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As the 2003-2004 men’s hockey season winds down, so too do
the careers of six Badgers. Forwards Rene Bourque, Jon Eichelberger along with
defensemen Andy Wozniewski, Dan Boeser, John Krall and Chris Julka (a
fourth-year junior walk-on) will be honored at Saturday night’s game, their
final regular season game for Wisconsin.
BadgerNation.com caught up with a few of the seniors as
they reflected on their experiences at UW.
Badger Nation: What are you feelings as your career
winds down here at Wisconsin?
Bourque: It’s bittersweet. I’m just trying to take these
last four home games and make them memorable.
Wozniewski: I couldn’t ask for anything more. Everything
here is just a great thing and it’s very special.
Eichelberger: It’s weird. It went by so fast.
Julka: I’ve had a blast. As a kid growing up in Madison I
idolized all the guys who came through this program. For me to at least put on
the sweater is a dream come true.
BN: What is your most memorable moment?
Bourque: Probably scoring the overtime winner against North
Dakota my sophomore year after coming back from down 6-1.
Wozniewski: The North Dakota comeback sophomore year and
the sweep of NoDak this season with a packed crowd was just unbelievable.
Eichelberger: Hopefully it’s still here to come this year.
There’s just so many memories.
Julka: As a team, I think our sweep of North Dakota at home
this year. Individually there are two moments that stick out. I scored a goal
last year at the Kohl Center and I got to hear the horn. That was big. And then
during the European exhibition game this season a couple of guys put the
captain’s “C” on my jersey.
BN: You have obviously learned a lot on the ice, but
what have you taken with you off the ice?
Bourque: I got to know a lot of people and got a great
education at the same time. You learn to balance your schoolwork with athletics,
which is difficult, but you learn little by little over the four years.
Wozniewski: I’ve learned a lot from the coaching staff just
as far as being a better person.
Eichelberger: Most of all I just made some very good
friends. Played with some great players, good men both on and off the ice.
BN: How gratifying is this season, turning this around
from last year, and being the leaders of that turnaround?
Bourque: We didn’t want to repeat last season. So we got
together and said we wanted to be remembered here. So if we do well in the NCAA
tournament I think we’ll feel successful.
BN: Where do you go from here?
Bourque: I have no idea. I’m not thinking about it yet.
Wozniewski: I’m a free agent but I am definitely going to
be playing more hockey.
Eichelberger: I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m
going to finish this year and just sort of see what happens from there.