University of Wisconsin women’s hockey coach Mark Johnson didn’t want the moment to pass without proper respect and introspection. So he took the time to reflect on what was happening before sending his team out to play Minnesota for the national championship Sunday at Mariucci Arena.
“I went out before warmups,” he said, “and sat on the bench by myself.”Alone with his thoughts. “I started looking up in one corner of the rink,” Johnson said, “knowing that the night before I had sent my kids up there. I told them, ‘Go find Grandpa.'”
….There was a close-up camera shot of )Mike) Eaves standing behind the UW bench and he was wearing a whimsical look on his face as the overtime marathon with Cornell progressed Sunday during the NCAA Midwest Regional final at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon. His demeanor seemed out of place given the circumstances of the moment. After all, the tension on the ice was mounting with each scoreless shift.