Wisconsin reflects on hard conversations that launched road to NCAA title game TODD D. MILEWSKI Apr 10, 2026 Apr 10, 2026 Updated Jul 3, 2026 × TODD D. MILEWSKI BadgerExtra's Todd D. Milewski discusses Thursday's Frozen Four wins by Wisconsin and Denver from Las Vegas. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save LAS VEGAS — There's always reflection for a team after a season is over, no matter where it landed on the spectrum from failed to successful.kAm%96JVC6 ?@E 2=H2JD 42==65 2? 2FE@ADJ]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^2_ahc2_h\aeda\c52b\gb5_\5bfa_gca3__fQmw@H 2? V:?DA:C2E:@?2=V 677@CE =:7E65 (:D4@?D:? 2E <6J E:>6 :? uC@K6? u@FC G:4E@CJk^2mk^AmkAm%92EVD E96 =236= &?:G6CD:EJ @7 (:D4@?D:? >6?VD 9@4<6J 4@249 |:<6 w2DE:?8D 82G6 E96 =@@< 324< 2E a_ac\ad[ 2 D62D@? H96? E96 q2586CD 76== D9@CE @7 6IA64E2E:@?D @? >2?J =6G6=D]k^Am People are also reading… Lake Geneva approves permit for proposed supper club Lake Geneva Plan Commission gives initial approval to Simple Food Group's multi-use campus Highway 50/MainStreet project update Wildfire smoke moves into southern Wisconsin, bringing 'hazardous' air quality to most of state Family identifies third child who died in Geneva Lake storm; honors her with legacy fund Lake Geneva approves using leftover capital funds for public safety programs Lake Geneva conducting survey to help develop plan for parks and lakefront Theater group to present “Willy Wonka” at Badger High School Epic Systems' founder Judy Faulkner on why the company buys so much art 12U Softball teams raise $2,600 for Kate Schmidt legacy fund US Marshals arrest 'hypermasculine' social media stars Andrew and Tristan Tate, UK seeks extradition Three children die after boat capsizes on Geneva Lake; state of emergency declared Walworth County residents being asked to assist with storm damage assessment Walworth County hosting America 250 celebration Cleanup efforts continue in Lake Geneva after July 3 storm kAm$4@C:?8 H2D :?4@?D:DE6?E] v@2=E6?5:?8 H2D DF3A2C] %96 >@>6?ED H96? E9:?8D EFC?65 2 A@D:E:G6 5:C64E:@? H6C6 7=66E:?8]k^AmkAm(:D4@?D:? 7:?:D965 `b\a`\b[ E96 7:CDE E:>6 w2DE:?8D 925 2 =@D:?8 C64@C5 :? af D62D@?D 2D 2 9625 4@249 2E E96 4@==686 2?5 ;F?:@C =6G6=D]k^AmkAmp J62C =2E6C[ 27E6C E96 6I2>:?2E:@? @7 H92E H6?E HC@?8 2?5 9@H E96JV5 7:I :E[ E96 q2586CD 2C6 @?6 H:? 2H2J 7C@> E96 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A]k^AmkAm%96 =:?6 36EH66? E96 5:77:4F=E 4@?G6CD2E:@?D 2?5 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E92E =:6D 367@C6 E96 q2586CD :D 5:C64E]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^755h65fh\7f5b\c`de\hhg4\ag7hc`g`h4edQmw@H E@ H2E49[ DEC62>[ =:DE6? E@ (:D4@?D:? >6?VD 9@4<6JVD }rpp 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6 GD] s6?G6Ck^2mk^Am kAmQxEVD 366? DF49 2 ;@FC?6J 7@C FD E@ 86E 96C6[ 2?5 H6VC6 C62==J AC@F5 @7 H92E H6VG6 244@>A=:D965 D@ 72C[Q D@A9@>@C6 46?E6C v2G:? |@CC:DD6J D2:5] QqFE 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J[ E9:D :D H96C6 H6 H2?E65 E@ 36 :? E96 DF>>6C H96? H6 H6C6 E2=<:?8 23@FE E9:D 2E 9@>6] xE DFC6 >62?D 2 H9@=6 =@E E92E H6VG6 366? 