Junior defenseman Will Butcher recently was selected as one of DU’s assistant captains, joining fellow blue liner Nolan Zajac and forward Gabe Levin. With the Pioneers heading back to Butcher’s home state of Wisconsin for a two-game series this weekend, we caught up with the two-time World Junior Championship participant for some one-timers.

Mayhem: How much more special is it to go back to Wisconsin?

Butcher: I grew up there (in Sun Prairie, just outside of Madison) watching the Badgers. We had season tickets so I got to Kohl Center to see all the WCHA games against big teams like North Dakota, Denver, CC, so it was always very exciting for me. Just going back to that rink, being part of something that I watched as a kid, I think it’s going to be a very neat experience for me because that’s what I aspired to do as a kid.

Mayhem: Have you played there before?

Butcher: I played there in junior for the U.S. team (National Development Program’s U18 team)

Mayhem: Do you have a go-to pregame meal?

Butcher: Breakfast is three eggs, a piece of toast, peanut butter and a cup of coffee. For lunch it’s the pregame meal provided to us at the rink, which for me is pretty much chicken and salad.

Mayhem: If you need a good laugh in the locker room, who are you turning to?

Butcher: Nolan Zajac. He sits next to me and the guy is hilarious

Mayhem: If Mayhem Junior wandered into the locker room and started playing with your gear, which piece are you going to be most upset he touched?

Butcher: Skates. He can touch anything else but them.

Mayhem: Do you have a favorite hockey player?

Butcher: That’s a tough question for me. When I was little, me and my grandpa would watch tapes of Bobby Orr, so I would say it’s him. As I got older I would say my favorite hockey player was Mike Modano. As of right now I don’t really have one.

Mayhem: Do you have a favorite sport other than hockey?

Butcher: Golf. When I was growing up it was baseball, but now it’s golf. I’m not very good at it.

Mayhem: What is the craziest goal you’ve ever seen?

Butcher: When I was playing World Juniors my first year (in 2013-14) one of my good buddies Steve Santini, who plays for BC, he got out of the penalty box and he’s not a guy who usually plays power play, but he went down and just sat in front of the net, screening the goalie. One of our D men shot the puck, and he was at the corner (of the net) and it went off his breezers and into the net for a goal. That was probably one of the funniest goals I’ve ever seen.

Mayhem: If you need to get fired up, what music are you listening to?

Butcher: No music. I’m not a music guy. I never listen to music.

@MagnessMayhem