The Badgers will commemorate last season's championship, then begin this season's conference play when they take on No. 4 North Dakota in their home-opening series at the Kohl Center this weekend.
After taking three out of four points last weekend against Northern Michigan, the Badgers (1-0-1) will get a good litmus test against the Fighting Sioux (2-0-0).
Before the puck is dropped, however, fans will get one last chance to celebrate last season's National Championship. UW will unveil its 2006 NCAA championship banner Friday night beginning at 7:25 p.m.
The banner will be the sixth championship banner raised in the Kohl Center, with the last being raised after the Badgers won the 1990 NCAA championship.
UW will then have to turn its attention toward defending the title and the Fighting Sioux will certainly have the target on UW's back.
Stretching back to last season, the second-ranked Badgers are unbeaten in their last seven games (6-0-1).
Badger goalie Brian Elliott, the WCHA Preseason Player of the Year, played in the first game against Northern Michigan and posted his 12th career shutout, a UW record. The senior has not allowed a goal in his last 110:57 between the pipes.
UW has a well-documented rivalry with the Sioux, which tagged the Badgers with their only loss in the last ten games of the 2005-'06 season.
The puck will drop at 7:37 p.m and be televised on FSN.