23=6 E@ 86E 96C6]Qk^Am kAm%96 q2586CD Wac\`a\aX 2C6 E96 D:IE9 E62> 5FC:?8 E96 `e\E62> E@FC?2>6?E 6C2 WD:?46 a__bX E@ >2<6 E96 ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6 @?6 D62D@? 27E6C 92G:?8 2 =@D:?8 C64@C5] %96 @?=J @?6 E92E 92D H@? :E :D E96 @?6 E92E (:D4@?D:? H:== 7246 $2EFC52J 2E %\|@3:=6 pC6?2]k^AmkAms6?G6C Wag\``\bX H2D `_\`b\` :? E96 a_a_\a` D62D@? 2=E6C65 3J E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4] xEVD E96 @?=J E:>6 E96 !:@?66CD 92G6 925 2 =@D:?8 C64@C5 D:?46 a___]k^Am kAm%96 6I2>:?2E:@? E92E 7@==@H65[ 4@249 s2G:5 r2C=6 D2:5[ H2D 23@FE >2<:?8 2 D:>A=6 49@:46]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^a26_672`\`332\cfc5\h3`f\d6`5gh6ea7f`Qm~FE @7 2 ?:89E>2C6[ 7C6D9>2? 8:G6D (:D4@?D:? >6?VD 9@4<6J 2 324<\4964<:?8 3@@DEk^2mk^AmkAmQxE DE2CED H:E9 8C62E A6@A=6 :? E96 C@@> E92E H2?E E@ 36 A2CE @7 E96 D@=FE:@? C2E96C E92? 4@>A=2:? @C A@:?E 7:?86CD 2D E@ H92E E96 AC@3=6> H2D[Q 96 D2:5]k^AmkAm$64@?5\C@F?5 5C27E A:4< q@33J qC:?< 564:565 E@ C6EFC? 7@C 2 E9:C5 D62D@? 2?5 =65 E96 !:@?66CD :? D4@C:?8 :? a_a`\aa] v@2=:6 |28?FD r9C@?2 324<DE@AA65 2? @G6CE:>6 G:4E@CJ @G6C |:49:82? :? E96 D6>:7:?2=D 2?5 E96 !:@?66CD C2==:65 A2DE w2DE:?8DV |:??6D@E2 $E2E6 E62> :? E96 E9:C5 A6C:@5 @7 E96 7:?2=]k^Am kAm}@H[ E96 !:@?66CD 2C6 324< H:E9 2 `e\82>6 F?362E6? DEC62< 27E6C 2 5@F3=6\@G6CE:>6 H:? @G6C |:49:82? @? %9FCD52J 2?5 H:E9 2?@E96C :>AC6DD:G6 8@2=:6[ y@9??J w:4<D] %96 7C6D9>2? 92D?VE =@DE 2 82>6j 96 E@@< @G6C 2D DE2CE6C :? y2?F2CJ 27E6C "F6?E:? |:==6C H2D :?;FC65]k^AmkAm%96 q2586CDV a_ad @77D62D@? 42>6 62C=J 3642FD6 E96J H6C6 6=:>:?2E65 7C@> E96 q:8 %6? %@FC?2>6?E :? E96 BF2CE6C7:?2=D] !=2J6CD 72465 564:D:@?D @? H96E96C E@ DE2J 2E (:D4@?D:? @C 56A2CE[ 6:E96C 7@C 2 AC@ 4@?EC24E @C E9C@F89 E96 EC2?D76C A@CE2=]k^AmkAmQ(6 925 D@>6 C62= 92C5 4@?G6CD2E:@?D[Q w2DE:?8D D2:5] Qp?5 xV> E2=<:?8 >JD6=7 2?5 D@>6 :?5:G:5F2=D 3642FD6 ]]] E96JVC6 E96 @?6D H:E9 E96 92>>6C :? E96:C 92?5] %96J 42? 4@>6 :?[ :7 E92E >66E:?8 5@6D?VE 8@ H6==[ E96J 5@?VE =:<6 H92E J@FVC6 D2J:?8[ E96JVC6 ?@E 3FJ:?8 :?[ E96JVC6 8@?6]Qk^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^ah_cba52\e4h6\cagc\hb`a\2fh6_2ggbc4aQm(:D4@?D:? DEF?D }@CE9 s2<@E2[ H:== A=2J 7@C >6?VD 9@4<6J ?2E:@?2= E:E=6k^2mk^AmkAmr2C=6VD :562 E92E E96C6 92G6 E@ 36 A6@A=6 :? E96 C@@> =@@<:?8 E@ 36 A2CE @7 E96 D@=FE:@? C6D@?2E65 H:E9 E96 q2586CD]k^AmkAm{625:?8 8@2=\D4@C6C "F:?? u:?=6J 42>6 324< 7@C 9:D ;F?:@C D62D@? :?DE625 @7 D:8?:?8 H:E9 E96 }6H *@C< xD=2?56CD[ H9@ @H? 9:D 5C27E C:89ED] %96 $F2>:4@ ?2E:G6 D2:5 96 H2?E65 E@ H:? H:E9 E96 q2586CD]k^Am kAms676?D6>2? y@6 !2=@5:49F<[ 2? F?5C27E65 7C66 286?E[ 925 @776CD E@ D:8? 