MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team returns to Big Ten play this week with a two-game series against No. 7/8 Ohio State at the Kohl Center on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 20-21.
Rosters: Badgers ||
Ohio State
Here's six quick things to know before tuning in:
1 - KEEP CRUZIN': Freshman forward Cruz Lucius has 23 points (8g, 15a) through 22 games. If he finishes the season averaging at least a point per game, he would become just the sixth Badger freshman dating back to the 1999-2000 season to accomplish that feat (Cole Caufield, Trent Frederic, Nic Kerdiles, Joe Pavelski, Dany Heatley).
2 - NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING: Led by current Wisconsin forward Charlie Stramel, five current and future Badger men's hockey players find their names on the 2023 NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings for the 2023 NHL Draft.
Stramel (Rosemount, Minnesota) checks in at No. 21 among North American skaters. The UW freshman boasts four goals and seven points in 19 games played this season, with three of his goals coming over the last eight games.
William Whitelaw (Rosemount, Minnesota) ranks at No. 55, Brady Cleveland (Wausau, Wisconsin) at No. 59, Zach Schulz (South Lyon, Michigan) at No. 91, and Aidan Fink (Calgary, Alberta) sits at No. 66.
Cleveland, Schultz, and Whitelaw, as well as Badger-prospect Joe Palodichuk, competed in the 2023 USA Hockey BioSteel All-American Game earlier this week.
3 - MIKE RICHTER AWARD WATCH: Senior goaltender Jared Moe has been named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List. The Mike Richter Award is given to college hockey's most outstanding goaltender each season. Moe averages 2.80 goals against and maintains a .912 save percentage in 19 games played. The award is named after the former Badger, UW Athletics and US Hockey Hall of Famer, Olympian and Stanley Cup champion.
4 - FACE-OFF AGAINST CANCER: Wisconsin men's hockey is facing off against cancer in partnership with JD McCormick Properties this season. JD McCormick will donate $10 per home faceoff win, for a current running total of $3,840.
JD McCormick will present a check to UW Carbone Cancer Center ahead of Wisconsin's matchup against Ohio State on Jan. 20 at the Kohl Center during the Badgers' annual Face-Off Against Cancer game.
5 - SCOUTING OHIO STATE: The Buckeyes are coming off a series-split against then-No. 6 Michigan. OSU stormed past Michigan, 7-2, in the first match after falling behind, 1-0, in the first period. They dropped the second match, 4-2.
Freshman forward Stephen Halliday leads the roster with 24 points (7g, 17a) in 24 games. Cam Thiesing tops the scoring column with 11 goals in 24 games. Goaltender Jakub Dobes leads Ohio's goaltending trio with an average 2.20 goals against, .920 save percentage, and 15 wins.
6 - HOW TO WATCH: Puck drop for both games is set for 7 p.m. Watch Friday's game on Bally Sports Wisconsin and Saturday's game on Bally Sports Wisconsin Extra. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @BadgerMHockey
