BADGERS MAKE THEIR BID FOR NO. 1 WITH 9-2 PRE-HOLIDAY BASH OF IRISH

By John Fineran

SOUTH BEND – Santa Claus showed up at the Compton Family Ice Arena with his naughty or nice book to watch the conclusion of the Big Ten hockey series between No. 2 Wisconsin and Notre Dame.

When it was over, Santa left behind a big bag of coal for first-year coach Brock Sheahan and his Struggling Irish. 

Nine different Badgers scored goals and another six garnered points as Wisconsin moved into first place in the league by routing Notre Dame 9-2 before 5,046 fans. It was Wisconsin’s fifth straight victory and it completed a weekend sweep – the Badgers won 7-4 Friday – for coach Mike Hastings’ team, now 12-2-2 overall.

The Badgers are now two points ahead of No. 1 Michigan for first place in the Big Ten with their 8-2-0 league record, good for 22 points. The Wolverines lost 3-1 at home Saturday night to No. 3 Michigan State.

It certainly was not the way Sheahan wanted his team (4-11-1 overall, 0-8-0 Big Ten for 1 point) to respond heading into first-semester final exams and the Christmas break. After making several costly turnovers in Friday’s loss which ended with a pair of empty-net Wisconsin goals, Notre Dame again was its own worst enemy Saturday. The nine goals allowed were the most scored by an opponent since Michigan State recorded an 8-3 victory over the Irish in East Lansing on Nov. 15, 2024. 

Wisconsin freshman goaltender Daniel Hauser, who replaced starter Eli Pulver after Friday’s first period, went the distance, finishing with 31 saves. He allowed two goals – the seventh of the season for both Danny Nelson (on a second-period power play) and Sutter Muzzatti (an even-strength tally in the third period). 

As he has all season, Sheahan started sophomore goaltender Nicholas Kempf, who surrendered the first four Badger tallies (by Quinn Finley, Grady Deering, Ben Dexheimer and Blake Montgomery) on the eight shots he faced during the game’s first 11:33. Kempf then was replaced by senior Jack Williams, who made 20 saves but surrendered five goals (by Aiden Dubinsky, Adam Pietila, Tyson Dyck, Finn Brink and Simon Tassy) over the next 44:23. Sheahan then turned to grad Luke Pearson, a transfer from Yale, for the final 4:04 and Pearson stopped three shots.

Sophomore center Gavin Morrissey had three assists and freshman left wing Brink also had a three-point night for Wisconsin with his goal and two assists. Six other Badgers – Finley, Pietila, Deering, Dyck, Oliver Tulk and Luke Osburn – had two-point nights.

Notre Dame also had trouble staying out of the penalty box, drawing 10 penalties totaling 50 minutes to Wisconsin’s eight penalties totaling 35 minutes.

With his team trailing 4-0, Notre Dame left wing Brennan Ali was banished at 13:35 of the first period after he hit Wisconsin defenseman Zach Schulz from behind into the boards behind the Wisconsin net. Schulz was taken from the ice on a stretcher to the team locker room where he stayed for the remainder of the game. His lower-leg injury was to be re-evaluated upon the team’s return to Madison.

The chippiest moment of the game came with 1:59 remaining in regulation after Pearson had stopped shots by Brink and Deering. The two teams came together in the crease, dislodging the net as Pearson skated away. After a long review, Notre Dame’s Cole Brown and Wisconsin’s Dexheimer received majors and disqualifications for fighting, while Brink and Notre Dame’s Axel Kumlin received 10-minute misconducts.

About the only thing to celebrate during the evening was the proficiency of Notre Dame’s power play. The Irish, who entered the game leading the nation in power-play efficiency at 32.6 percent, went 1-for-3 on the night thanks to Danny Nelson’s tip-in conversion of a Cole Knuble shot at 0:53 of the second period. The goal came seven seconds after Wisconsin’s Christian Fitzgerald was whistled for high sticking.