27E6C 9:D D@A9@>@C6 J62C 3FE EFC?65 E96> 5@H?]k^Am kAmq6:?8 A2CE @7 E96 D@=FE:@? DE2CE65 H96? E96 E62> 8@E E@86E96C 7@C @77D62D@? H@C<@FED]k^AmkAmQx =@G6 E2=<:?8 23@FE E96 DF>>6C 3642FD6 H6VC6 E96C6 7@C 6:89E H66<D[Q !2=@5:49F< D2:5] Q(6 8C:?5[ H6 92G6 7F? E@86E96C 2?5 :EVD 2 ;@FC?6J] xEVD 2 7F? @?6] x ;FDE =@G6 DA6?5:?8 E96 6:89E H66<D E@86E96C E@ 4C62E6 2 3@?5 2?5[ C62==J[ ;FDE 4@>6 E@86E96C 2D 2 72>:=J 367@C6 E96 D62D@? DE2CED] xEVD G6CJ DA64:2=]Qk^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^_ccah3f7\`dgf\c7`7\hdah\hh445432c6gfQmr@=6 r2F7:6=5 364@>6D a?5 7@C>6C (:D4@?D:? A=2J6C E@ D4@C6 d_ 8@2=D :? 2? }w{ D62D@?k^2mk^AmkAmw2DE:?8D D2:5 96 925 2 E@F89 4@?G6CD2E:@? =2DE @77D62D@? H:E9 7@CH2C5 $:>@? %2DDJ[ H9@ H2D D6E E@ 6?E6C 9:D ;F?:@C D62D@? 2?5 42>6 H:E9 w2DE:?8D 7C@> |:??6D@E2 $E2E6 E@ (:D4@?D:? :? a_ab]k^Am kAmQxE H2D C62= @A6? 2?5 9@?6DE 23@FE[ 5@ H6 E9:?< E9:D :D DE:== 2 8@@5 7:E 7@C 6249 @E96CnQ w2DE:?8D D2:5] Q$@ H96? 96 AFED :E 7@CE9 2?5 D2JD[ VxV> 2== :?[V 9@H 42? J@F ?@E 324< E92E FAnQk^Am kAm%2DDJ D4@C65 E96 7:CDE 8@2= :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^9@4<6J^>6?^H:D4@?D:?\DEF?D\?@CE9\52<@E2\H:==\A=2J\7@C\>6?D\9@4<6J\?2E:@?2=\E:E=6^2CE:4=60ah_cba52\e4h6\cagc\hb`a\2fh6_2ggbc4a]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%9FCD52JVD a\` G:4E@CJ @G6C }@CE9 s2<@E2 :? E96 D6>:7:?2=Dk^2m 2?5 92D 366? 2? @776?D:G6 AC6D6?46 E9C@F89@FE E96 D62D@? 27E6C 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^9@4<6J^>6?^H:D4@?D:?\>6?D\9@4<6J\D6?:@C\C66DE23=:D96D\9:>D6=7\H96C6\:\86E\>J\DF446DD^2CE:4=60cc3hdcb3\73d5\c37d\3had\7a72d5d5_6`2]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm;F?:@C J62C E92E H2D 5:DCFAE65 3J 2? 2?<=6 :?;FCJk^2m]k^Am kAmQxEVD 7F?[Q %2DDJ D2:5 %9FCD52J 23@FE 9:D D6?:@C D62D@? 6?5:?8 :? E96 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6 2?5 AC@G:?8 D@>6 A6@A=6 HC@?8] Q(6 EC:65 E@ 4FE 5@H? E96 ?@:D6[ 8@@5 @C 325] tG6? H96? H6 H6C6 D64@?5 :? E96 C2?<:?8D[ x 766= =:<6 E92EVD H96? H6 H6?E 5@H?9:==] p?5 H96? H6 H6C6?VE 5@:?8 8@@5[ 6G6CJ3@5J H2D D2J:?8 @FC J62C H2D @G6C 2?5 E92EVD H96? H6 DE2CE65 A=2J:?8 8@@5] $@ H6 ;FDE EC:65 E@ 4FE :E @FE 2?5 ;FDE 7@4FD @? @FCD6=G6D]Qk^Am kAm%96 @E96C E62>D D:?46 a__b E92E 92G6 >256 E96 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6 2 J62C 27E6C 2 =@D:?8 D62D@? H6C6 q@DE@? r@==686 :? a_ac[ $E] r=@F5 $E2E6 :? a_a`[ &|2DD :? a_`h 2?5 q@DE@? &?:G6CD:EJ :? a_`d]k^AmkAm%96 =2EE6C H2D E96 @?=J @?6 E92E 925 2 H@CD6 C64@C5 E96 D62D@? 367@C6] %96 %6CC:6CD H6C6 `_\a`\c :? 4@249 s2G:5 "F:??VD 7:CDE D62D@? 