New Faces on the Bench

After a remarkable season Mike Eaves discovered that he was becoming more and more alone on the bench, but know he's getting some company.

Following the season not only did Eaves lose a large amount of his players but two assistant coaches. Mark Osiecki bolted for the Ohio State head coaching job, and Kevin Patrick left town to coach a U.S. Hockey league expansion team in Michigan.

Today, Eaves announced the duo that will be filling the void behind the bench for next season. One a Badger and the other....a Gopher?

Some may remember Gary Shuchuk from his days on the ice in cardinal and white Shuchuk was a member of the 1990 National Championship team. Shuchuk at the time held the single season goal record for seniors at UW with 41 in his final year. But you can't beat the head coach at everything. That season Shuchuk came just short of setting the single season points mark for a senior with 80 points, second all time for a senior, just a few short of Mike Eave's 89 points.

The other new assistant may be a little shocked when he hears cheers in Madison, and hears boos in Minnesota. Bill Butters may like the cheers in Madison a little more now than he did in his college days as a Gopher between 1970 and 1973.

Any Badger fan that was around during his playing time at Minnesota may remember Butters not for what he did on the ice but what he did in the stands. While playing at Minnesota Butters didn't just dislike the student section...he actually tried to pick a fight with the student section.

As for his coaching career Butters spent a period of time as an assistant at Minnesota back in the 80s, but most recently, believe it or not, Butters has been involved with the Hockey Ministries International organization as a chaplain. A far cry from the man that once tried to pick a fight with the student section.

Both coaches bring professional hockey experience to the program, but without a doubt both bring a knowledge of what college hockey is all about. Just ask Butters.