WISCONSIN 9, NOTRE DAME 2

At Lefty Smith Rink in Compton Family Ice Arena, South Bend, Ind.

Wisconsin                  4          1          4—9

Notre Dame              0          1          1—2

First Period—Scoring: 1. Wisconsin, Quinn Finley 8 (Oliver Tulk, Gavin Morrissey) EV 3:37; 2. Wisconsin, Grady Deering 3 (Adam Pietila, Finn Brink) EV 5:29; 3. Wisconsin, Ben Dexheimer 3 (Tyson Dyck, Ryan Botterill) EV 10:38; 4. Wisconsin, Blake Montgomery 8 (Luke Osburn, Gavin Morrissey) EV 11:33. Penalties: Wisconsin 1-2, Notre Dame 2-15.

Second Period—Scoring: 5. Notre Dame, Danny Nelson 7 (Cole Knuble, Evan Werner) PP 0:53; 6. Wisconsin, Aiden Dubinsky 2 (Quinn Finley, Luke Osburn) EV 3:43. Penalties: Wisconsin 2-4 (3-6), Notre Dame 3-6 (5-21).

Third Period—Scoring: 7. Wisconsin, Adam Pietila 3 (Grady Deering, Finn Brink) EV 9:36; 8. Wisconsin, Tyson Dyck 2 (unassisted) EV 13:19; 9. Notre Dame, Sutter Muzzatti 7 (Henry Nelson, Maddox Fleming) EV 13:56; 10. Wisconsin, Finn Brink 2 (Logan Hensler, Joe Palodichuk) EV 14:53; 11. Wisconsin, Simon Tassy 7 (Gavin Morrissey, Oliver Tulk) EV 15:56. Penalties: Wisconsin 5-29 (8-35), Notre Dame 5-29 (10-50).         

Shots on goal: Wisconsin 36 (10-9-17), Notre Dame 33 (9-14-10).

Goalie saves: Wisconsin, Daniel Hauser 31 (9-13-9); Notre Dame (27), Nicholas Kempf 4 (4-0-0), Jack Williams 20 (2-8-10) and Luke Pearson 3 (0-0-3).

Power-play opportunities: Wisconsin 0 of 3, Notre Dame 1 of 3.

Faceoffs won: Wisconsin 30 (10-9-11), Notre Dame 30 (11-7-12).

Blocked shots: Wisconsin 8 (1-1-6), Notre Dame 15 (9-5-1).

Referees: Jake Rekucki and Rocco Stachowiak. Linesmen: Jonathan Sladek and Logan Bellgraph. Attendance: 5,046 (4,852). Records: Wisconsin 12-2-2, 8-2-0 Big Ten for 22 points; Notre Dame 4-11-1, 0-8-0 Big Ten for 1 point.

BIG TEN STANDINGS AND SCHEDULE

(Numbers in parentheses are school’s rankings in this week’s USCHO.com media/USA Hockey-The Rink Live coaches polls): 

                                    Conference                                                              Overall

         GP      Pts      W-L-T-SW-OW-OL       GF-GA           W-L-T GF-GA

(2/2) Wisconsin        10        22        8-2-0-0-2-0                49-31              12-2-2 71-40

(1/1) Michigan           10        20        7-3-0-0-1-0                41-25              16-4-0 96-41

(3/3) Michigan St.     8          15        5-3-0-0-1-1                22-14              12-4-0 54-28

(9/9) Penn State       8          13        4-4-0-0-0-1                17-25              11-5-0 51-46

(nr/nr) Minnesota      8          13        4-4-0-0-0-1                24-23              8-10-1 58-63

(nr/rv) Ohio State     8          6          2-6-0-0-1-1                27-38              6-10-0 50-55

(nr/nr) Notre Dame  8          1          0-8-0-0-0-1                13-37              4-11-1 45-65

THIS WEEK

Thursday, Dec. 4

Minnesota 6, Ohio State 3

Friday, Dec. 5

Wisconsin 7, Notre Dame 4

Michigan 3, Michigan State 0

Ohio State 6, Minnesota 5 (OT)

Saturday, Dec. 6

Wisconsin 9, Notre Dame 2

Michigan State 3, Michigan 1

UPCOMING

Sunday, Dec. 28

Great Lakes Invitational/Grand Rapids, Mich. (Van Andel Arena)

Miami vs. Michigan Tech, 3:37 p.m.

Ferris State vs. Michigan State, 7 p.m.

Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off/Milwaukee, Wis. (Fiserv Forum)

Boston College vs. Western Michigan, 5 p.m.

Lake Superior State vs. Wisconsin, 8 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 29

Great Lakes Invitational/Grand Rapids, Mich. (Van Andel Arena)

Miami/Michigan Tech loser vs. Ferris State/Michigan State loser, 4 p.m.

Miami/Michigan Tech winner vs. Ferris State/Michigan State winner, 7:30 p.m.

Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off/Milwaukee, Wis. (Fiserv Forum)

Boston College/Western Michigan loser vs. Lake Superior/Wisconsin loser, 5 p.m.

Boston College/Western Michigan winner vs. Lake Superior/Wisconsin winner, 8 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 2

Western Michigan at Notre Dame, 7 p.m.

Bowling Green at Ohio State, 6:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Bemidji State, 8:07 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 3

Notre Dame at Western Michigan, 6 p.m.

Ohio State at Bowling Green, 6 p.m.

Penn State at RIT, 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 4

RIT at Penn State, 5 p.m.

U.S. Under-18 team at Michigan State (exhibition)

HOW TOP 20 TEAMS IN USCHO.COM POLL AND OTHERS FARED SATURDAY

1. Michigan (Big Ten) (16-4-0) lost to No. 3 Michigan State Saturday, 3-1. Next: Jan. 9-10 vs. Notre Dame.
2. Wisconsin(Big Ten) (12-2-2) won at Notre Dame Saturday, 9-2. Next: Dec. 28 vs. Lake Superior State in Kwik Trip Hockey Face-Off Tournament at Milwaukee, Wis.; Dec. 29 vs. No. 15 Boston College or No. 7 Western Michigan in Kwik Trip Hockey Face-Off Tournament at Milwaukee, Wis.
3. Michigan State(Big Ten) (12-4-0) won at No. 1 Michigan Saturday, 3-1. Next: Dec. 28 vs. Ferris State in Great Lakes Invitational at Grand Rapids, Mich.; Dec. 29 vs. No. 19 Miami or Michigan Tech in Great Lakes Invitational at Grand Rapids, Mich.
4. Minnesota Duluth(NCHC) (13-5-0) lost at No. 7 Western Michigan Saturday, 3-2 (OT). Next: Dec. 12-13 vs. Arizona State.
5. North Dakota (NCHC) (12-4-0) won at St. Cloud State Saturday, 4-2. Next: Dec. 12-13 vs. Omaha.
6. Denver(NCHC) (11-5-1) beat No. 19 Miami Saturday, 5-2. Next: Dec. 12-13 at St. Cloud State.
7. Western Michigan(NCHC) (10-6-0) beat No. 4 Minnesota Duluth Saturday, 3-2 (OT). Next: Dec. 28 vs. No. 15 Boston College in Kwik Trip Hockey Face-Off Tournament at Milwaukee, Wis.; Dec. 29 vs. No. 2 Wisconsin or Lake Superior State in Kwik Trip Hockey Face-Off Tournament at Milwaukee, Wis.
8. Quinnipiac(ECAC) (12-4-2) lost at Union Saturday, 4-0. Next: Dec. 28 vs. Concordia (exhibition), Jan. 2 vs. Harvard, Jan. 3 vs. No. 10 Dartmouth.
9. Penn State(Big Ten) (11-5-0) did not play. Next: Jan. 3 at RIT, Jan. 4 vs. RIT.
10. Dartmouth(ECAC) (10-0-0) beat Yale Saturday, 6-1. Next: Dec. 12 vs. Army, Dec. 14 at New Hampshire.
11. Maine(Hockey East) (8-7-1) lost to New Hampshire Saturday, 3-2. Next: Dec. 10 vs. UMass Lowell, Dec. 13-14 vs. Lindenwood.
12. Northeastern(Hockey East) (10-4-0) beat Massachusetts Saturday, 3-2 (OT). Next: Sunday vs. Massachusetts, Dec. 13 vs. No. 18 Boston University.
13. Minnesota State (CCHA) (11-3-4) lost to Ferris State Saturday, 4-1. Next: Dec. 12-13 at Augustana.
14. Connecticut(Hockey East) (9-5-3) beat Merrimack Saturday, 5-2. Next: Dec. 31 vs. Long Island, Jan. 3 at Long Island.
15. Boston College(Hockey East) (10-5-1) beat UMass Lowell Saturday, 3-1. Next: Dec. 28 vs. No. 7 Western Michigan in Kwik Trip Hockey Face-Off Tournament at Milwaukee, Wis.; Dec. 29 vs. No. 2 Wisconsin or Lake Superior State in Kwik Trip Hockey Face-Off Tournament at Milwaukee, Wis.
16. Providence(Hockey East) (7-6-2) did not play. Next: Dec. 9 at Brown, Jan. 2-3 vs. Alaska Fairbanks. 
17. Cornell (ECAC) (7-4-0) won at St. Lawrence Saturday, 7-2. Next: Jan. 2-3 vs. Omaha
18. Boston University(Hockey East) (8-8-1) lost to Vermont Saturday, 3-2. Next: Dec. 13 at No. 12 Northeastern, Jan. 3 vs. Simon Fraser (exhibition).
19. Miami(NCHC) (10-6-0) lost at No. 6 Denver Saturday, 5-2. Next: Dec. 12-13 vs. No. 20 Colorado College.
20. Colorado College(NCHC) (8-7-1) did not play. Next: Dec. 12-13 at No. 19 Miami.

