MADISON, Wis. – For its first games of the new year, the No. 3 Wisconsin men’s hockey team welcomes the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves to the Kohl Center for a series on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 9-10.
Friday’s game starts at 7 p.m. CT, while Saturday’s begins at 5 p.m. CT (Note the Saturday time change). Both games stream on B1G+.
Here are six quick things to know before tuning in:
1 – THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN: For the first time in over 50 days, the Badgers are back on Kohl Center ice! The game on Jan. 9 marks UW’s first time at home since Nov. 15. – a 54-day gap. Wisconsin last played at the Kohl Center on Nov. 15 against Ohio State, winning 6-5, in overtime.
On Friday is the Chuck-A-Puck, presented by BMO. Fans who donate new or gently used recess equipment for the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County at the Badgers’ 7 p.m. game against Alaska Anchorage will receive puck(s) to throw on the ice after the game for the chance to win one of several Badger hockey-themed prizes, including a Wisconsin hockey jersey, signed sticks and 2026-27 season tickets.
Suggested items for donation include footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, jump ropes, chalk, hula hoops or other sports equipment for youth programming. Read more about the event here.
FINALLLY!!!
Back at the Kohl Center this Friday after 54 days away.
Donate new/gently used recess equipment to take part in our first @BMO_US Chuck-A-Puck to benefit Boys and Girls Club of Dane County.
Prizes include ’26-27 season tickets.
DETAILS: https://t.co/sde4P4Z32r pic.twitter.com/nIsDKwSoW7
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 5, 2026
This weekend marks the first of three consecutive home games for the Badgers, with Michigan State visiting on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 15-16, and Penn State coming to town on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 23-24. The contest on the 16th is Youth Night, and on Jan. 24, the Badgers will celebrate 20 years of the ’06 championship. Students will receive an ’06 jersey replica t-shirt while supplies last. Buy tickets to upcoming games here.
Hard to believe 20 years have passed since Robbie Earl, Joe Pavelski, Adam Burish and company won the NCAA title.
We’re celebrating them all on Jan. 24 at the Kohl Center pic.twitter.com/DFitTWV8Z2
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 7, 2026
“We had a decent first half at home, wasn’t unbelievable, and I think we can build on that,” Head Coach Mike Hastings said. “We’ve got our first opportunity on Friday. It is something we talked about, if you want to have the opportunity to play in your own building at the end of the year, you’d better protect your home ice, and that starts on Friday.”
2 – BLUE LINERS ON THE BOARD: Wisconsin defensemen have found an offensive spark this season, with D-men scoring two of three UW goals against Lake Superior State on Dec. 28.
Sophomore defenseman Weston Knox tallied his first career goal in the first period of the game to open the scoring against LSSU. His first goal came in his 14th career game played.
KNOX, KNOX, WHO’S THERE? 🚪
First NCAA goal for the sophomore!
🍎: Bruno Idžan pic.twitter.com/h6XJo3Lcwc
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) December 28, 2025
Senior defenseman and captain Ben Dexheimer tallied a power-play goal in the second period of the contest to even the score at two. It marked his career-best second power-play goal of the season. In 18 games played, Dexheimer has 15 points, enough to tie for third on the team in scoring. His 11 assists are tied for second among the Badgers.
The senior shares the Big Ten lead among league defensemen in all games with 15 points.
The Dex Factor 😤
A power play goal for the senior (@BenDexheimer)
🍎: Christian Fitzgerald pic.twitter.com/CjCaVha77s
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) December 28, 2025
The goals from Knox and Dexheimer bring UW’s total to 15 goals scored by defensemen in 18 games this year. Badger blue liners scored nine goals during the entire 2024-25 season.
Multitalented defensemen 🤩
In 16 games this year, UW blueliners have 13 goals, compared to nine total tallies by defensemen in 2024-25. Dexheimer, Hensler and Palodichuk lead the way with three goals each.
Check out some of our favorite goals by Badger D-men so far 👇 pic.twitter.com/4xQZrpEE4W
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) December 17, 2025
In the month of December, junior defenseman Joe Palodichuk led the Big Ten in defenseman scoring with five points, and he notched his first career two-goal game with two second-period tallies against Notre Dame on Dec. 5.
JOE’S ON HATTY WATCH 👀
Second goal of the night and third of the year for the junior!
