WISCONSIN MEN'S HOCKEY A 'forgotten' blue blood, Wisconsin men's hockey starts to restore itself nationally TODD D. MILEWSKI Apr 8, 2026 Apr 8, 2026 Updated Apr 9, 2026 × TODD D. MILEWSKI Badgers coach Mike Hastings and players Gavin Morrissey and Ben Dexheimer discuss the impact of making the Frozen Four on the program. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save This season started with the University of Wisconsin men's hockey team at a crossroads.kAm%96 q2586CD 925 `d H:??:?8 C64@C5D 2?5 `d =@D:?8 C64@C5D :? E96:C AC6G:@FD b_ D62D@?D] t:89E @7 `a q:8 %6? 42>A2:8?D 7:?:D965 H:E9 E96 =2EE6C]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^_33g2gb4\73g6\c_`7\g7g6\5d6h2cg7fh36Qm!@=K:?i (9J E96 DA=:E E92E 5:G:565 E96 (rwp :D DE:== 2 E@F49J DF3;64E >@C6 E92? 2 564256 =2E6Ck^2mk^Am kAmr@249 |:<6 w2DE:?8D 925 2 AC@>:D:?8 q2586CD 563FE H:E9 2? }rpp %@FC?2>6?E 2AA62C2?46 :? a_ab\ac 2?5 9:D 7:CDE =@D:?8 D62D@? :? af J62CD 2D 2 9625 4@249 :? a_ac\ad]k^Am People are also reading… Prominent UW-Madison professor agrees to resign after investigation Lake Geneva approves plans and permits for several projects UW-Eau Claire joins UW system’s Direct Admit program Gateway helps graduate help family IKEA store on Madison's Far West Side will consume 3 retail spaces Brandon Sproat part of Triple-A no-hitter; Tyler Black saves the day Lake Geneva superintendent provides details about contract Lake Geneva Schools seeks mentors for 'Mini Badgers' program Wisconsin high school football player who died after game remembered for love of sports, family, cattle Green Bay police shoot, kill armed subject during welfare check Packers get a glimpse of what MarShawn Lloyd can add to offense in preseason win DRT, WCSE looking to form disaster response team in Walworth County St. Francis de Sales School completes expansion project Maxwell Street Days in downtown Lake Geneva, plus car show & beer on a train They lost one fight against a solar farm. Now this Dane County town is hoping to stop another kAm(:D4@?D:? H2D 2 AC@8C2> =:G:?8 :? 2 A2EE6C? @7 FAD 2?5 5@H?D] xE H:== 7:?:D9 E9:D J62C H:E9 2 EC:A E@ E96 uC@K6? u@FC 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? `e J62CD[ 2 D:8? E92E E9:?8D 2C6 >@G:?8 :? 2 A@D:E:G6 5:C64E:@?]k^AmkAmx7 E96 q2586CD 5@?VE >2<6 ;@FC?6JD =:<6 E96 @?6 E96JVC6 E2<:?8 E9:D H66< >@C6 C@FE:?6[ 9@H6G6C[ E96JV== 92G6 >:DD65 @FE @? H92E w2DE:?8D :D ECJ:?8 E@ 6DE23=:D9]k^Am kAmQxEVD @?6 E9:?8 E@ 86E E96C6[Q 96 D2:5] QxEVD 2?@E96C E9:?8 E@ DE2J E96C6]Qk^Am kAm|2<:?8 uC@K6? u@FC 2AA62C2?46D 2 >@C6 C68F=2C @44FCC6?46 92D E@ DE2CE H:E9 @?6[ 2?5 E92EVD H92E E96 q2586CD 2C6 5@:?8 E9:D H66< :? {2D '682D] %96J A=2J }@CE9 s2<@E2 2E c A]>] %9FCD52J[ 367@C6 |:49:82? 2?5 s6?G6C D<2E6 :? E96 @E96C D6>:7:?2=]k^Am kAm%9@D6 7@FC E62>D @44FAJ E96 E@A 7@FC DA@ED :? }rpp >6?VD 9@4<6J 492>A:@?D9:AD] s6?G6C 92D H@? EH@ @7 E96 =2DE 7@FC E@ 364@>6 E96 7:CDE E@ C6249 `_] |:49:82? 