Others

Union (ECAC) (10-5-2) beat No. 8 Quinnipiac Saturday, 4-0. Next: Dec. 12-13 vs. Alaska Fairbanks.

Harvard (ECAC) (7-3-1) beat Brown Saturday, 7-3. Next: Jan. 2 at No. 8 Quinnipiac, Jan. 3 at Princeton.

Massachusetts (Hockey East) (8-9-0) lost at No. 12 Northeastern Saturday, 3-2 (OT). Next: Sunday at No. 12 Northeastern, Jan. 9 vs. No. 18 Boston University, Jan. 10 at No. 18 Boston University.

Bemidji State (CCHA) (9-8-2) at Augustana Saturday, ppd. Ice conditions. Next: Jan. 2 vs. Minnesota (exhibition).

Arizona State (NCHC) (7-8-1) did not play. Next: Dec. 12-13 at No. 4 Minnesota Duluth. 

Holy Cross (Atlantic Hockey) (10-6-1) beat Mercyhurst Saturday, 4-1. Next: Jan. 2 at Bentley, Jan. 3 vs. Bentley.

St. Cloud State (NCHC) (7-9-0) lost to No. 5 North Dakota Saturday, 4-2. Next: Dec. 12-13 vs. No. 6 Denver.

RIT (Atlantic Hockey) (10-7-0) lost at Canisius Saturday, 4-2. Next: Dec. 28 at Clarkson, Jan. 3 vs. No. 9 Penn State, Jan. 4 at No. 9 Penn State.

Michigan Tech (CCHA) (8-6-2) did not play. Next: Dec. 12-13 at Ferris State.

Bowling Green (CCHA) (8-5-3) beat Northern Michigan Saturday, 4-3 (OT). Next: Dec. 29 vs. U.S. Under-18 Team (exhibition).

Ohio State (Big Ten) (6-10-0) did not play. Next: Jan. 2 vs. Bowling Green, Jan. 3 at Bowling Green.