🍎: Jack Horbach & Tyson Dyck pic.twitter.com/IAC780zt5t
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) December 6, 2025
3 – TRIUMPHANT RETURNS: For this weekend’s series, the Badgers welcome junior forward Quinn Finley, sophomore defenseman Logan Hensler and freshman Luke Osburn back to the lineup after each missed the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off playing in international competition.
Finley was at the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland, where the U.S. Collegiate Selects finished in second place in their first-ever tournament run, all against professional teams. Finley ended the week tied for fourth in the tournament with five points.
Make that ✌️ for Finley as well!#USCS x #ThePeakOfIce pic.twitter.com/rq0sZ0zv6x
— U.S. Collegiate Selects (@USCollegeSelect) December 27, 2025
“It was pretty cool, the fans were super loud,” said Finley. “I had a blast. The town embraced us a lot, too. It was just a super fun trip, and something I’ll remember, for sure.”
New mail alert 📩
Congrats to Quinn Finley on an incredible run at the Spengler Cup! We’re so proud of all that you’ve accomplished. pic.twitter.com/wwECT0ajkP
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 2, 2026
“The experience that Quinn has shared was phenomenal,” said Head Coach Mike Hastings. “It was a beautiful place. They really ended up being embraced by that community because of the way that they played. They were entertaining, and competitive, and had an opportunity to play for a championship. That’s all you can ask there.”
Hensler and Osburn skated for Team USA at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships in Minnesota. The United States was knocked out in the quarterfinals in a 4-3 overtime loss to Finland.
On NHL Network right now.
Like our guys are doing, catch Logan Hensler and Luke Osburn with Team USA in the World Juniors Quarterfinals vs. Finland. Winner makes medal round. pic.twitter.com/UHKsWCRDj3
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 2, 2026
“We’re really impressed by the coaching staff, the other players that they were able to play with; they just feel they came up a little bit short,” said Hastings about Hensler and Osburn’s World Juniors experience. “They’ve come back; they were a little tired because you play an awful lot of games in a short period of time. But they’ve come back and really energized our group. They’re in the locker room, they’re back with their Badger family, and we’re all excited about having those guys back.”
4 – LAST TIME OUT: To close out 2025, the Badgers participated in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Sunday and Monday, Dec. 28-29.
In the semifinals on Sunday, the Badgers posted a 3-2 victory over Lake Superior State University to advance to their fifth straight tournament title game. Weston Knox opened the scoring 13:02 into the first period, before LSSU responded twice in the second frame to take a 2-1 lead. Ben Dexheimer evened the score at two 14:24 into the second on the power play before freshman forward Finn Brink tallied the game-winner 5:51 into the final frame to give UW the 3-2 edge over the Lakers.
BRINKER BEAUTY 🤩
Third goal of the year for the freshman (@FinnBrink) pic.twitter.com/rfLwg9YrUz
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) December 29, 2025
In Monday’s title game, UW fell, 4-1, to the defending national champions and then-No. 7-ranked Western Michigan. Freshman forward Vasily Zelenov gave UW a first-period lead, which WMU overcame with two goals in the second period. The Broncos added a late empty-net goal and a fourth tally over the last three minutes to clinch the title.
FIRE US UP, VAS 🔥
Second goal of the year for the freshman!
🍎: Jack Phelan & Weston Knox pic.twitter.com/L6pJKl1siE
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) December 30, 2025
5 – SCOUTING THE SEAWOLVES: The Seawolves, who compete independently, have a 3-13-0 record through 16 games. They enter the series after participating in the Arizona State Desert Classic on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 2-3, where they lost, 7-2, to Arizona State on Friday before falling, 5-0, to Michigan Tech on Saturday.
UAA does own a win over No. 7 Denver this season.
Junior forward Karter McNarland leads the roster with nine points (1g, 8a) in 16 games played, while freshman forward Tye Spencer sits in first in goals with five in 15 games played. Sophomore goaltender Tyler Krivtsov has three wins in 10 starts, accumulating a .908 save percentage and 3.60 goals-allowed on average.
“For us, we have to defend our home ice,” said Hastings about what this weekend means to the team. “Right now, this week is focused on us getting back to being able to play the style that we want to play. That’s connected, that’s disciplined, and trying to get back to possessing more pucks than we had toward the back end of the first half.”
6 – HOW TO WATCH: Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. CT on Friday and 5 p.m. CT on Saturday. Both games stream on B1G+. Audio play-by-play can be found on 1310 WIBA on Friday and 1070 The Game on Saturday, as well as the Badgers app and the Varsity Network app. You can also follow along on X/Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey.