Sometimes college hockey is a battle of getting attention in a crowded college sports world, well this weekend's series at the Resch Center is that for both Wisconsin and Northern Michigan. It's also much more than that as both teams look to make a return to the NCAA tournament since the 2010 season.
For Wisconsin's Ryan Little and Northern Michigan's Reed Seckel it's a also a homecoming of sorts for the former Green Bay Gamblers. However, the two have approached their return in vastly different ways.
"I had a great experience in Green Bay," said Little. "I grew up a lot and matured as a person and a player so it's kind of nice to come back to this area and it brings back some good memories, but at the same time we have some business to take care of this weekend and that's kind of all we're focused on this weekend."
Little is nearly six years removed from his experience in Green Bay, a time when the Gamblers were probably at their lowest, so what did Little tell his teammates to expect? Well, apparently not much…
To be honest I haven't really told them anything," Little said at the pregame press conference. "I don't know what to expect, it's been awhile. I don't know what the fan turnout will be like. We'll get out there and see what happens."
On the other hand there's Reed Seckel, who won championships (like Gamblers are used to doing) and it's clear his experience left a lasting impression.
"It means a lot, it was great playing here and it's nothing but fun coming back to the old barn," said Seckel. "It's fun, especially against Wisconsin.
He also gave some advice to his teammates about the atmosphere and what to expect from this game.
"It's just about getting used to it, hostile crowds here, the place will be pretty packed and just going out and being ready to play," Seckel said.
As for the series at hand? Well, all you need to know from the Wildcats side of things couldn't have been more well said than it was by captain Scott Maccaulay.
"We've had this day circled on the calendar for awhile," said Maccaulay. "We want to get off to a hot start and there's not better place than to be down here. We're going to be up against a tough opponent and we'll have to bring everything we've got and try to get the win here tonight."
Adding to that head coach Walt Kyle, just the 2nd head coach in Wildcats history, made it clear that what happens now can affect either team come NCAA tournament time.
"We were the last team out of the tournament last year and Wisconsin was right there with us and I think that all of your games are critical," said Kyle. "A game in October is no more or less critical than a game in March. At the end of the year these games are huge. They are non-league games against opponents that we will have direct comparison with. These games will compare us to other teams in their league."
"So, the significance,if you put yourself in a position to compete for an NCAA tournament, the significance of these games in October becomes critical in March."
As for the programs and what this series means to them in the here and now? Well, as much of a battle as it will be on the ice, it's also a battle to showcase their programs to one of the best hockey towns in the Midwest.
"I mean Green Bay has turned into a really great hockey town with a great hockey culture and I'm sure Mike (Eaves) feels the same way," said NMU head coach Walt Kyle.
Adding to the culture has been the growth and expansion of the game on the youth level, especially since the start of the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL.
"There are a ton of players playing midget and high school hockey in this area that are potential division one candidates that will certainly move on to play in the USHL. To me the growth in this area has been tremendous."
On the Wisconsin side of things, they were all to happy to jump on the bandwagon of the idea pitched to them by NMU for this series. It's an opportunity that current NCAA rules don't allow too often.
"It's really important now with the regulations of the NCAA. When we were players back in the 70's we used to go and play exhibitions in Eau Claire, Wausau, and we used to do those type of things," Eaves said. "That was part of what we could do back then, but now it's difficult to get out and do stuff like this. So, when Northern told us they would like to play us in our barn and then we'd like to play our home series in Green Bay, we were like great because we get to show our label up here and people know our label up here."
Now all that's left is for the fans to show up, pack the house in a rowdy fashion on both sides, and let the season begin, finally.
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