MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin men's hockey team kicks off a four-game homestand this weekend when they host the No. 1 Minnesota Golden Gophers in a two-game border battle at the Kohl Center.
Here's six quick things to know before tuning in:
Rosters: Badgers ||
Gophers
1 - RED vs. WHITE: We're stripping out the Kohl Center in red and white on Friday! Fans representing red sections will be competing against fans representing white sections in seven games played throughout the night. The winning sections will take home a commemorative puck after the game.
Be sure to check your section's color on the map!
2 - WELCOME BACK ALUMNI: Wisconsin hockey welcomes members from two national championship teams this weekend.
The 1973 Badgers return for the 50th anniversary of UW's first national title and members of the 1983 squad will celebrate their championship's 40th anniversary.
Read more about "The "Perfect Team" -- UW's 1973 NCAA champions
3 - JUGNAUTH GOES OFF: Freshman defenseman Tyson Jugnauth put up a breakout performance last weekend at Michigan with three goals and four points on the series. He netted a power-play goal to get the Badgers on the board on Friday and notched a pair of goals and an assist for his first career multi-point performance on Saturday.
Jugnauth entered the series at No. 6 Michigan with two goals and eight points on the season and now boasts five goals and 12 points in 24 games played.
4 - NO. 1: The nation's top-ranked team will skate at the Kohl Center for the first time since 2014 when the Badgers played host to then-No. 1 Minnesota and swept the series with a pair of 2-1 wins.
UW also played host to then-No. 1 Minnesota on Jan. 9-10, 2021, at LaBahn Arena during the pandemic and won a 3-1 game in the first contest to end Minnesota's 10-0-0 start to the season. UW dropped the second game, 5-3.
Wisconsin split with Minnesota at the Kohl Center last season, winning on Nov. 5, 2021, when the Badgers downed the No. 5 Gophers 4-3 in overtime thanks to an equalizer and game-winner from Brock Caufield.
5 - SCOUTING THE GOPHERS: Minnesota had last weekend off from action, but posted an 8-0 and 6-3 home sweep over Michigan State on Jan. 27-28 in its last time on the ice.
The Gophers occupy the top spot in the nation and in the Big Ten with a 20-7-1 and 14-3-1 conference record. Freshman forward Jimmy Snuggerud leads the roster with 37 points (16g, 21a) followed by fellow freshman Logan Cooley who boasts 36 points (13g, 23a).
6 - HOW TO WATCH: Puck drop on Friday is set for 7 p.m on Bally Sports Wisconsin Extra. Watch Saturday's game on Big Ten Network at 5 p.m. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey
