Wisconsin Badgers
15-3-2
Alaska Anchorage
3-15-0
No. 3 Wisconsin opens 2026 with sweep of Alaska Anchorage
January 10, 2026 | Men's Hockey
Finley nets power-play and short-handed goal in 3-2 victory
MADISON, Wis. – A second-period short-handed goal from Quinn Finley proved to be the game-winner as the No. 3 Wisconsin men's hockey team defeated the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, 3-2, on Saturday evening at the Kohl Center to earn its first sweep of the new year.
Wisconsin (15-3-2, 8-2-0 Big Ten - 22 points) jumped out to a 3-0 lead, then held on for the win over the Seawolves. It opened the scoring with two goals in the first period, one from Quinn Finley on the power play at 15:01 and another from Finn Brink at 16:10. UW extended its lead to three goals, 14:06 into the second, after Finley scored his first career shorthanded goal. Alaska Anchorage (3-15-0 Independent) got on the board, 14:06 into the second, with a power-play goal to make it 3-1, UW ahead of the final period. The Seawolves responded, 3:27 into the third period, but it wasn't enough to complete a comeback as Wisconsin won 3-2, to complete the sweep.
How it Happened
First Period
The Badgers got the first power play of the night, 7:34 into the opening frame, but were not able to convert on any scoring chances to take an early lead.Â
UW earned a second power-play opportunity, 14:58 into the period, and it took junior forward Finley just three seconds to find the back of the net on the man advantage to open the scoring.Â
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BLINK AND YOU'LL MISS IT đź‘€
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 10, 2026
Finley (@QuinnFinley2) scores his ninth of the year just three seconds into the power play!
🍎: Ben Dexheimer & Gavin Morrissey pic.twitter.com/Xp6OzFLVlC
Just over a minute later, at 16:10, freshman forward Brink doubled Wisconsin's lead with a wraparound goal.Â
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SNEAKY 🤫
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 10, 2026
Brink (@FinnBrink) with his fourth tally of the season!
🍎: Luke Osburn & Tyson Dyck pic.twitter.com/SZOOB4Qfij
At 17:04 into the frame, a penalty was called on the Badgers, but they killed it off to keep it a 2-0 game heading into the second.Â
Second Period
The second period was quiet until 9:23, when UW took a penalty to send UAA back on the man advantage. While on the kill, Finley found the back of the net after a pass from senior forward Christian Fitzgerald to tally his first career short-handed goal and second of the night.
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RIGHT ON TARGET 🎯
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) January 11, 2026
FIRST CAREER SHORTY FOR FINLEY (@QuinnFinley2)!
🍎: Christian Fitzgerald & Ben Dexheimer pic.twitter.com/jtmaeWDRo5
At 13:17, the Seawolves had their third power play of the game, which Joey Potter capitalized on at 14:06 to give UAA its first goal of the weekend and make it a 3-1 game heading into the final period.
Third Period
Alaska Anchorage made it a one-goal game, 3:27 into the third, with a goal from Oren Shtrom.
With just over two minutes remaining, at 17:52 into the frame, each team took a penalty, but neither team was able to light the lamp during four-on-four play or in the final 2:08 of the contest as UW won, 3-2.Â
Wisconsin went 1-for-2 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill. UW finished the contest with a 29-21 advantage in shots on goal.
Notes to know
- Quinn Finley notched his first career short-handed goal
- Wisconsin finishes non-conference play with a 7-1-2 record
Straight from the rink
Head Coach Mike Hastings
On finishing non-conference play
"For us to be able to close the book on that and close it the way that we did is a win. To close a win and find a way to get out of here without getting bit is really important for us. Now, I told the guys, take care of each other. Get some rest on Sunday, and we'll start climbing the mountain again. That's what's going to happen in the Big Ten. That's just the way it is when you're playing in this league."
On the team executing set plays
"Different sports, different focuses. For us, it's possession, and if you can quickly attack off a faceoff, it's one of the few times teams aren't in structure. A goal of ours is to try and score a faceoff goal every night. Those guys did a good job. We executed just enough tonight."
Junior Forward Quinn Finley
On scoring five goals in his last four games
"I just try not to be satisfied. I'm always trying to get that next goal, get that next grade A opportunity, whether it's for myself or for my teammates."
Senior Defenseman Ben Dexheimer
On closing out the weekend with a win
"I think it was just stick-togetherness with the six of us back there, the forwards included. We just looked at each other and said we need to close the weekend down and stay tight. Especially Joe [Palodichuk] – he made a few major blocks at the end and we got it done."
Up Next: The Badgers continue their six-game homestand when No. 2 Michigan State comes to town on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 15-16. Thursday's game starts at 8 p.m. and airs on the Big Ten Network, while Friday's game begins at 7 p.m. and streams on B1G+. Audio play-by-play can be found on 1310 WIBA as well as on the Badgers app and the Varsity Network app. You can also follow along on X/Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey. Buy tickets here.
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