ByPierre-Antoine Mercier, translated by Dan Braverman @CanadiensMTL / canadiens.com
MONTREAL - Cole Caufield has already added his name to the University of Wisconsin record books.
The Habs' first-round pick (15th overall) in 2019 finished his season as the top goal-scorer in the Big Ten, the best conference in NCAA hockey. Caufield scored 19 goals in 2019-20, three more than the Michigan State Spartans' Patrick Khodorenko.
The 19-year-old right winger became the first rookie to win the Big Ten's goal-scoring race since Kyle Connor did it for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 2015-16. The Winnipeg Jets forward netted 35 goals and 71 points in 38 games for the Wolverines. What's more, Caufield became the first Badgers player to win the Big Ten goal-scoring title since Mike Eaves and Mark Johnson shared the honor in 1978.
The Stevens Point, WI native also finished his first Badgers campaign atop the Big Ten in goals per game (0.56) and shots on goal (133). Caufield also shares the lead for power play goals scored in the Big Ten with seven.
🚨The Captain to the Rook for his first career 𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐊🚨Congrats @colecaufield 👏👏👏
The 5-foot-7, 162-pounder was second in points in the Big Ten with 36 in 34 games, with only the Penn State Nittany Lions' Nate Sucese finishing ahead of him with 38 points. Caufield ranked third among rookies in the NCAA behind the Boston College Eagles' Alex Newhook (19G, 21A) and the Harvard University Crimson's Nick Abruzzese (13G, 26A).
Time for the playoffs The Badgers closed out their regular season with a 14-18-2 record, good for seventh in the Big Ten. Caufield and Wisconsin will face the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten quarterfinals. Tony Grantao's squad played its final two games of the regular season against the Buckeyes on February 28 and 29. The Badgers won the first one 3-2 and tied the second game 3-3. The three-game series between the University of Wisconsin and the Ohio State takes place from March 6-8 in Columbus.