27E6C E2<:?8 @G6C 7C@> q& =686?5 y24< !2C<6C :? a_`b\`c]k^Am kAm%96 q2586CD 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 4@>A=6E6 2 >2;@C J62C\E@\J62C EFC?2C@F?5 H:E9 E96 AC@8C2>VD D6G6?E9 }rpp 492>A:@?D9:A 2?5 7:CDE :? a_ J62CD] s6?G6C :D =@@<:?8 E@ 6IE6?5 :ED C64@C5 H:E9 2? ``E9 4C@H? 2?5 E9:C5 :? E96 =2DE 7:G6 D62D@?D]k^Am kAmQxEVD :>A@CE2?E H96? J@F 92G6 A6@A=6 E92E 2C6 H:E9 J@F :? E96 5@H? E:>6D E92E E96J 42? 6?;@J :E 2 =:EE=6 3:E :? E9:D ;@FC?6J H:E9 FD[Q w2DE:?8D D2:5] Qw@A67F==J[ H6 42? 4@?E:?F6 E@ AFD9 E96 6?G6=@A6 W$2EFC52JX]Qk^Am Locations Wisconsin Madison Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story BadgerExtra's Wisconsin men's hockey Frozen Four report for Thursday BadgerExtra's Todd D. Milewski discusses Thursday's Frozen Four wins by Wisconsin and Denver from Las Vegas. How an 'inspirational' effort lifted Wisconsin at key time in Frozen Four victory The Badgers' penalty kill has struggled this season but it was clutch when facing an extended 5-on-3 stretch against North Dakota. How to watch, stream, listen to Wisconsin men's hockey's NCAA championship game vs. Denver The Badgers face another former WCHA team in the Frozen Four, with Denver awaiting in Saturday's championship game. Here's how to tune in. Out of a nightmare, freshman gives Wisconsin men's hockey a back-checking boost Badgers freshman Oliver Tulk lost the puck and it turned into a breakaway. But what he did next showed the team's resiliency, a teammate said. Wisconsin stuns North Dakota, will play for men's hockey national title Daniel Hauser's 21 saves helped first-period goals by Simon Tassy and Ryan Botterill hold up as the Badgers won their eighth straight NCAA semifinal. Cole Caufield becomes 2nd former Wisconsin player to score 50 goals in an NHL season Caufield reached the 50-goal mark Thursday, not long after the Badgers finished a victory in the Frozen Four. He's seen all 6 Wisconsin men's hockey NCAA titles: 'I'm hoping this is going to be 7' Conrad Andringa is at his ninth Frozen Four. Some have been as a Badgers parent or grandparent. This one is because the team is "important to me." A look at Wisconsin men's hockey's final practice before NCAA championship game A five-time NCAA championship-winning coach told Mike Hastings that Friday's practice is the best of the year. Only two teams get the chance. A look at Wisconsin men's hockey's arrival for NCAA championship game Here's how it looked as Badgers players, coaches and staff members arrived at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for the national championship game. Silent locker room tells pain of Wisconsin's championship loss: 'Life's hard sometimes' The Badgers sat quietly in their locker room after losing a third-period lead in the national championship game. Wisconsin men's basketball lands mid-major guard as 1st transfer addition The Badgers added a sharpshooter who has shot 75.7% of his total field goal attempts across his three-year career from 3-point range. Here's w… Wisconsin suffers heartbreaker in men's hockey national championship game Denver scored a pair of third-period goals to erase the Badgers' lead and deny coach Mike Hastings' team a national championship. Here's what …