92D 366? DEF4< 2E ?:?6 D:?46 `hhg] }@CE9 s2<@E2 H@? :ED 6:89E9 :? a_`e]k^Am kAmp== @7 E96> 92G6 925 5@H? DEC6E496D[ E:>6D H96? E96 uC@K6? u@FC H2D ;FDE @FE @7 C6249 2E 36DE 2?5 H2J @77 :? E96 5:DE2?46 2E H@CDE] %96 q2586CD[ H9@ H@? E96:C >@DE C646?E @7 D:I }rpp E:E=6D :? a__e[ 9@A6 E96JVG6 6>6C865 7C@> E96:C AC@8C2> 5@=5CF>D]k^AmkAm~?6 2AA62C2?46 @? E96 3:8 DE286 4@F=5 D:8?2= 2? 2H2<6?:?8 @7 2 D=F>36C:?8 ?2E:@?2= A@H6C[ 2? 2?2=JDE D2:5]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^_3`bf45_\7e36\cfb3\2egd\he`aag72f3_gQm`_ >6>@C23=6 (:D4@?D:?\}@CE9 s2<@E2 82>6D ?@E :?G@=G:?8 2 H2E6C 3@EE=6 DAC2Jk^2mk^Am kAmQ%96 AC@8C2> 92D 7=@H? F?56C E96 C252C 7@C 2 H9:=6[Q D2:5 r@=3J r@96?[ 2 a__h ?2E:@?2= 492>A:@? 2E q@DE@? &?:G6CD:EJ H9@VD A2CE @7 t$!}VD 3C@2542DE E62>] Q%96J 92G6?VE 366? :? E96 uC@K6? u@FC] %96J 92G6?VE 366? 2 4@?E6?56C[ C62==J[ :? E96 E@FC?2>6?E] x E9:?< E9:D 492?86D E92E] p?5[ =@@<[ E9:D :D ?@E 2 @?6\2?5\5@?6 D46?2C:@ 7@C E96>]Qk^Am kAm%96 q2586CD 42? FD6 E96 ?2E:@?2= G:D:3:=:EJ 82:?65 3J 36:?8 :? E96 uC@K6? u@FC 2D 2 49:A E@ FD6 H:E9 C64CF:ED 2?5 H:E9 A@E6?E:2= E:4<6E 3FJ6CD]k^Am kAm%@H2C5 E96 =2EE6C[ (:D4@?D:? =2F?4965 2 D62D@? E:4<6E AFD9 :? E96 52JD 7@==@H:?8 E96 E62>VD C68:@?2= 7:?2= @G6CE:>6 G:4E@CJ 282:?DE |:49:82? $E2E6 @? |2C49 ag] %96 q2586CD 4@?D:DE6?E=J 92G6 @?6 @7 E96 9:896DE 2EE6?52?46 7:8FC6D :? 4@==686 9@4<6J 3FE E96:C 2G6C286 92D 72==6? 7C@> E96 96J52J @7 E96 >:5\a___D]k^Am kAm#64CF:E:?8 :D 9@H E96J 42? 36 492>A:@?D9:A 4@?E6?56CD @? 2 >@C6 C68F=2C 32D:D]k^AmkAmr@96? D2:5 E96 J@F?8 D<2E6CD 96 4@2496D :? ;F?:@C 9@4<6J AC@323=J 5@?VE 2DD@4:2E6 }w{ A=2J6CD H:E9 (:D4@?D:?[ 6G6? E9@F89 E96 AC@8C2> 92D 925 `a 2=F>?: 2E E96 E@A =6G6= E9:D D62D@?]k^AmkAmw2DE:?8D 2?5 9:D DE277 92G6 3F:=E 2 32D6 @7 A=2J6CD H9@ 92G6 8@?6 E9C@F89 J62CD :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D w@4<6J {628F6 @C r2?25:2? >2;@C ;F?:@CD] qFE E96JVG6 2=D@ D2:5 E96J H2?E E@ >:I :? C64CF:E:?8 6=:E6 J@F?8 A=2J6CD]k^Am kAm%96J 5:5?VE 86E 566A :?E@ E96 C246 7@C E96 E@A A=2J6CD 4@>:?8 @FE @7 E96 r2?25:2? w@4<6J {628F6 =:<6 v2G:? |4z6??2 2?5 !@CE6C |2CE@?6 =2DE @77D62D@?] %92E 4@F=5 492?86 :7 E96 q2586CD DE2J G:D:3=6 ?2E:@?2==J]k^AmkA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^e7_44gdb\he4b\c44e\g7gg\hca7dhbe43e3Qmw@H (:D4@?D:?VD 9:896DE\D4@C:?8 }w{ A=2J6C :>A24E65 q2586CDV CF? E@ uC@K6? u@FCk^2mk^Am kAmQx ;FDE E9:?< E96C6VD E9:D 82A :? <?@H=6586 23@FE E96 AC@8C2>[Q r@96? D2:5] Qx 5@?VE <?@H 9@H] x <?@H E92E E96JVG6 366? 5@H? 7@C 2 =:EE=6 3:E 3FE :EVD (:D4@?D:?] %96 9:DE@CJ[ E96 492>A:@?D9:AD[ E96 A6@A=6[ E96 A=2J6CD[ E96 4@2496D] %96J 2C6 2 3=F6 3=@@5[ 2 H6==\62C?65 3=F6 3=@@5] p?5 x ;FDE 766= =:<6[ @7 E96 3=F6 3=@@5D[ E96JVC6 D@CE @7 E96 7@C8@EE6? @?6 C:89E ?@H] p?5 9@A67F==J E92EVD 8@:?8 E@ 492?86]Qk^Am kAm!=2J:?8 :? E96 uC@K6? u@FC @776CD 2 5:776C6?E =6G6= @7 AC@>:?6?46[ q:8 %6? }6EH@C< 2?5 t$!} 2?2=JDE !2F= r2A@?:8C: D2:5]k^AmkAmw6 H2D :? 