Minnesota (Big Ten) (8-10-1) did not play. Next: Jan. 2 at Bemidji State (exhibition), Jan. 9-10 at No. 9 Penn State.

Notre Dame (Big Ten) (4-11-1) lost to No. 2 Wisconsin Saturday, 9-2. Next: Jan. 2 vs. No. 7 Western Michigan, Jan. 3 at No. 7 Western Michigan.

Augustana (CCHA) (8-5-1) vs. Bemidji State Saturday, ppd. Ice conditions. Next: Dec. 12-13 vs. No. 13 Minnesota State, Dec. 19-20 vs. Omaha.

Bentley (Atlantic Hockey) (9-6-1) beat Niagara Saturday, 3-2. Next: Dec. 28 at UMass Lowell (exhibition), Jan. 2 vs. Holy Cross, Jan. 3 at Holy Cross.

Sacred Heart (Atlantic Hockey) (7-7-2) lost to Army Saturday, 2-0. Next: Dec. 30 vs. Robert Morris, Jan. 3 at Robert Morris.

Lindenwood (Independent) (8-6-0) did not play. Next: Dec. 13-14 at No. 11 Maine.

GAMES THIS WEEK

THURSDAY, DEC. 4

Big Ten Conference

Minnesota 6, Ohio State 3

FRIDAY, DEC. 5

Big Ten Conference

Wisconsin 7, Notre Dame 4

Michigan 3, Michigan State 0

Ohio State 6, Minnesota 5 (OT)

Hockey East Association

Boston University 2, Vermont 1

New Hampshire 1, Maine 0

Connecticut 3, Merrimack 0

Boston College 3, UMass Lowell 1

NCHC

Minnesota Duluth 4, Western Michigan 1

Denver 4, Miami 0

North Dakota 4, St. Cloud State 3

CCHA

Northern Michigan 3, Bowling Green 2

Minnesota State 5, Ferris State 1

Lake Superior State 5, St. Thomas 3

Augustana 3, Bemidji State 1

ECAC

Quinnipiac 5, RPI 1

Dartmouth 7, Brown 3

Clarkson 4, Cornell 1

Harvard 3, Yale 2

Colgate 4, St. Lawrence 2

Princeton 5, Union 1

Atlantic Hockey America

RIT 3, Canisius 1

Sacred Heart 3, Army 3 (OT) (Sacred Heart wins shootout, 2-0)

Niagara 3, Bentley 1

Air Force 4, Robert Morris 1

Non-conference

Long Island 8, Assumption 3

Stonehill 3, Alaska Anchorage 2

SATURDAY, DEC. 6

Big Ten Conference

Wisconsin 9, Notre Dame 2

Michigan State 3, Michigan 1

Hockey East Association

Boston College 3, UMass Lowell 1

Connecticut 5, Merrimack 2

Vermont 3, Boston University 2

New Hampshire 3, Maine 2

Northeastern 3, Massachusetts 2 (OT)

NCHC

Western Michigan 3, Minnesota Duluth 2 (OT)

North Dakota 4, St. Cloud State 2

Denver 5, Miami 2

CCHA

Bowling Green 4, Northern Michigan 3 (OT)

Ferris State 4, Minnesota State 1

St. Thomas 4, Lake Superior State 1

Bemidji State at Augustana, ppd., ice conditions

ECAC

Dartmouth 6, Yale 1

Union 4, Quinnipiac 0

Princeton 4, RPI 0

Harvard 7, Brown 3

Cornell 7, St. Lawrence 2

Clarkson 5, Colgate 3

Atlantic Hockey America

Holy Cross 4, Mercyhurst 1

Army 2, Sacred Heart 0

Bentley 3, Niagara 2

Canisius 4, RIT 2

Robert Morris 6, Air Force 3

Non-conference

Stonehill 4, Alaska Anchorage 3 (OT)

Alaska Fairbanks 4, Grand Canyon 2 (exhibition)

SUNDAY, DEC. 7

Non-conference

Massachusetts at Northeastern, 5 p.m.