BadgerExtra's Wisconsin men's hockey Frozen Four report for Thursday BadgerExtra's Todd D. Milewski discusses Thursday's Frozen Four wins by Wisconsin and Denver from Las Vegas.
How an 'inspirational' effort lifted Wisconsin at key time in Frozen Four victory The Badgers' penalty kill has struggled this season but it was clutch when facing an extended 5-on-3 stretch against North Dakota.
How to watch, stream, listen to Wisconsin men's hockey's NCAA championship game vs. Denver The Badgers face another former WCHA team in the Frozen Four, with Denver awaiting in Saturday's championship game. Here's how to tune in.
Out of a nightmare, freshman gives Wisconsin men's hockey a back-checking boost Badgers freshman Oliver Tulk lost the puck and it turned into a breakaway. But what he did next showed the team's resiliency, a teammate said.
Wisconsin stuns North Dakota, will play for men's hockey national title Daniel Hauser's 21 saves helped first-period goals by Simon Tassy and Ryan Botterill hold up as the Badgers won their eighth straight NCAA semifinal.
Cole Caufield becomes 2nd former Wisconsin player to score 50 goals in an NHL season Caufield reached the 50-goal mark Thursday, not long after the Badgers finished a victory in the Frozen Four.
He's seen all 6 Wisconsin men's hockey NCAA titles: 'I'm hoping this is going to be 7' Conrad Andringa is at his ninth Frozen Four. Some have been as a Badgers parent or grandparent. This one is because the team is "important to me."
A look at Wisconsin men's hockey's final practice before NCAA championship game A five-time NCAA championship-winning coach told Mike Hastings that Friday's practice is the best of the year. Only two teams get the chance.
A look at Wisconsin men's hockey's arrival for NCAA championship game Here's how it looked as Badgers players, coaches and staff members arrived at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for the national championship game.
Silent locker room tells pain of Wisconsin's championship loss: 'Life's hard sometimes' The Badgers sat quietly in their locker room after losing a third-period lead in the national championship game.
Wisconsin men's basketball lands mid-major guard as 1st transfer addition The Badgers added a sharpshooter who has shot 75.7% of his total field goal attempts across his three-year career from 3-point range. Here's w…
Wisconsin suffers heartbreaker in men's hockey national championship game Denver scored a pair of third-period goals to erase the Badgers' lead and deny coach Mike Hastings' team a national championship. Here's what …