9:D 7:CDE D62D@? @7 ;F?:@C 9@4<6J :? ~>292 H:E9 w2DE:?8D 2D 9:D 4@249 :? `hhg H96? ~9:@ $E2E6 H@? :ED H2J :?E@ E96 uC@K6? u@FC H:E9 2? @G6CE:>6 G:4E@CJ 282:?DE |:49:82? $E2E6]k^AmkAmQx 5:5?VE <?@H ~9:@ $E2E6 H2D 2?J 8@@5 E92E J62C[ 2?5 E96? x D2H E96>[Q r2A@?:8C: D2:5] Q%96? E96J 8@E @? >J C252C] xE H2D E92E D:>A=6]Qk^Am kAmw6 925 2 7@FC\J62C 42C66C H:E9 E96 qF4<6J6D 32D65 2E =62DE :? A2CE @? E92E 492?46 E@ H2E49 E96>]k^Am kAmQ%96 uC@K6? u@FC :D 2=H2JD[ x E9:?<[ 2 3@@DE[Q r2A@?:8C: D2:5]k^AmkAm%9:D J62CVD q2586CD E62> 92D >@C6 :? >:?5 E92? ;FDE 86EE:?8 E@ E96 uC@K6? u@FC 3FE A=2J6CD D2:5 E96J 2AAC64:2E6 E92E :E 4@F=5 36 2 3C62<E9C@F89 7@C E96 AC@8C2>]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^f5c574f2\e3gb\c64c\h6`4\_c5_hb22d677QmuC@K6? u@FC 6IA6C:6?46 7C@> (:D4@?D:? 4@249 H9@ 92D 366? E96C6i V%F?6 @FE E96 ?@:D6Vk^2mk^Am kAm(:D4@?D:? >256 :E E@ E96 }rpp %@FC?2>6?E @?=J 7@FC E:>6D 36EH66? E96:C =2DE uC@K6? u@FC 2AA62C2?46 :? a_`_ 2?5 E9:D D62D@?] xE =@DE :? E96 7:CDE C@F?5 :? a_`b[ a_`c[ a_a` 2?5 a_ac]k^Am kAmQp?J E:>6 J@F 42? >2<6 E96 uC@K6? u@FC[ C64CF:E>6?E 2?5 DEF77 =:<6 E92E[ :EVD 2 =@E 62D:6C[Q D2:5 ;F?:@C 7@CH2C5 "F:?? u:?=6J[ 2 $F2>:4@ ?2E:G6] Qx E9:?< ;FDE 86EE:?8 E96 6IA6C:6?46[ E@@[ 7@C E96D6 8FJD :? E96 7C6D9>2? 4=2DD 2?5 E96 D@A9@>@C6D[ :EVD >@C6 E96 6IA64E2E:@?] ~?46 J@F >2<6 :E[ J@F H2?E E@ >2<6 :E 6G6CJ J62C] xEVD ?@E ;FDE 2[ 96J[ H6 >256 :E @?46] xEVD 9@H BF:4< 42? H6 86E 324< E96C6nQk^Am kAm$6?:@C 42AE2:? q6? s6I96:>6C D2:5 367@C6 E96 D62D@? E92E 96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^DA@CED^9@4<6J^>6?^9@H\C6=6G2?E\:D\H:D4@?D:?\>6?D\9@4<6J\FA4@>:?8\D62D@?\4@F=5\AC@G:56\E96\2?DH6C^2CE:4=60bfb556a3\73`7\cd27\h26d\46355d3h_g_c]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmH2?E65 E@ =62G6 E96 AC@8C2> H:E9 2 H:??:?8 4F=EFC6 6DE23=:D965k^2m]k^Am kAmQ(:E9 E9:D 36:?8 >J =2DE 76H H66<D 96C6[ x 42? 567:?:E6=J 766= AC@F5 E92E H6VC6 =62G:?8 E9:D AC@8C2> :? 2 8@@5 DA@E 7@C E96 7FEFC6[Q 96 D2:5 C646?E=J] QqFE E9:D A=246 :D C62==J DA64:2= H:E9 @C H:E9@FE E92E]Qk^Am kAm%96 >6DD286 7C@> D@A9@>@C6 46?E6C v2G:? |@CC:DD6J :? =2E6 $6AE6>36C H2D 23@FE E96 E62> 86EE:?8 324< E@ :ED C@@ED @7 A=2J:?8 H:E9 9F>:=:EJ 2?5 677@CE 27E6C 7:?:D9:?8 `b\a`\b =2DE D62D@?] q6:?8 @?6 @7 E96 =2DE 7@FC E62>D DE2?5:?8 92D QC66DE23=:D965 E96 DE2?52C5Q 2E (:D4@?D:?[ 96 D2:5 =2DE H66<]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^32586C6IEC2]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^cdd3bg2h\2a_d\cdbb\h7h2\beg55ba247dbQmV%92E 8FJVD 2 H2CC:@CVi $EC6?8E9 4@249VD 7:89E 282:?DE 42?46C >@E:G2E6D (:D4@?D:? >6?VD 9@4<6Jk^2mk^Am kAmQ%9:D H2D E96 8@2= H6 925 :? >:?5[ E@ 86E E@ E96D6 =2DE 4@FA=6 82>6D @7 E96 D62D@?[Q |@CC:DD6J D2:5] QyFDE 36:?8 23=6 E@ 36 2 A2CE @7 E92E[ H6 @3G:@FD=J H2?E E@ 4@?E:?F6 E92E :?E@ E96 7FEFC6 3FE E@ D6E E96 32C H96C6 H6 92G6 E9:D J62C[ E92E H2D E96 F=E:>2E6 8@2=]Qk^AmkAmv6EE:?8 E@ E96 uC@K6? u@FC C6BF:C6D >2<:?8 E96 `e\E62> E@FC?2>6?E 2?5 H:??:?8 EH@ 82>6D[ 3FE :EVD 2 =@E 92C56C E92? :E D@F?5D] |:49:82? $E2E6 92D H@? E96 q:8 %6? C68F=2C\D62D@? 