No. 2 Badgers dropped by No. 7 Broncos in Holiday Face-Off title game

Monday, December 29

Milwaukee

7:30 p.m.

Wisconsin Badgers

13-3-2

Western Michigan

12-6-0

Western Mich.

Wisconsin

Vasily Zelenov takes a face off at the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off

Photo by: Dan Garcia

No. 2 Badgers dropped by No. 7 Broncos in Holiday Face-Off title game

December 29, 2025 | Men's Hockey

Box Score

Freshman Zelenov scores lone Wisconsin goal

MILWAUKEE – A first period goal from Vasily Zelenov wasn't enough to take down the defending NCAA champions as the Badgers fell, 4-1, to No. 7 Western Michigan in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off title game on Monday night at Fiserv Forum.

Wisconsin (13-3-2, 8-2-0 Big Ten – 22 points) got on the board first when Vasily Zelenov converted a rebound of a Jack Phelan point shot at 9:51 of the opening frame.

Western Michigan equalized on a scramble in the UW crease at 2:28 of the second period. UW goaltender Eli Pulver stopped the initial attempt, but the puck trickled behind him. Jack Horbach knocked it out of the blue paint, but the puck ended up back underneath the defenseman, where Zaccharya Wisdom shoveled Horbach and the puck into the net. After review, the goal stood.

In the final minute of the second period, the Badgers earned a power play opportunity that carried over into the third frame but failed to convert to even the score.

UW missed on some big third-period chances, including a post off the stick of captain Ben Dexheimer and Christian Fitzgerald breakaway that was stopped.

With 2:46 left in the contest, William Whitelaw scored an empty-net goal to give the Broncos breathing room.

Grant Slukynsky found the back of the net 21 seconds later to seal a 4-1 victory for the Broncos.

NOTES TO KNOW
- The Badgers met Western Michigan for the first time since Dec. 30, 2005, a 4-1 victory in the semifinals of the Badger Hockey Showdown at the Kohl Center
- UW now sits 3-2 in Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off championship games

UP NEXT: The Badgers this weekend off, then return to the Kohl Center to take on Alaska Anchorage on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 9-10, at 7 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. The games mark UW's first home games since Nov. 15.

The Badgers will hold their first Chuck-A-Puck presented by BMO on Jan. 9. Fans can donate recess equipment in exchange for pucks for the postgame toss for prizes.