The eleventh-ranked Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team enters the Big Ten tournament with some needed momentum. After suffering a six-game losing streak at the end of January, the Badgers won six out of their last eight games, including a two-game sweep against sixth-ranked Penn State at Happy Valley. Despite two wins over the college hockey team that has the projected number one overall draft pick in Gavin McKenna, the Badgers did not get much love from some hockey voters.
Badgers move up one spot in the USCHO poll after upsetting Penn State
In the newest U.S. College Hockey Online (USCHO) poll released last Monday, the Wisconsin Badgers rose to the no. 10 spot and are now tied with the Nittany Lions. That new ranking marks the first time the Badgers have been in the top 10 of the USCHO poll since they were swept in a two-game series by the lowly Minnesota Golden Gophers. Despite tying with the Nittany Lions for the no. 10 rankings, it's a bit surprising Wisconsin did not move up more after upsetting a top-10 opponent.
With these rankings in mind, does the Badgers’ minimal rise truly matter in the grand scheme? Perhaps not, though the lack of movement in the USCHO poll could motivate the team ahead of Wednesday's Big Ten tournament opener.
The Badgers enter this year’s conference tournament against an Ohio State that split the season series at two games apiece. In addition, those Buckeyes eliminated the Badgers in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament the last two seasons.
All things considered, this has been a successful season for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team after their letdown 2024-25 season. Finishing in the top 10 in any hockey poll is much better than finishing 13-21-3. However, coach Mike Hastings could use these slights from the USCHO poll to get his team to knock off the Buckeyes this time around.