Badger Hockey Recruit Review: Tim Davison, Chicago Steel

	Class	Position	Hand	Height	Weight
	2013	Defense	Left	5-10	168
	Team		Hometown		DOB
	Chicago Steel (USHL)		DePere, Wis.		3/2/1994

Verbal Commitment

Davison is one of Wisconsin's longest tenured recruits, as the DePere, Wis., native committed to the hometown Badgers back in September 2010.

"When I went out for my visit (to Wisconsin), it just felt right," Davison told USHL.com. "I felt very comfortable with the coaches and on the campus.

"(Madison) is about two hours away from home, so again, it's nice and close to my home so I'll be able to see my family. Also, the tradition UW has with past players and present players, it's just a great place to play."

Davison chose the Badgers over Ohio State, who was led at that time by former Wisconsin assistant coach Mark Osiecki.

Coach Comments

Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves on Davison:

"Tim Davison is a defenseman from De Pere, Wis., who played at Notre Dame Academy. He's playing this year in the USHL. He is a good puck-handling, passing and shooting defenseman who will bring an offensive flare."

Chicago Steel head coach and general manager Scott McConnell on Davison:

"Tim's a great kid," McConnell told Bucky's 5th Quarter back in February. "He's a good kid and he's getting better every game, getting better every time he steps on the ice.

"It's a big transition from high school to our level, just by sheer games. Then you look at the speed, the skill level and depth of each team - every team in this league is good. He's made good strides. He was up-and-down a little bit to start, and over the course of the last month he's really settled in."

McConnell on Davison's strengths and weaknesses:

"He's still young, so he's still going to grow," McConnell said. "He's getting more meat on his bones, he's getting stronger and learning how to push guys (around). He's never going to be a physical presence, he's not a physical shut-down defenseman. He's a fluid, puck-moving guy who has a great first pass. He can shoot the puck, he can create some offense, so that's his first strength. But he's getting better as he's getting stronger, and he's getting a better understanding of how to play defense and use body positioning."

McConnell on Davison as an offensive, power-play type defenseman down the road:

"He's got a very gifted set of eyes," McConnell said. "He sees plays develop on a different level than some of our guys. He's got the ability to play on the power play, he's got the ability to make plays."

Notre Dame Academy head coach Cory McCracken on Davison (last season):

"The tougher the competition, the more Tim separates himself from the pack," McCracken told Bucky's 5th Quarter in February 2012. "Tim has the unique ability to read the right situation to distribute a puck and then join the rush appropriately. Tim quarterbacks our power play, which is currently at 44% for the year. He is making good decisions on puck movement and shot selection."

McCracken on Davison as a leader:

"As a captain he is doing a wonderful job at leading a group of pretty talented younger players, McCracken said. "This team has had a bulls eye on its back since day one. Tim has done a very nice job of making sure that the players are paying attention to the details and putting the necessary time into preparing the right way."

Scouting Report

Eaves, McConnell and McCracken do a nice job summing up what Davison brings to the ice as a player, so I personally don't have a lot to add here. In my viewings, Tim always plays with his head up when he has the puck, which leads to outstanding vision in setting up plays down the ice. He also has the ability to execute those plays down the ice, which is a trait I feel he's advanced in for his level.

There's no doubt that Davison needs to continue getting stronger and more developed in his own end of the ice. The advantage that Davison has is that he's got what it takes between the ears. Davison might not be able to put a guy three rows into the Kohl Center bleachers, but he's got the read-and-react ability to keep himself in good position to keep the puck out of his own net.

Where Davison is going to be a key contributor is as an offensive defenseman. His numbers weren't eye-popping in the USHL last season, and likely won't be as a freshman, either. I do feel that in a few years, though, we'll be looking at a guy who can run the power play and create pressure on other teams from the blue line.

Statistics

2012-13 (Chicago Steel -- USHL): 62 games, 6 goals, 8 assists, 14 points, -7, 44 PIM

2011-12 (Notre Dame Academy -- high school): 30 games, 13 goals, 38 assists, 51 points

2010-11 (Notre Dame Academy -- high school): 28 games, 19 goals, 28 assists, 47 points

Honors

-- WHCA All-State First Team, 2012

-- Named to the USA Hockey Select 17 festival

-- WHCA All-State First Team, 2011

-- Named to the USA Hockey U17 team for the Five Nations Tournament in Switzerland

-- Named to the USA Hockey Select 16 festival

-- Selected in USHL Futures Draft by the Youngstown Phantoms, No. 12 overall

--WHCA All-State First Team, 2010

-- Named to the USA Hockey Select 15 festival

Audio / Video

Twitter

@TDavison26

Additional Info

Davison participated in three straight WIAA state tournaments with Notre Dame Academy, culminating in a state title during his senior season. Davison also won a gold medal as a member of the United States Select 17 team in Switzerland in the summer of 2010.

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