Non-UND College Hockey 2025-26

[sioux rube]

 

[Dustin]

On 10/9/2025 at 9:29 PM, nascar99 said:

North Dakota has a much bigger and better hockey fanbase than Wisconsin, but your point is fair

It seems Wisco fans show up when the team is good.  They're even pretty good about traveling.  Better than Minnesota fans, who seem to hardly leave the state.  But hockey at Wisconsin has floundered ever since UND upset them in the 2014 NCAA tournament.  I would like to see them ascend back into a top 10 program.

[ND_Texan]

NCHC goes 8-0-1 on Friday night to jump a game ahead of the Big Ten and Hockey East in nonconference records. Tough night for the CCHA, going 0-8.

[ND_Texan]

Denver spoils a perfect night for the NCHC with its tie with air force. 🤦‍♂️

[nascar99]

52 minutes ago, Dustin said:

It seems Wisco fans show up when the team is good.  They're even pretty good about traveling.  Better than Minnesota fans, who seem to hardly leave the state.  But hockey at Wisconsin has floundered ever since UND upset them in the 2014 NCAA tournament.  I would like to see them ascend back into a top 10 program.

Alvarez not giving a f*** about hockey and allowing the program to flounder while football kept winning 9-10 games a year and men's basketball turned into a Tier 2 power really hurt the hockey program and its fandom. McIntosh didn't seem to understand hockey either, but credit to him for hiring Hastings. I think they'll be solid in the B1G this year.

[Blackheart]

54 minutes ago, nascar99 said:

Alvarez not giving a f*** about hockey and allowing the program to flounder while football kept winning 9-10 games a year and men's basketball turned into a Tier 2 power really hurt the hockey program and its fandom. McIntosh didn't seem to understand hockey either, but credit to him for hiring Hastings. I think they'll be solid in the B1G this year.

Alvarez also gets credit with Jim Delaney for blowing up the old WCHA in favor of the Little 6 (it's 7 now with Notre Dame) hockey conference.  "Forget" those guys!

[Dustin]

4 hours ago, nascar99 said:

Alvarez not giving a f*** about hockey

Yes, this too.  But UW still won a Natty during his tenure (2006) and played in another championship game (2010) and were a 1 seed when UND upset them in the regional semifinal (2014).  They seemed to be able really ramp up every four years for a while, but in between they weren't as dominant.  Since 2015-16, they've gone 92-138-21.

[Wilbur]

The gophers got the all important non conference shootout win against BC.  A celebration at center ice, the lights flickered, and I'm sure everyone got a trophy.  @MafiaMan would've had a proud tear in his eye. 

[brianvf]

6 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

The gophers got the all important non conference shootout win against BC.  A celebration at center ice, the lights flickered, and I'm sure everyone got a trophy.  @MafiaMan would've had a proud tear in his eye. 

Any mention of fireworks?

[nascar99]

5 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

The gophers got the all important non conference shootout win against BC.  A celebration at center ice, the lights flickered, and I'm sure everyone got a trophy.  @MafiaMan would've had a proud tear in his eye. 

That Boston College team leaves a lot to be desired. Definitely a pivotal year for Greg Brown to prove to all of us that he can get more out of an Eagles team that isn't stacked like the past 2 years.

[Wilbur]

2 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Any mention of fireworks?

I didn't see fireworks, but a huge three non conference points nonetheless for Minnesota.

 

[Blackheart]

1 minute ago, Wilbur said:

I didn't see fireworks, but a huge three non conference points nonetheless for Minnesota.

 

Minny in the running for non-conference points champs this year...Penn State cupcakes make them tough to beat though.

[Blackheart]

14 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

The gophers got the all important non conference shootout win against BC.  A celebration at center ice, the lights flickered, and I'm sure everyone got a trophy.  @MafiaMan would've had a proud tear in his eye. 

Was it the Traditional Circle of Sticks?

#danhammer

[Wilbur]

5 minutes ago, Blackheart said:

Was it the Traditional Circle of Sticks?

#danhammer

It was as if they won the Virg Foss early season championship trophy.  You could see the defeat in BC players.  I don't see them recovering from this. 

[tnt]

3 hours ago, Dustin said:

It seems Wisco fans show up when the team is good.  They're even pretty good about traveling.  Better than Minnesota fans, who seem to hardly leave the state.  But hockey at Wisconsin has floundered ever since UND upset them in the 2014 NCAA tournament.  I would like to see them ascend back into a top 10 program.

I wouldn’t.  Would rather not give the Big Ten any more ammunition against our league.  You’ve already seen Penn State go all in because of their Frozen Four appearance last year, and we will be competing with teams like them and Michigan State for some high end CHL guys.  Don’t need another one to add to the competition.  We’ve seen they already beat us out for Hensler.

When Boston College had a run of down years, I didn’t lament them not being a top ten team anymore. Now that they are back, they are getting a lot of nice recruits.  Besides, after what Hastings did by ravaging Minnesota State’s roster when he left, I hope they continue to struggle, although they can finish ahead of Minnesota.

[burd]

My wife and I moved to Wisconsin not far from Madison in late ‘84 after having lived in warm weather hockey deprived places for years.   I wasn’t prepared for how much Wisco fans loved hockey and valued the Sioux/Badger rivalry.   Since then, Ive attended a lot of games at the old Dane and, later, the Herb.  Before about 10/12 years ago, Badger games rocked.  I’ve always said that UND games at the old Ralph were more intense but Badger home games were more fun.   Wiscovites love to party and have fun, and it showed at their hockey games.    Not so much nowadays.   Hopefully, some of the old energy will return.   

Another thing about rivalries.  Bucky fans’ attitude toward the gophers has always had quite a bit of the same hate aspect as UND fans have (had?) toward the gophs.  But Badger fans, in my experience, have always had a healthy affection for UND fans.   They really liked that rivalry, even after the water bottle years.

 

 

[Godsmack]

Hard to say how good CC is, Bentley looked very small physically compared to the Tigers who’ve gone out and gotten some size and grit. Tigers started 8-0 last year at this time but all home games against weak opponents and then once league play started came back down to earth. That said, they look fast, aggressive, and creative offensively and Mbereko has looked awfully sharp. 

[Dustin]

15 minutes ago, burd said:

My wife and I moved to Wisconsin not far from Madison in late ‘84 after having lived in warm weather hockey deprived places for years.   I wasn’t prepared for how much Wisco fans loved hockey and valued the Sioux/Badger rivalry.   Since then, Ive attended a lot of games at the old Dane and, later, the Herb.  Before about 10/12 years ago, Badger games rocked.  I’ve always said that UND games at the old Ralph were more intense but Badger games were more fun.   Wiscovites love to party and have fun, and it showed at their hockey games.    Not so much nowadays.   Hopefully, some of the old energy will return.   

Another thing about rivalries.  Bucky fans’ attitude toward the gophers has always had quite a bit of the same hate aspect as UND fans have (had?) toward the gophs.  But Badger fans, in my experience, have always had a healthy affection for UND fans.   They really liked that rivalry, even after the water bottle years.

 

 

This is exactly why Wisconsin is important to college hockey.

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Denver -600 Air Force +390 end in a tie. Parlay killer