The Capital Times from Madison, Wisconsin • 21

UWs James redshirts. 2C U.S. women prevail. 2C Baseball playoffs. 3C Sports editor: Adam Mertz 252-6474 Suter embraces low-key profile Defenseman gets top preseason rookie nod By Todd D.

Milewski The Capital Times Meet Ryan Suter, just another freshman at the University of Wisconsin. Or so hed have you believe after one day of official practices with the Badgers hockey team. A calm exterior shows nothing of the de-fensemans style of I nil I vflpc PlaY described as UW mtN 5 abrasive' by NHL HOCKEY scouts. It doesnt re- veal the expectations placed on the Madison native as the center-piece of a freshman class that ranked best in the nation by one hockey organizations standards. And it sure doesnt clue you in to the time in Nashville that he walked across the stage as the seventh overall selection in the NHL entry draft.

He could be earning a professional pay-check as an 18-year-old and feeling his way through training camp with the Nashville Predators, but Suter appears happy enough at the Kohl Center. Some things you expect and some things shock you, Suter said of his initial days with the Badgers. Every day I walk in here, I look around and just get a big smile on my face: Yeah, its finally starting to happen. There was another shock for Suter Wednesday, a day when the team skated with the coaching staff for the first time this season. He found out, somewhat belatedly, that he had been named the preseason rookie of the year in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association by the leagues coaches a bit of news that had been out for a day.

Its a form of recognition that carries some weight, even though its based on potential. Last years nominee was North Dakotas Zach Parise, who wound up with 61 points and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. But Suter wasnt waiting around for the results of the voting. Jake Dowell, a Badgers freshman forward and Suters roommate, had to learn about the recognition from another source. He wouldnt have ever said anything to me about it, said Dowell, Suters teammate the last two seasons with the U.S.

National Team Development Program and another part of the Badgers recruiting class that was ranked No. 1 in the country by Red Line Report. I wouldnt have found out from Ryan. Suters explanation for the low-key approach: Its definitely special. I just dont like to get too worked up about it.

I dont want people to think anything different of me. Im still going to be the same guy. The Badgers are banking on that. Suter comes to Wisconsin highly regarded as evidenced by where he was drafted partially because he has been able to make transitions between other levels of hockey look easy. The NHLs Central Scouting Service, in rating Suter seventh among North American skaters eligible for last Junes draft, noted the 6-foot-l, 188-pounders physical play prominently in its report.

But for Badgers coach Mike Eaves, that leaves out part of the reason Suter has been so successful. Hes always been ahead of the curve because of his natural abilities, Eaves said. Hes always been able to adapt to the next level. We expect that curve to continue. Thatll be a determining factor in how he does in the future and how well he adapts here and what kind of success he has.

Eaves said hes looking for Suter to exhibit the same strong presence on the ice he See SUTER, Page 5C r-T' --r MICHELLE STOCKERTHE CAPITAL TIMES Despite facing high expectations as he begins his University of Wisconsin hockey career, freshman Ryan Suter would prefer to keep a low profile. Memories vivid of bond between Favre, Holmgren By Dennis Semrau The Capita Times PRAIRIE DU SAC There is no doubt who runs the Sauk Prairie offense. Eagles senior fullback Brandon Hedgepath is averag- ing 8.2 yards per cany By Pete Dougherty Special to The Capital Times GREEN BAY The first and only time Brett Favre went up against Mike Holmgren, Favre had one of the worst games of his 13-year career. He finished with a passer rating of 26.8 points the third-lowest of his career and threw four interceptions and fumbled twice in the Green Bay Packers embarrassing 27-7 loss to Seattle in 1999 in front of a home crowd at Lam-beau Field as well as a national Monday-night TV audience. To this day, Favre insists he wasnt trying to impress Holmgren or prove that he could thrive without his former coach and first mentorm NFL quarterbacking.

But its im-possible not to conclude that at least subconsciously, Favre pressed in Holmgrens presence. I think Brett is a lot older and wiser than the 99 season, said Packers coach Mike Sherman, who was Seattles offensive coordinator in that game four years ago. I think hes different. Hes matured in many ways, on the field and off the field." Favre, who turns 34 next week, appeared especially at ease Wednesday during his weekly press conference and was open to talking about his good and bad times with Holmgren when the head coach and quarterback resurrected the Packers franchise in the 1990s. Theyll meet again Sunday when Holmgrens 3-0 Seahawks come to Lambeau Field for a game that revolves in part around the relationships of the combatants: Sherman coaching his first game against Holmgren, his NFL coaching mentor.

