It was more than a singular milestone for one person.

It was a notch in a larger measuring stick for an uncommon group of youngsters.

When freshman defenseman Craig Johnson scored a pivotal goal for the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team Saturday night, all but clinching a 4-1 win over Michigan Tech, it was not just the first conversion of his college career.

It also meant that all eight skaters in the nine-person freshman class for the Badgers have at least one goal -- the other rookie is goaltender Scott Gudmandson -- and the group moved one step closer to 100 cumulative points for the season.

UW freshmen have 97 points (34 goals, 63 assists) and -- according to unofficial research -- are looking to become the 12th group of rookies to top that mark since the program joined the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in 1969-70.

The most recent was the 2003-04 outfit -- featuring Robbie Earl, Andrew Joudrey, Jake Dowell, Ryan Suter, Ross Carlson and Jeff Likens -- that had 47-87-134.

Prior to that, you have to go back to the 1986-87 class, which featured Chris Tancill, Gary Shuchuk, Shaun Sabol, John Byce, Tom Sagissor and Steve Rohlik, that finished with 41-66-107.

The largest output came in 1980-81 -- a group headlined by John Newberry, Brian Mullen, Bruce Driver, Lexi Doner, John Johannson and Ted Pearson -- that had 69-107-176.

They finished with one more point than the 1974-75 rookie class -- featuring Mike Eaves, Craig Norwich, Tom Ulseth, Mark Capouch and Norm McIntosh -- that totaled 65-110-175.

All those classes served as foundations for eventual NCAA title winners.

"It's a good milestone, a good marking," said Eaves, now in his sixth season as UW coach. "That means that they're contributing and for us to be successful, they need to contribute. "

Eaves was asked if he expected such output when this current class showed up.

"I think we hoped," he said. "You always don't know what you're going to get."

The Badgers got four goals and two assists from freshman en route to taking three of four points from Tech.

Center Kyle Turris, who leads UW with 11-18-29, accounted for the lone conversion during a 1-1 overtime tie in the opener Friday.

Johnson, fellow defenseman Cody Goloubef and center Sean Dolan scored goals Saturday as the 11th-ranked Badgers (13-11-6 overall, 9-9-4 with 22 points in the WCHA) maintained a share of fourth place with six regular-season games remaining.

The task of preparing for a WCHA series with Minnesota State-Mankato Friday and Saturday at the Kohl Center hit a another snag Sunday. Blizzard conditions continued to delay the UW charter flight, which had been scheduled to leave Houghton, Mich., after the game Saturday.

The series with Mankato (15-10-4, 9-9-4, 22 points) is huge given the teams are tied for fourth place and are jockeying for position in the pairwise rankings that determine the NCAA tournament field.

The milestone goal capped an impressive weekend for Johnson, a native of Waupaca who played well enough with his partner, Goloubef, that they skated critical shifts in the third period and overtime in the opener.

"He's playing to his strengths," Eaves said of Johnson.

After starting the season as the seventh defenseman, Johnson has taken advantage of a back injury to freshman Brendan Smith to evolve into a reliable force. Coming into each game prepared and keeping his game simple have been the keys.

"I'm getting more comfortable with the systems and the team," Johnson said.

Another sign this UW freshman class has come a long way.