Category: College Hockey

Wisconsin men’s hockey team captain signs with minor league team in Idaho

Wisconsin men’s hockey team captain signs with minor league team in Idaho

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey team captain Mike Vorlicky signed with the Idaho Steelheads on Thursday.

Based in Boise, Idaho, the Steelheads have been a member of the East Coast Hockey League’s Western Conference since 2016-17. The league includes professional minor hockey squads in the United States and Canada and serves as a farm system to the American Hockey League and National Hockey League.

Most specifically, the Steelheads are a direct affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars.

Vorlicky joins the Idahoan squad on a five-year contract after playing five seasons with the Badgers from 2019-24. Most recently, the defenseman appeared in 37 games as the platoon’s team captain in his graduate season.

In total, Vorlicky skated in 124 bouts for UW under former head coach Tony Granato and current leader Mike Hastings. He scored four goals and pocketed 17 assists for 21 points during his five-year tenure in Madison.

The righty took 84 total shots as a Badger and registered 12 of his 21 points during his final seasons as a representative of UW. He also helped guide UW to the conference’s regular season title during the 2020-21 season.

Given the Steelheads’ ties to professional opportunities, Vorlicky could end up playing himself into a major league role down the line. The team captain title at one of the nation’s premier hockey programs never hurts.

Wisconsin hockey to compete in outdoor event at Wrigley Field

Wisconsin hockey to compete in outdoor event at Chicago’s Wrigley Field

Wisconsin’s men’s and women’s hockey programs will participate in ‘The Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series,’ an outdoor event at Chicago’s Wrigley Field this January, per Thursday’s release.

The two-day event features several Big Ten teams, including Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan. Mark Johnson’s women’s platoon will square off against the Buckeyes while Wisconsin’s men’s team will play the Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 4.

The contests are slated for 4:30 and 8 p.m. with the game order still awaiting a final scheduling.

This marks the first outdoor match for UW’s women’s group in 14 years while the men will showcase their skills for viewers outside for the first time since 2013.

The Badger men enter the 2024-25 campaign fresh off an impressive 26-12-2 overall record in 2023-24. The group secured multiple top-5 victories over both Minnesota and Michigan early in the season, Mike Hastings’ first year as head coach.

UW’s women, who amassed an incredible 35-6-0 mark in 2023-24, cruised to the NCAA Frozen Four title game against Ohio State. The Badgers ultimately dropped the contest 1-0. Nonetheless, Johnson’s cadre will aim to ride its momentum into this winter.

Tickets for January’s doubleheader will become available for public purchase on Friday, Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. CT through Wrigley Field. For more details, visit UWBadgers.com.

Former Wisconsin women’s hockey star earns another honor for 2023-24 performance

Former Wisconsin women’s hockey star earns another honor for 2023-24 output

Former Wisconsin women’s hockey standout Britta Curl was named a first-team Academic All-American by College Sports Communicators on Tuesday.

This marks the second consecutive year Curl has secured first-team Academic All-American selection, and she joins former Badger Sara Bauer as the second UW women’s hockey player ever to earn the award in back-to-back seasons.

The honor arrives roughly one month after PWHL Minnesota selected Curl with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 Professional Women’s Hockey League draft.

Curl played five seasons at Wisconsin and was named a two-time captain for the Badgers during her tenure from 2018-24. The forward played for three Badger NCAA title teams during her tenure and left Wisconsin with a program-record 181 appearances.

The Bismarck, North Dakota native tallied 86 goals and 93 assists for 180 points at UW, the ninth-most in Badger program history. During her final season at Wisconsin, Curl registered 62 points on 22 goals and 40 assists while recording 55 blocks at the forward position.

Curl also pocketed a gold and two silver medals over the last three International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championships for the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Wisconsin men’s hockey legend officially announces retirement from the NHL

Wisconsin men’s hockey legend officially announces retirement from the NHL

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey legend Joe Pavelski has officially announced his retirement, according to the NHL’s recent post on X.

After 18 illustrious seasons representing both the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars, Pavelski officially hung up his skates after 1,332 games in the NHL. The Plover, Wisconsin native orchestrated one of the more storied amateur and professional careers of any Badger in program history.

Before representing Wisconsin, an 18-year-old Pavelski earned United States Hockey League Rookie of the Year in 2002-03 with Waterloo on the junior ice hockey scene. The Sharks picked the Wisconsin product at No. 205 in the seventh round of the 2003 NHL draft before he starred in Madison.

