Two men's hockey Badgers named Big Ten Stars of the Week
November 25, 2025 | Men's Hockey
Montgomery, Dexheimer pick up second and third-star honors, respectively
MADISON, Wis. – After helping the Badgers to a sweep at then-No. 1 Michigan State in East Lansing on Nov. 21-22, Blake Montgomery and Ben Dexheimer earned Big Ten Second and Third Stars of the Week, respectively, the conference announced on Tuesday.
Freshman forward Montgomery was named the conference's second star after his three-point weekend at MSU. In game one, 4:11 into the second frame, the freshman scored his first goal of the weekend to tie the game at two for Wisconsin. He also notched an assist on sophomore forward Adam Pietila's second-period goal to record his third-career two-point night.
MONTY MAAAGIC 🪄
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 22, 2025
Sixth tally of the year for the freshman!
🍎: Simon Tassy pic.twitter.com/g0uKS0lYgi
On Saturday, Montgomery scored Wisconsin's only goal in regulation, and gave the Badgers a 1-0 lead with a power-play tally at 10:06 of the second period, to bring his 2024-25 goal total to seven. All seven of the forward's goals have come in the last nine games, and he sits in second place on the roster in the category. His seven goals are good to tie for fourth among frosh in the country, and his nine points in 14 games played place him in second among all Badger freshmen.
MAGIC MONTY STAYS HOT 🔥
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 23, 2025
Second goal of the series for the freshman!
🍎: Vasily Zelenov pic.twitter.com/0pU1oNw1M4
Senior defenseman Dexheimer earns a third star nod after playing the hero in the Badgers' 2-1 overtime win at MSU on Saturday night. The captain scored the game-winner 2:36 into the extra time, shooting the puck past Spartan netminder Trey Augustine while falling to his knees to give UW a victory and complete the sweep over the nation's top-ranked team.
CAN'T. TEACH. CLUTCH. 😤
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 23, 2025
THE CAPTAIN (@BenDexheimer) WITH THE OVERTIME WINNER!
🍎: Christian Fitzgerald & Vasily Zelenov pic.twitter.com/8zu8ye4zJJ
The senior also notched an assist in Friday's game, earning a secondary helper on senior forward Christian Fitzgerald's second-period power-play tally – the goal that kick-started UW's comeback in the 5-4 game one victory. In 14 games played, the blue liner has 13 points, enough to tie for the team lead in scoring and fifth among defensemen in the nation. His 11 assists rank first among the Badgers and are tied for second among defensemen in the country.
POWER-PLAY FITZY STRIKES AGAIN 🚨
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) November 22, 2025
SEVENTH power-play goal of the season for the senior (@13Fitzgerald)
🍎: Simon Tassy & Ben Dexheimer pic.twitter.com/zeRhQuK2EO
This marks Montgomery's second career Big Ten weekly honor and Dexheimer's first, bringing Wisconsin's star total to five for the 2025-26 season. Montgomery was the Badgers' most recent star of the week, earning a first-star nod on Nov. 4 after his three-goal performance in Wisconsin's sweep of Minnesota.
After a week off, Montgomery, Dexheimer and the Badgers return to action on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6, when UW visits Notre Dame in Indiana for their final series of the fall semester. Puck drop is set for 6 p.m. CT on Friday and 4 p.m. CT on Saturday. Both games stream on Peacock. Audio play-by-play can be found on the Badger Radio Network, as well as the Badgers app and the Varsity Network app. You can also follow along on X/Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey.
