The Kwik Trip Holiday Face‑Off will light up the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on the final weekend of December, bringing together four college hockey programs for a compact two‑day showdown that promises high‑stakes competition and festive atmosphere.
A Schedule That Defies Convention
What makes this edition distinctive is the tournament’s unconventional scheduling: even if the Wisconsin Badgers stumble in their opening match, they are slated to appear in the second game on Wednesday, a slot that guarantees the Wildcats a chance to open the scoring at 5 p.m. EST.
The series between Northern Michigan and Wisconsin stretches back to 1981, with the two squads meeting 90 times over four decades. Their most recent neutral‑site encounter in Green Bay in October 2017 ended in a 5‑4 overtime victory for the Wildcats, a memory that still fuels the rivalry.
UMass, Arizona State and the Badgers round out the field, each bringing a different style of play. The opening‑day semifinals are set for 8:30 p.m. EST on Thursday, featuring Wildcats versus Wisconsin, while the earlier 5 p.m. slot will see Massachusetts take on Arizona State.
Fans can secure seats through Ticketmaster, where prices range from $27 to $77.35 per ticket, and multi‑day bundles may offer modest discounts. All four contests will be streamed on the Big Ten Network‑Plus, requiring a subscription to the platform for live access.
The tournament adds another layer of intrigue by pairing historic rivalries with modern broadcasting, giving both longtime fans and newcomers a chance to experience college hockey at its most competitive. As the teams take the ice, the outcomes will ripple through the early season standings, setting the tone for the months ahead.