During his 2004-05 freshman campaign at UW, Pavelski led NCAA first-years in points with 16 goals and 29 assists. He followed that up with an NCAA championship in 2006 and paced the team in both assists and points.

Pavelski made his professional debut with San Jose on Nov. 22, 2006 and registered his first 20-goal season in the NHL in 2008-09. He reached his peak during the 2013-14 season after recording career-bests in goals (41) and points (79). The output netted him NHL Second All-Star Team and Sharks Player of the Year nods.

As captain of the 2015-16 Sharks, Pavelski earned his first NHL All-Star Game bid and guided San Jose to its first Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Sharks would ultimately lose the series in six games.

The former Badger’s quest for a Stanley Cup, however, would not end there.

A year after signing with the Dallas Stars in July 2019, Pavelski’s Stars reached the Stanley Cup Finals but fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. Still, the Plover product led Dallas and was second among all players with 13 playoff goals at age 36.

Pavelski played four more seasons with the Stars and scored his 1,000th NHL point on April 10, 2023.

The Badger legend finished his career with 476 goals and 592 assists for 1,068 points in over 1,330 regular-season games for Dallas and San Jose. After the conclusion of the 2023-24 slate, Pavelski also ranked fifth in goals and games among active players.

Pavelski will now turn a chapter on his ice hockey career after cementing his legacy as one of the Badgers’ all-time greats. It’s safe to say the NHL and Badger faithful throughout the nation will miss watching him skate past defenders on a professional stage.

Several former Wisconsin men’s hockey players to participate in NHL development camps

Several former Wisconsin men’s hockey players to participate in NHL development camps

Over 20 current, future and former Wisconsin men’s hockey players will take part in several NHL development camps this summer.

Three undrafted current members of UW’s roster, along with seven drafted players or recruits will participate in the showcase events. Additionally, twelve Wisconsin alumni will represent the Badgers during drills both on and off the ice with multiple NHL franchises.

Minnesota, Detroit and Pittsburgh each welcome a pair of former Badgers to their camps: Kyle McClellan and Charlie Stramel will represent the Minnesota Wild, Sam Strange and Brady Cleveland will don Detroit Red Wings threads and Mathieu De St. Phalle and Cruz Lucius will sport Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys.

Current Wisconsin players Ben Dexheimer and Joe Palodichuk will skate for the Nashville Predators while Simon Tassy will participate for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Seven other recruits, including Tyson Duck and Blake Montgomery, will showcase their skills as current draftees and recruits.

Designed to provide fans a glimpse at top prospects and incoming professional talent, these development camps serve as an entertaining bridge between the conclusion of the NHL’s postseason and the beginning of its offseason.

After winning 26 games in 2023-24, Wisconsin will look to build off its output under second-year leader Mike Hastings. Last year’s Badgers’ win total was the program’s highest since 2009-10 and helped UW clinch an NCAA Tournament berth.

Wisconsin men’s hockey to open 2024-25 season with exhibition at Omaha

Wisconsin men’s hockey to open season with exhibition at Omaha

Wisconsin men’s hockey program will open its 2024-25 season with an exhibition match in Nebraska against the Omaha Mavericks on Oct. 5.

That same night, Omaha will name its rink after Mike Kemp, who served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for 14 seasons at UW.

Fresh off their 26-victory season in 2023-24, Wisconsin will look to build off their momentum in their second year of the Mike Hastings era. Last year’s Badgers’ win total was the program’s highest since 2009-10 and propelled Hastings’ group to an NCAA Tournament berth.

Wisconsin ignited its 2023-24 season with four signature wins against No. 1 Minnesota and No. 4 Michigan. Those vaulted them into college hockey’s upper echelon, but UW would ultimately fall to Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament and Quinnipiac in the NCAA Tournament.

The Badgers added former Northern Michigan signee Adam Pietila and former Rochester Institute of Technology forward Cody Laskosky via the transfer portal thus far this offseason. With years of combined postseason experience, the two will serve as pivotal veteran skaters for a team hungry to return to the NCAA’s top-five.

Wisconsin men’s hockey adds talented transfer forward

Wisconsin men’s hockey adds talented transfer forward

Wisconsin’s men’s hockey program added former Northern Michigan signee Adam Pietila on Saturday, he announced on X.

Pietila becomes the second transfer target to become a Badger, joining former Rochester Institute of Technology forward Cody Laskosky, who committed to UW in early May.

The Howell, Michigan native represented the Youngstown Phantoms in the United States Hockey League this past season and netted 24 goals and 24 assists in 61 regular season appearances. Pietila also added three goals in his seven playoff contests with the Phantoms.