The return of the six former Packers assistants on Holmgrens staff, including defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes first game against the Packers since he was fired as their coach after the 1999 season. Packers halfback Ahman Greens first game against Seattle since Holmgren traded him to Green Bay in 2000. See FAVRE, Page 6C and has scored eight touchdowns. Junior tailback Steve Hedgepath, Brandons younger brother, has run for 289 yards and four scores. Yet, while Taylor Koenig is in his first year as a starting quarterback, the senior signal-caller has exhibited a commanding presence that has the Sauk Prairie prep football team in the hunt for its best regular-season finish since posting back-to-back Badger Conference runner-up finishes in 1993 and 94.

Taylor gets them in the huddle and you can just see how hard they listen to him, Sauk Prairie coach Chuck Fiene said. Hes not a big talker or a rah-rah guy. He just gets the guys to focus and they play hard for him. A Badger North Conference first-team selection at linebacker a year ago, Koenig took over for graduated starter Evan Ott at quarterback and Sauk Prairie hasnt missed a beat. Last year, as a junior, he had almost no reps as a quarterback, so he had virtually no varsity game experience coming into this season, Fiene said of Koenig.

Before our scrimmage, we werent sure who was going to be our quarterback (junior Mark) Bender or Koenig. But after the scrimmage, there was no question who was going to be our quarterback. Taylor was outstanding. Sauk Prairie (4-1 overall, 3-0 league) takes a four-game winning streak into Fridays Badger North Conference game at DeForest (4-1, 2-1). MICHELLE STOCKERTHE CAPITAL TIMES See SAUK, Page 4C Junior tailback Steve Hedgepath (above) and his brother, senior fullback Brandon Hedgepath, combine to form a potent backfield duo for Sauk Prairie.

The Eagles play at DeForest Friday night in a key Badger North Conference matchup. Prep Game of the Week preview, 4C. WIAA girls golf tees off Tough road ahead for Heatley Ex-Badgers recovery will be more than just physical Associated Press ATLANTA Dany Heatley is expected to recover from his physical injuries. But can one of hockeys bright young stars overcome the mental scars after an Atlanta Thrashers teammate was critically injured in a high-speed car crash? An expert in grief counseling warned Wednesday that Heatley the former University of Wisconsin star charged with being behind the wheel in the wreck that left Dan Snyder with a skull fracture could be in for some dark, dark days. He has to deal with all those feelings of guilt and remorse, and all the pain thats attached to that, said Len Tuzman, director of social work at The Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York City.

You worry about people like that." Two days after the wreck, Snyder remained unconscious and in critical condition at Grady Hospital, where he underwent two hours of surgery for a severe brain injury. Heatley, charged with a felony, was at the same hospital being treated for less serious injuries from the Monday night crash. He already had posted a $50,000 bond, set during a hearing involving a prosecutor and Heatleys Meanwhile, the Thrashers returned to the ice for a preseason game Wednesday night, beating the Florida Panthers 3-2. The team considered canceling the exhibition, but decided to play. Were doing the best thing we can," Thrashers coach Bob Hartley said after a morning skate.

I'm sure if you asked the two Dans, they would want us to play." The Atlanta players wore the numbers of Heatley and Snyder taped to the back of their helmets. The team made two announcements one before the game and one in the first period thanking fans for gifts and cards which had been sent to the team for the players. Heatleys teammates werent ready to speculate on how the 22-year-old wing, the MVP of the 2003 All-Star game, will cope with the inevitable feelings of culpability once he rejoins the team. I imagine its going to be very tough, defenseman Chris Tamer said. Initially, you just want the guys to get better physically.

Then I'm sure theres going to be a lot of emotions for both of them. I cant imagine how tough its going to be for them and their families. Police estimated that Heatleys Ferrari was traveling around 80 mph when he lost control on a curve in a two-lane road. The sports car plunged into a wrought iron fence and brick wall in front of an apartment complex. The car was ripped in half.

The players were thrown onto the road. See HEATLEY, Page 2C HENRY A KOSHOLLEKTHE CAPITAL TIMES A Jessie Vetter of Monona Grove watches her drive on the ninth hole Wednesday during WIAA Division 1 regional play at The Bridges Golf Course. Vetter shot a 92 to advance to sectional play. WIAA roundup, 4C..