492>A:@?D9:A E9C66 J62CD :? 2 C@H 3FE 92D?VE 366? 23=6 E@ EC2?D=2E6 E92E :?E@ }rpp %@FC?2>6?E DF446DD]k^Am kAmw2DE:?8D H2?ED E9:D H66<VD 6?562G@C :?E@ E96 3:8 E:>6 E@ 36 2? 6IA64E2E:@? 7@C E96 AC@8C2>[ 2?5 @?6 E92E :E 92D 2 C62=:DE:4 492?46 @7 7F=7:==:?8]k^Am kAmQx <?@H E92E E92EVD ?@E 62DJ 2?5 J@F ?665 E96 C:89E EJA6 @7 A6@A=6 2C@F?5 J@F[Q 96 D2:5] Q*@F ?665 E96 C:89E EJA6 @7 A6@A=6 :? J@FC =@4<6C C@@> — D6=7=6DD] q642FD6 2E E9:D E:>6[ :E 86ED 92C5] xEVD 92C5 E@ 86E E@ 2 uC@K6? u@FC] %96C6VD 2 AC:46 E92E J@FVG6 8@E E@ A2J @? 2 52:=J 32D:D]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 Frozen Four berth can have a lasting effect on Wisconsin men's hockey Badgers coach Mike Hastings and players Gavin Morrissey and Ben Dexheimer discuss the impact of making the Frozen Four on the program. Polzin: Why the split that divided the WCHA is still a touchy subject more than a decade later Was it a good thing when one league became three back in 2013? Not if you ask some old-school hockey people. 10 memorable Wisconsin-North Dakota games not involving a water bottle spray The "Water Bottle Game" might be the most memorable in a rivalry that will continue in the Frozen Four, but Wisconsin and North Dakota have pl… How Wisconsin's highest-scoring NHL player impacted Badgers' run to Frozen Four Joe Pavelski's last point for the Badgers was nearly 20 years ago in the NCAA championship game. He's still delivering assists for his former team. Frozen Four experience from Wisconsin coach who has been there: 'Tune out the noise' The Badgers are in the Frozen Four for the first time in 16 years, but some of their coaches made back-to-back appearances this decade. 'That guy's a warrior': Strength coach's fight against cancer motivates Wisconsin men's hockey Badgers players say strength and conditioning coach Tom Inkrott has embodied the team's selfless ideal while mentoring them through his battle… Polzin: Meet the woman who continues to inspire Wisconsin men's hockey coach Mike Hastings Jean Ann Hastings' battle with breast cancer — and some health issues that have followed — has left her husband with a new perspective on life… In an unprecedented group of Frozen Four goalies, Wisconsin men's hockey's Daniel Hauser stands out Badgers goalie Daniel Hauser is the oldest of the four freshmen who'll start in goal in the Frozen Four. He also has the lowest save percentage. A look at Wisconsin men's hockey's practice at the Frozen Four in Las Vegas The Badgers took the ice for practice Wednesday, a day before their match up with North Dakota Thursday in the Frozen Four. Big Ten schools have won 9 national titles this season. Is men's hockey next? It has been the year of the Big Ten in football, basketball, wrestling and women's hockey. Wisconsin and Michigan are trying to end a men's ho… How Wisconsin men's hockey's walk to the ice in Las Vegas looks Here's what a walk from the Badgers' locker room at T-Mobile Arena to the ice looks like for the Frozen Four. How it looked as Wisconsin men's hockey arrived for Frozen Four game against North Dakota Temperatures were in the mid-80s as the Badgers were greeted by fans on their way into T-Mobile Arena for their Frozen Four matchup with North Dakota.
