Tag: Wisconsin men’s hockey

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey stars unite on St. Louis Blues

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey stars unite on St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues acquired former Wisconsin men’s hockey star Dylan Holloway on Tuesday.

Holloway, who skated with the Badgers from 2019-21, will unite with fellow UW alumnus Ryan Suter with the Blues this season. Suter, a native of Madison, Wisconsin, signed with the Blues in June after a storied career with the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars from 2012-24.

Holloway arrives in St. Louis after his former crew, the Edmonton Oilers, declined to match his offer sheet signed in early August. The Bragg Creek, Alberta native was the first college player selected in the 2020 NHL Draft when he went No. 14 to the Oilers in the first round.

The center logged 16 goals and nine assists in 38 regular-season games a season ago, per St. Louis. The southpaw also suited up for all 25 of the Oilers postseason games en route to Edmonton’s loss in the Stanley Cup Final.

At UW, Holloway was a top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as a sophomore, the same season he took home First-Team All-Big Ten team nods and captured a silver medal with Team Canada at World Junior Championship.

Holloway will begin the next chapter of his professional hockey career alongside Suter, a First-Team NHL All-Star and Norris Trophy runner-up with the Minnesota Wild over a decade ago.

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.

Wisconsin men’s hockey releases 2024-25 non-conference schedule

Wisconsin men’s hockey releases 2024-25 non-conference schedule

Wisconsin’s men’s hockey program released its 2024-25 non-conference schedule on Wednesday.

Following an exhibition match in Nebraska against the Omaha Mavericks on Oct. 5, the Badgers will welcome the Lindenwood Lions to the Kohl Center for their 2024-25 home opener.

Wisconsin will play two games against Lindenwood on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12 before matching up with the defending NCAA champion Denver Pioneers on Oct. 25-26. This will mark the first non-conference road series for Mike Hastings’ squad this coming season.

About a month later, UW will return home to host Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 29-30, preceding their participation at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off in Milwaukee on the final weekend of December.

There, the Badgers will face Ferris State on Dec. 28 before playing either UConn or Alaska in a championship scenario or third-place game on Dec. 29. Those matches are schedule to be played just down the road at Fiserv Forum.

Finally, UW will complete its non-conference schedule against Brookfield, New York’s LIU Sharks at the Kohl Center on Jan. 17-18.

For reference, Wisconsin went a combined 2-1-1 against this field in 2023-24.

The Badgers will look to build off a strong 26-12-2 showing and clinch their second consecutive postseason berth under second-year head coach Mike Hastings.

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.

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey defenseman transfers to Alaska

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey defenseman transfers to Alaska

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey defenseman Luke LaMaster will transfer to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, according to BadgerExtra’s Todd Milewski.

LaMaster will join Alaska for his fifth season of collegiate eligibility. He and the Nanooks will play against the Badgers during the Holiday Face-Off in late December.

The Duluth, Minnesota native represented Wisconsin from 2020-24 before graduating this spring. He played in 65 games as a defenseman from 2020-23 and registered a career-best 21 shots during his 2022-23 junior season.

LaMaster is the sixth Badger to transfer elsewhere since the end of the 2023-24 season, joining Sam Stange, William Whitelaw, Charlie Stramel, Cruz Lucius and Brady Cleveland.

Notwithstanding the departures, the Badgers have added four new transfers, including former Northern Michigan recruit Adam Pietila and Rochester Institute of Technology alumni Cody Laskosky.

Fresh off its 26-win output in 2023-24, Wisconsin will look to build off its momentum in their second year under Hastings. Last year’s Badgers’ squad saw its most success since 2009-10 and earned a berth to the 2023-24 NCAA Tournament.

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey captain inks deal in American Hockey League

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey team captain inks deal in American Hockey League

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey defensemen Peter Tischke signed with the American Hockey League’s Rochester Americans on Wednesday.

Tischke’s signing arrives a few days after Wisconsin recruit Luke Osburn was selected by the Sabres with the No. 108 pick of the 2024 NHL Draft. Fellow UW recruit and left-wing Blake Montgomery was picked shortly afterwards by the Ottawa Senators.

During his four seasons in Madison, Tischke appeared in 135 games, scored eight goals and tallied 26 assists. The Hinsdale, Illinois native was named team captain for his senior campaign and pocketed the 2019 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.

The defenseman also earned back-to-back All-Big Ten Honorable Mention nods during his sophomore and junior seasons after pacing his group with 139 combined blocks from 2017-19.

As a member of the AHL, the Americans are the an owned and operated affiliate of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. The Americans are the fourth oldest team in the AHL and play their home games at Rochestor’s Blue Cross Arena.

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.

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey player among Big Ten alums in NHL Stanley Cup Final

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey player among Big Ten alums in NHL Stanley Cup Final

Former Wisconsin men’s hockey left wing Dylan Holloway is one of five Big Ten alums to reach the Stanley Cup Final this summer.

The 6-foot-1, 206-pounder will represent the Edmonton Oilers during their 2024 title run. Pitted against the Florida Panthers, the Edmonton Oilers laced up for game one on Saturday night in Sunrise, Florida.

Holloway will share the ice with fellow conference alumni Zach Hyman, William Lockwood, Mackie Samoskevich and Kyle Okposo. Hyman, Lockwood and Samoskevich represented the University of Michigan during their collegiate tenures, and Okposo attended the University of Minnesota before making the jump to the NHL.

Drafted 14th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Holloway played his final season at UW in 2020-21. The same season, he earned a First-Team All-Big Ten nod and was named a Top-10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as a sophomore.

Holloway appeared in 58 games during his two years in Madison and totaled 19 goals, 33 assists and 52 points from 2019-21.

Through two NHL seasons, the Bragg Creek, Alberta native has registered 18 points in 89 career games in Edmonton. He has scored three goals in 18 playoff games for the Oilers this postseason.