MADISON, Wis. – A pair of former Wisconsin men's hockey skaters look to become the first Badger hockey players to win the most famous trophy in sports since 2021 when the 2025 Stanley Cup Final begins on Wednesday.Â
In a rematch of the 2024 final, Trent Frederic, Ty Emberson and the Edmonton Oilers are set to face the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, with game one set for Wednesday, June 4, at 7 p.m. CT on TNT.Â
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If the Oilers win, Frederic and Emberson will become the 15th and 16th Badgers to lift the NHL's greatest prize. All time, 14 Badgers have their names on the Stanley Cup as winning players a total of 22 times. Both are tops among NCAA programs.
In 16 postseason games played so far, Frederic, a forward, has one goal and four points, most recently notching an assist on Jeff Skinner's first-period goal in game five of the conference finals.Â
Defenseman Emberson, who is a native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is still searching for his first postseason point after skating in nine playoff games so far this year.Â
While no UW alums are skating for Florida, Bill Zito, the Panthers' president of hockey operations and general manager, earned a law degree from Wisconsin and served as a graduate assistant during his time as a UW law student. A native of Milwaukee, Zito is searching for his second consecutive Stanley Cup with the Panthers.Â
To advance to the Stanley Cup Final, the Oilers defeated the Dallas Stars for the second year in a row, ending former Badger Brendan Smith's season. After playing in 32 regular-season games, Smith did not hit the ice for the Stars in the postseason.Â
In the AHL, Cameron Hughes and the Texas Stars are continuing their quest for the Calder Cup in the Western Conference finals. To advance to round four of the playoffs, the Stars beat the Milwaukee Admirals, three-games-to-two, in the best-of-five division finals. Texas is currently down, 2-0, in its series against the Abbotsford Canucks in the best-of-seven conference finals, with Game 3 set for Monday, June 2.Â
The forward has three goals and 15 points in 10 playoff games played to tie for first in the league in postseason scoring. His 12 assists also lead all skaters in the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs.Â
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In the ECHL, forward
Carson Bantle and the Toledo Walleye earned their spot in the Kelly Cup finals with a 4-1 series win over the Kansas City Mavericks. The Walleye currently hold a 1-0 series lead over the Trois-Rivières Lions in the finals, and Game 2 will be played on Monday, June 2.Â
In 14 playoff games played, Bantle has four goals and six points.Â
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Full Stanley Cup Final schedule (all in CT):
Game 1: Panthers at Oilers -- June 4, 7 p.m.
Game 2: Panthers at Oilers -- June 6, 7 p.m.
Game 3: Oilers at Panthers -- June 9, 7 p.m.
Game 4: Oilers at Panthers -- June 12, 7 p.m.Â
Game 5*: Panthers at Oilers -- June 14, 7 p.m.
Game 6*: Oilers at Panthers -- June 17, 7 p.m.
Game 7*: Panthers at Oilers -- June 20, 7 p.m,
* = if necessaryÂ
All games air live on TNT and truTV and stream on HBO Max.
