Badgers Gear Up for NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal
The Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed, carrying a 21‑12‑2 record and earning their 28th bid to the national championship field.
Their first test will be a regional semifinal against Dartmouth on March 26, marking the Badgers' inaugural meeting with the Big Green and pitting a historic program against a team that captured the ECAC tournament title with a 23‑7‑4 record.
Should Wisconsin advance, they could face either Michigan State or UConn in the regional final, a potential reunion with a familiar Big Ten rival. The Badgers hold a 67‑71‑4 all‑time edge over the Spartans and have posted recent victories against them, while they have never met UConn in tournament play but own a 2‑0 advantage in prior meetings.
The defensive core of the squad received individual recognition when Ben Dexheimer and Luke Osburn were named to the All‑Big Ten team, underscoring a unit that has helped the club maintain a .603 win percentage in tournament competition and a championship pedigree that includes six titles.
Broadcast details have been confirmed, with the Wisconsin‑Dartmouth game slated for a 4 p.m. CT start on ESPNU, while the eventual regional final will be carried on a yet‑to‑be‑determined network if the Badgers move forward.
Wisconsin's path to the tournament has been marked by resilience, including four wins over top‑two opponents and a string of victories against top‑six teams, highlighting a roster that also features standout goaltender Trey Augustine and forward Charlie Stramel.