Photo by: David Stluka
Wisconsin men’s hockey finishes season ranked No. 2 in the nation
April 14, 2026 | Men's Hockey
Badgers post highest NCAA finish since the 2009-10 season
PURCHASE EARLY BIRD 2026-27 SEASON TICKETS
MADISON, Wis. – After making its first NCAA championship game appearance since 2010, Wisconsin men's hockey finished the season ranked No. 2 in both the final USCHO.com Poll and USA Hockey Poll.
The Badgers entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed of the Worcester Regional, then eliminated No. 2-seed and ECAC Tournament-champion Dartmouth in the first round, 5-1.
UW followed up the victory with one in the Worcester Regional final against No. 1 seed and Big Ten regular-season champion Michigan State, claiming a 4-3 overtime triumph in come-from-behind fashion. The Badgers overcame a 3-1 deficit with under five minutes remaining and advanced to the Frozen Four on a Ben Dexheimer overtime tally just 24 seconds into overtime.
In Las Vegas at the Frozen Four, the Badgers made their first college hockey final-weekend appearance since 2010 and eliminated No. 2 overall seed and NCHC regular-season champion North Dakota by a 2-1 count in the semifinal.
One of seven teams without an All-American to reach the Frozen Four since 1984, when first and second All-America teams started getting named, UW dominated for two periods in the April 11 NCAA championship game, holding a 1-0 lead and outshooting Denver 21-5 through 40 minutes, but couldn't score a second time and saw Denver tally twice in the third period for a 2-1 victory.
Wisconsin ended its run and the season with a record of 24-13-2 in head coach Mike Hastings third year behind the Badger bench.
MADISON, Wis. – After making its first NCAA championship game appearance since 2010, Wisconsin men's hockey finished the season ranked No. 2 in both the final USCHO.com Poll and USA Hockey Poll.
The Badgers entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed of the Worcester Regional, then eliminated No. 2-seed and ECAC Tournament-champion Dartmouth in the first round, 5-1.
UW followed up the victory with one in the Worcester Regional final against No. 1 seed and Big Ten regular-season champion Michigan State, claiming a 4-3 overtime triumph in come-from-behind fashion. The Badgers overcame a 3-1 deficit with under five minutes remaining and advanced to the Frozen Four on a Ben Dexheimer overtime tally just 24 seconds into overtime.
In Las Vegas at the Frozen Four, the Badgers made their first college hockey final-weekend appearance since 2010 and eliminated No. 2 overall seed and NCHC regular-season champion North Dakota by a 2-1 count in the semifinal.
One of seven teams without an All-American to reach the Frozen Four since 1984, when first and second All-America teams started getting named, UW dominated for two periods in the April 11 NCAA championship game, holding a 1-0 lead and outshooting Denver 21-5 through 40 minutes, but couldn't score a second time and saw Denver tally twice in the third period for a 2-1 victory.
Wisconsin ended its run and the season with a record of 24-13-2 in head coach Mike Hastings third year behind the Badger bench.
Players Mentioned
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