Frozen Four | 4/1/2010 11:09:00 AM

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ROCHESTER, NY – Six-time NCAA National Champion Wisconsin is making its 23rd appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers, ranked second in the latest USA Today/USA Hockey Division I poll and fifth in the final USCHO.com Division I poll, are the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers won the NCAA West Region and enter this weekend with a sparkling 27-10-4 record. The Badgers finished second in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, arguably the toughest conference in all of Division I, posting a 17-8-3 record in WCHA play.

The top-seeded Badgers defeated No. 4 Vermont, 3-2 in the NCAA West Regional semifinal in St. Paul, Minn., on March 26, and rolled to a 5-3 win over No. 2 St. Cloud State in the championship on March 27. Blake Geoffrion was named the NCAA West Regional Most Outstanding Player.

Currently, 42,000 students are enrolled at the University of Wisconsin. The school was founded in 1848. Wisconsin's colors are red and white. The hockey program was founded in 1921, disbanded in 1935, and was reinstituted in 1963. Wisconsin has an all-time record of 1,072-650-112 and won national titles in 1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990, and 2006. They are a program rich in history and tradition.

Wisconsin's roster is littered with NHL draft picks, including first rounders Ryan McDonagh (Montreal, No. 12 – 2007), Brendan Smith (Detroit, No. 27 – 2007), and Jake Gardiner (Anaheim, No. 17 – 2008). In all, 11 Badgers are NHL draft picks, including 2010 World Junior Championship Gold Medalist, American Derek Stepan (New York Rangers).

Geoffrion and junior defenseman Brendan Smith are both finalists for the 2010 Hobey Baker Award, college hockey's finest honor. Wisconsin is one of two teams in the nation (Denver) to have two Hobey Baker Award finalists. Geoffrion is one of the three Hobey Hat Trick Finalists.

Senior forward Michael Davies leads the Badgers and is tied for fifth nationally in scoring, with 51 points. He has 19 goals and 32 assists. Stepan, a sophomore leads the team and is tied for second nationally with 40 assists. Geoffrion is among the national leaders with 27 goals, 14 coming on the power-play. Smith leads all Division I defensemen with 47 points (15-32-47). The Badgers are the second highest scoring team in the nation this season, averaging 3.98 goals per game.

In goal, junior Scott Gudmandson has emerged as the starter, and has a 19-4-4 record this season. He has a 2.32 goals against average, and .915 save percentage in 29 games.

Wisconsin Head Coach Mike Eaves is in his eighth season at the helm of the Badgers and boasts a 170-121-38 record. The Badgers have captured one NCAA national championship (2006) during his tenure. He has led the Badgers to five 20-win seasons. Eaves has re-established Wisconsin as one of college hockey's elite programs. In addition, Eaves played eight seasons in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars and Calgary Flames. Before playing in the NHL, Eaves was a two-time All-American and captain for the Badger team that won the National Championship in 1977.

Fifteen former Badgers currently play in the NHL, including 2010 United States Olympic Silver Medalists Joe Pavelski, Brian Rafalski, and Ryan Suter. Overall, 65 Badgers have played in the NHL, with 12 winning Stanley Cup Championships. Former Badger standouts in the NHL include Chris Chelios, Curtis Joseph, and Mike Richter.

Since the beginning of University of Wisconsin hockey in 1921, 33 individuals have been recognized with 37 All-American honors. From that group of 33, five players earned All-America status twice.