GREEN BAY, Wis.'With the expectations and countless story lines leading up to Saturday's Frozen Tundra Classic, a first-time event staged outdoors at Lambeau Field, the actual game between Wisconsin and Ohio State seemed like a small act on an overwhelming bill.
When all was said and done, No. 4 Wisconsin (20-7-2 overall) beat Ohio State (14-14-4) 4-2 in a game and event that exceeded all expecations.
Packer and Badger traditions alike crossed paths. The game featured a 'Jump Around' session before the start of the third period that sent the crowd of 40,890 fans fighting against the cold into a frenzy, and a 'Lambeau Leap' by UW players after the victory.
'That got us going,' junior forward Robbie Earl. 'I don't think anyone expected that, but that song, if you're a Badger, gets you going.'
The energy pouring from the stadium was difficult to ignore.
'You come to a football game and that's what you notice,' UW head coach Mike Eaves said. '[With this game I noticed] just the energy of the people, the vastness of almost 41,000 people ... just being able to step back and look up at all those people.'
Senior forward and captain Adam Burish got the Badgers on the board first, scoring 23 seconds into the game and junior defenseman Kyle Klubertanz gave UW the lead for good with his power-play goal in the second period.
The goals were especially significant for the two Badger stars, who played juniors with the Green Bay Gamblers.
'You can't put into words how unbelievable this experience was,' Burish said.
Klubertanz shared the feelings of the homecoming. 'You really couldn't have asked for more,' Klubertanz said. To come here and play well, it was a special day.'
Ohio State applied pressure down the stretch and pulled their goaltender with 1:30 left to play. But Earl secured the puck deflected by teammate, sophomore forward Joe Pavelski, skated down the ice untouched and scored the empty-netter.
Moments later, the Badger team cleared the rink and piled into the Lambeau stands to celebrate the victory and the overall experience with fans.
'It was just an unreal experience,' UW senior right winger Ryan MacMurchy said. 'It's one of those games you're going to remember the rest of your life.'