Prior to his stint in the USHL, the 6-footer played two seasons with the North American Hockey League’s Bismarck Bobcats. In his 111 regular season contests from 2021-23, he had 42 goals and 40 assists for 82 points.

Alongside Laskosky, Pietila’s addition is huge for Mike Hasting’s program. His experience on multiple squads and recent playoff success could bode well for a squad looking to return to the NCAA’s top-five.

Two Wisconsin women’s hockey standouts selected in 2024 PWHL Draft

Two Wisconsin women’s hockey standouts selected in 2024 PWHL Draft

Former Wisconsin women’s hockey standouts Britta Curl and Anna Wilgren were selected in the 2024 Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft on Monday.

Founded in 2023, the PWHL encompasses six teams. Three (PWHL Boston, PWHL Minnesota and PHWL New York) are concentrated in the United States with the other three (PWHL Montreal, PWHL Ottawa and PWHL Toronto) in Canada.

The two join 16 other former Badgers in the PWHA. Natalie Buchbinder, Mellissa Channell and Sophia (Shaver) Kunin captured the league’s inaugural title with Minnesota last year.

Minnesota selected Curl with the ninth overall pick while Montreal snagged Wilgren in the draft’s fifth round.

Curl, a two-time captain for the Badgers, was a member of three NCAA title teams during her tenure in Madison. The Bismarck, North Dakota native left Wisconsin with a program-record 181 appearances and tallied 180 points for UW, the ninth-most in Badger program history.

The forward has also earned a gold and two silvers over the last three International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championships for the U.S. national team.

Wilgren, on the other hand, played in 40 contests for the Badgers last year as a mainstay in Wisconsin’s defense. The Hudson, Wisconsin native tied a career high with 24 points in 2023-24 and notched 14 goals and 52 assists during her collegiate career with UW and Minnesota State.

Wisconsin women’s hockey retains a pair of key contributors

Wisconsin women’s hockey retains a pair of key contributors

Wisconsin’s women’s hockey program announced the return of Casey O’Brien and Katie Kotlowski next season via social media on Wednesday.

Last season, O’Brien centered the Badgers’ front line as a First-Team All-American. The Milton, Massachusetts native was also a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, signifying the best female college ice hockey player in the nation.

O’Brien appeared in all 41 games for the Badgers during her senior season, registered a career-high 73 points on 23 goals, and became the first Badger in program history to notch 50 assists in a season.

The forward has played in 142 career games for Wisconsin and has been a part of two championship teams in 2021 and 2023. 

Kotlowski, meanwhile, has been a multi-year contributor on defense for Wisconsin. The La Crosse product is another two-time national champion with the program.

This will be Kotlowski’s sixth year in Madison. Over her celebrated tenure, she has nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points in 138 career games.

The news arrives fewer than seven days following the departure of former Wisconsin women’s hockey forward Maddi Wheeler to Ohio State via the transfer portal.

For head coach Mark Johnson and company, maintaining this pair is a huge boost for a program that has punched a ticket to the championship game in four of the last five seasons.

How to watch Michigan vs. Notre Dame Big Ten hockey quarterfinals

How to watch Michigan vs Notre Damn Big Ten Hockey Championship Quarterfinals on B1G+.

The 2024 Big Ten hockey championships are here, and nothing beats playoff hockey.

The tournament quaterfinals get underway this weekend, which includes a clash between Michigan and Notre Dame.

WATCH: Michigan vs. Notre Dame Big Ten Hockey Quarterfinals

The postseason best-of-three series will take place at Yost Ice Arena in Michigan. The opening faceoff for the three meetings will take place on Friday at 7 p.m. Game 2 is slated for the same time on Saturday and, if necessary, a third and final game will be held Sunday.

Michigan (18-13-3) enters the tournament as the fourth-seeded team in the Big Ten bracket and is the No. 14 ranked squad in the country. Meanwhile, Notre Dame (15-17-2) is the fifth seed.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Michigan vs. Notre Dame hockey Game 1 on B1G+” link=”bit.ly/MICHvsND3_8_24″]

The Fighting Irish will enter the series looking to right some wrongs from their regular season meetings with the Wolverines. Michigan went 3-1 against Notre Dame, which included a two-game sweep at Yost just two weeks ago.

You won’t want to miss all this postseason hockey action.

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Michigan vs. Notre Dame hockey Game 1 on B1G+” link=”bit.ly/MICHvsND3_8_24″]

[afflinkbutton text=”Watch Michigan vs. Notre Dame hockey Game 2 on B1G+” link=”bit.ly/MICHvsND3_9_24″]