Saturday is setting up to be a big day for the Wisconsin Badgers, as both the men’s and women’s hockey teams will be featured in back-to-back outdoor games at Wrigley Field as part of The Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series.
The college hockey slate this weekend follows the NHL’s Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, which was played on New Year's Eve. The Wisconsin women, boasting an impressive 20-1 overall record and 14-1 within the WCHA, are heading to Wrigley riding a seven-game winning streak. The top-ranked Badgers most recently took care of No. 2 Ohio State, who holds a record of 13-5-2 overall and 8-5-2 WCHA, on Thursday night with a dominant display, scoring just one minute after the puck drop and not looking back.
Graduate student Lacey Eden ignited the scoring after pouncing on loose pucks around the net. After narrowly avoiding going down early when Ohio State had the chance to score, junior Caroline Harvey intervened to clear the puck from the crease. Wisconsin continued to assert their dominance, establishing a five-goal lead before Eden capped the scoring with her own goal, leading to a final score of 6-0. Sophomore goalie Ava McNaughton also had a standout performance, making 18 saves and achieving her NCAA-leading seventh shutout of the season, yielding just over one goal per game and saving upwards of 95% of the shots faced.
The Wisconsin men, on the other hand, traveled to East Lansing prior to their Saturday matchup against Michigan State. Wisconsin entered this contest with a record of 9-11-1 overall and 5-8 in B1G play, falling to the nation’s top-ranked Spartans, who currently hold a record of 16-2-1 overall and 7-1-1 B1G. Despite taking the lead with three unanswered goals after initially surrendering the first score, the Badgers succumbed to former player Charlie Stramel, who netted the game-winning shot with less than five minutes remaining. This loss leaves the Badgers with just one regulation win against them out of three attempts this season, which undoubtedly stings after holding leads.
Badger fans can now eagerly set their expectations on the outdoor games scheduled for Saturday. The Frozen Confines festivities kick-off on Friday starting at 4 p.m. CT with men’s games featuring No. 13 Ohio State against No. 9 Michigan, followed by Penn State facing off against Notre Dame. Saturday, January 4 will feature two significant matchups, beginning with the Badgers women taking on Ohio State again at 4:30 p.m., their final regular season meeting. Following their game, the men’s team is set to face off against Michigan State tentatively scheduled for 8 p.m.
This occasion marks just the second outdoor game for the Wisconsin women’s hockey team, the first being nearly 15 years ago, where they triumphed 6-1 against Bemidji State at Camp Randall. For the men's team, this matchup serves as the fourth outdoor game ever, with their last outdoor encounter dating back almost 12 years, winning 3-2 against Minnesota at Soldier Field.
Fans can catch all the action from The Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series on Big Ten Network, which will broadcast both doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. For those planning to attend, UW Credit Union is organizing a pre-game gathering at Sluggers Bar starting at 1 p.m., where Badgers enthusiasts can unite before the games.
Game Info:
Game 1
No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers (WCHA)
Date: Saturday, January 4
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Location: Chicago, IL | Wrigley Field
TV: BTN | Radio: 100.9 FM
Game 2
Wisconsin Badgers vs. No. 1 Michigan State Spartans (B1G)
Date: Saturday, January 4
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Chicago, IL | Wrigley Field
TV: BTN | Radio: 1310 WIBA