Wisconsin assistant men’s hockey coach Grant Standbrook discovered a talented young junior-hockey player named Ron Vincent during the 1976-77 season and knew Vincent would be an ideal fit for the Badgers. The only problem, according to Vincent, was that Wisconsin had only two scholarships for the following season, both of which already were taken.

That’s when Standbrook asked Vincent if he would delay entering college for a year to sign with Wisconsin. Vincent agreed, spent another season playing juniors and registered 176 points (74 goals and 102 assists) for the Penticton Vees to earn the Vern Dye Memorial Trophy as the British Columbia Hockey League most valuable player.

“Wisconsin was on the radar early,” Vincent said. “And what really impressed me is back then Bob Johnson actually came out to Penticton and signed me. The day of singing, he showed up with a contract because I think he didn’t want to lose me. I was destined for Wisconsin.”

Vincent became a major piece for Wisconsin from 1978-82, during which time the Badgers won the 1981 national championship and finished second in 1982 when he was elected a co-captain as a senior. Vincent, who scored 75 career goals with 131 assists and was inducted into the Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame in 1994, is one of 12 inductees in the UW Athletics Hall of Fame 2026 class.

In the latest Badger Connect Podcast with Mike Heller, Vincent discusses his recruitment from Canada to Wisconsin, memories of the Water Bottle Incident against North Dakota, what hockey has done for his life and much more. Check out the full video here: