Wisconsin Badgers
St. Thomas
Five things to know: No. 1 Badgers host No. 15 St. Thomas
November 18, 2025 | Women's Hockey
UW prepares for last home series of 2025
MADISON, Wis. - The No.1 Wisconsin women’s hockey team hosts No.15 St. Thomas for its final home series of the year on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 20 and 21. Both games are at 7 p.m. CT.
Thursday's game will be the BMO Teddy Toss, where fans are encouraged to bring stuffed animals to the game to throw onto the ice postgame. They will be donated to Bayview Community Center and Neighborhood House.
Fans can watch the action on Big Ten Plus or listen to Paul Braun on The Game 1070 AM.
Here are five things to know about the series.
A look at Laney's shootout winner, with a tremendous celly! https://t.co/Q6OOkdMylb pic.twitter.com/O2d6Apehb9
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerWHockey) November 15, 2025
1. STILL STANDING
After a win and a shootout win against the Huskies, the Badgers remain on top of both the USCHO and USA Hockey polls.
On Friday, Wisconsin defeated St. Cloud 5-1. Emma Venusio opened the scoring tab for Wisconsin, followed by two goals from Caroline Harvey and one each from Claire Enright and Kirsten Simms
During Saturday’s game, the Badgers fought until the very end. Charlotte Pieckenhagen, Maggie Scannell, Kirsten Simms and Kelly Gorbatenko scored for the Badgers to make it 4-4 going into overtime. It was a scoreless overtime that led to a shootout where Laney Potter collected the Badgers’ extra point to tie the game but win the shootout.
2. SIMMS STAYS HOT
Senior Kirsten Simms was awarded Forward of the Week, the WCHA announced on Monday. Following a two-goal and three-assist weekend against St. Cloud State, the Michigan native gathered this honor for the second time this season.
On Saturday’s game of the series, Simms earned her 200th career point. Simms joins other notable Badgers Casey O'Brien, Hilary Knight, Brianna Decker, Meghan Duggan, Sara Bauer, Brooke Ammerman and Annie Pankowski.
Last season, Simms was a 2024-25 first-team All-American member, Patty Kazmaier Award Top-10 Finalist, and a WCHA Forward of the Year Finalist.
3. SERIES PROMOTIONS
At Thursday's game, game attendees are encouraged to bring new stuffed animals for the annual Women's Ice Hockey Teddy Toss presented by BMO and Wisconsin Athletics.
Bayview Community Center and Neighborhood House will be receiving the teddy bears to give to children for the holidays.
Fans! Please bag your teddy bears before tossing them onto the ice at the end of the game. Teddy Bear bagging stations will be available at LaBahn Arena.
On Friday’s game, the 2006 and 2011 National Championship teams will be returning to LaBahn for intermission recognitions.
4. ABOUT THE TOMMIES
The St. Thomas Tommies are now ranked No. 15 and are 8-8-0 overall during the 2025-26 season. Before the squad’s matchup against Wisconsin, the Tommies faced Post University, Lindenwood, Minnesota State, No. 10 St. Cloud, Providence, No. 3 Ohio State, Bemidji and No. 5 Minnesota Duluth. The Tommies are now on a three-game losing streak.
Wisconsin is 17-0 against St. Thomas since Nov. 20, 2021. The Badgers last faced the Tommies in January of 2025, when Wisconsin won both games, including an 11-1 win in the second game of the series.
5. WHAT'S NEXT
After the St. Thomas series on Nov. 20 and 21, the Badgers head down to Nashville for the SMASHVILLE Women’s Collegiate Hockey Showcase.
Wisconsin will match up against Mercyhurst on Saturday, Nov. 29, and Stonehill on Nov. 30. The Badgers are 13-0 with Mercyhurst. However, Wisconsin has yet to face Stonehill.
Wisconsin’s final faceoff of 2025 will be against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Dec. 5 and 6 in Columbus, OH.