Frozen Four berth can have a lasting effect on Wisconsin men's hockey Badgers coach Mike Hastings and players Gavin Morrissey and Ben Dexheimer discuss the impact of making the Frozen Four on the program.
Polzin: Why the split that divided the WCHA is still a touchy subject more than a decade later Was it a good thing when one league became three back in 2013? Not if you ask some old-school hockey people.
10 memorable Wisconsin-North Dakota games not involving a water bottle spray The "Water Bottle Game" might be the most memorable in a rivalry that will continue in the Frozen Four, but Wisconsin and North Dakota have pl…
How Wisconsin's highest-scoring NHL player impacted Badgers' run to Frozen Four Joe Pavelski's last point for the Badgers was nearly 20 years ago in the NCAA championship game. He's still delivering assists for his former team.
Frozen Four experience from Wisconsin coach who has been there: 'Tune out the noise' The Badgers are in the Frozen Four for the first time in 16 years, but some of their coaches made back-to-back appearances this decade.
'That guy's a warrior': Strength coach's fight against cancer motivates Wisconsin men's hockey Badgers players say strength and conditioning coach Tom Inkrott has embodied the team's selfless ideal while mentoring them through his battle…
Polzin: Meet the woman who continues to inspire Wisconsin men's hockey coach Mike Hastings Jean Ann Hastings' battle with breast cancer — and some health issues that have followed — has left her husband with a new perspective on life…
In an unprecedented group of Frozen Four goalies, Wisconsin men's hockey's Daniel Hauser stands out Badgers goalie Daniel Hauser is the oldest of the four freshmen who'll start in goal in the Frozen Four. He also has the lowest save percentage.
A look at Wisconsin men's hockey's practice at the Frozen Four in Las Vegas The Badgers took the ice for practice Wednesday, a day before their match up with North Dakota Thursday in the Frozen Four.
Big Ten schools have won 9 national titles this season. Is men's hockey next? It has been the year of the Big Ten in football, basketball, wrestling and women's hockey. Wisconsin and Michigan are trying to end a men's ho…
How Wisconsin men's hockey's walk to the ice in Las Vegas looks Here's what a walk from the Badgers' locker room at T-Mobile Arena to the ice looks like for the Frozen Four.
How it looked as Wisconsin men's hockey arrived for Frozen Four game against North Dakota Temperatures were in the mid-80s as the Badgers were greeted by fans on their way into T-Mobile Arena for their Frozen Four matchup with North Dakota.
