.”

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UND MEN'S HOCKEY: Simpson emerging as a top defender | Grand Fo... http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/249426/group/Sports/

Published November 14, 2012, 10:31 PM UND MEN'S HOCKEY: Simpson emerging as a top defender There was something comical about Dillon Simpson’s freshman year at UND: He lined up defensively next to Chay Genoway and Jake Marto. “They were seven years older than me,” Simpson said with a laugh.

By: Brad Elliott Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald

There was something comical about Dillon Simpson’s freshman year at UND: He lined up defensively next to Chay Genoway and Jake Marto.

“They were seven years older than me,” Simpson said with a laugh.

At times, it’s easy to forget how young the defenseman from Edmonton actually is, because Simpson has been such a key player for UND over the last couple of years.

Now a junior, Simpson is still younger than most of UND’s freshman class (Drake Caggiula and Jordan Schmaltz are the exceptions) and all of UND’s sophomore class.

But the 19 year old is playing like a Western Collegiate Hockey Association veteran — as he is — early this season. Simpson has finally developed physically into the type of player capable of being a standout blue liner.

“You have to remember that everybody’s body matures at a different age,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said. “Dillon is a junior, but he just turned 19. He’s a young junior. We’re starting to see some of that physical maturity kick in — that combined with the hard work he’s put in over the last couple of years. You’re starting to see some of the payoff of his added strength and conditioning levels. That usually leads to an improved level of consistent play.”

Early this season, Simpson has arguably been UND’s most improved player.

He’s always had the offensive instincts and a head for the game. Now, Simpson has been winning more one-on-one battles and has the ability to muscle opponents away from loose pucks.

“My strength and my foot speed are the two things I focused on this summer,” Simpson said. “I feel like I’ve been playing with a lot more confidence this year. I feel a lot more comfortable as a junior. I can take more of a leadership role with the young guys. I’m just trying to get better and better each week.”

Last Saturday in UND’s 5-2 loss against St. Cloud State, Simpson was one of the few bright spots for the team. He scored a power-play goal by making a timely pinch from the blue line and was efficient at moving the puck out of the defensive zone.

“In a game where we weren’t happy with a lot of things we did, I thought he was one guy that continued to play at a real efficient level,” Hakstol said. “We’ve been happy with his play. He’s made a nice step forward from where he was as a sophomore and he’s held that level of play. There have been a lot of positive signs this year.”

A young arrival

It’s uncommon for a player to begin college hockey as a 17 year old, but UND afforded Simpson that chance in 2010. Simpson had accelerated his education and graduated from high school a year early.

“The biggest determining factor for him was his maturity off the ice,” Hakstol said of Simpson, whose father Craig attended Michigan State as a 16 year old. “I think he was able to handle everything around him as a 17-year-old freshman. He was very successful as a student. He was ready socially to fit in the locker room. On the ice, his maturity and his intelligence and hockey sense got him through that first year, which can be pretty difficult at times, especially as a 17 year old.”

Simpson managed to play 30 of 44 games as a rookie on a stacked UND team that won both the MacNaughton Cup and Broadmoor Trophy as WCHA regular season and postseason champions. He also registered a 4.0 in the classroom.

“The biggest adjustment was living on my own and going to school,” Simpson said. “On the ice, the size of guys in a league like this was a big jump. A lot of guys are 21 or 22 years old. There were a lot of good players and mature players.

“I thought it was something I was ready for, though, and it was something I wanted to do. I knew it would be tough.”

Simpson tallied 10 points as a rookie and 18 points as a sophomore. This year, the fourth-round Edmonton Oilers draft pick has a goal and two assists for UND. He’s expected to be a threat on the power play throughout the season.

“He’s getting a little more opportunity,” Hakstol said. “Usually, opportunity comes with performance. Those two things meet in the middle. He has very good offensive instincts. (On his goal), he made a good read, jumped into a hole and finished the play. That’s something we hope to see more and more out of him. We hope to see more of his offensive talents coming through.”

Call Schlossman at (701) 780-1129; (800) 477-6572, ext. 1129; or send e-mail to [email protected].

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