Former Badger Makes Big NHL Debut

Just a few short months ago former Wisconsin forward Derek Stepan was playing in perhaps the biggest game of his life. Only 20 yars old he was on the ice at Ford Field playing for an NCAA national chapionshp, but Saturday may now be the biggest game of his life.

After Wisconsin's loss to Boston College, Stepan joined the long list of Badgers to head to the NHL after signing with the New York Rangers. In just a matter of weeks Stepan was on his way to the "Big Apple" to be part of a young and improving Rangers team. Saturday Stepan took the first step to become one of those rising stars.

For only the forth time in NHL history, Stepan scored not just once...twice...but three times. That's right in Derek Stepan's first game as an NHL player he scored a hat trick.

Stepan scored the first goal of the season for the Rangers ten minutes into the first period. By the second period the hat trick was already locked up after goals in the fifthteenth and eighteenth minutes. The Rangers went on to win the game 6-3. Opening up their season on a strong foot, and on the stick of Derek Stepan.

(Subnote: Stepan's hatrick came against former Michigan State goaltender Ryan Miller...)