The Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team started off their season strong with two road wins against the Lindenwood Lions. Ranked No. 20 coming into this year, the Badgers are hungry to prove themselves as a championship contender.
Young guns fired up
The Badgers shut out the Lions 3-0 in the first game. Wisconsin got an immediate boost after Lindenwood failed to get off the ice in time during warmups, letting the Badgers start on a power play.
With two four-on-four power plays in the first period, the Badgers scored their first goal off the season on the second power play. Forward Christian Fitzgerald scored the first goal of the season, kicking off a huge weekend for the senior.
Scoring his first power play as a Badger, freshman Grady Deering upped the lead for Wisconsin to 2-0. Senior Aiden Dubinsky collected his first assist for Wisconsin, setting up Deering alongside junior Joe Palodichuk.
A late empty netter from sophomore Ryan Botterill secured a shutout for the Badgers, handing freshman Daniel Hauser his first collegiate shutout with 22 saves. Freshman Oliver Tulk also scored a few firsts as a Badger, notching two assists in his NCAA debut.
Raining hats
Scoring a whopping five more goals than the Lions, the Badgers won game two 7-2. Playing right winger on the top line, Fitzgerald scored his first NCAA hat trick with two goals in the first and one in the second, proving to be a weapon on the power play.
Freshman Luke Osburn put the Badgers up 2-0, scoring his first goal in his second collegiate game. Following Fitzergarld’s third goal, junior Quinn Finley got his first goal of the season, preparing fans for what’s hopefully another standout season .
Despite a few Badgers penalties, Senior Simon Tassy gathered multiple assists and a goal in the third, having himself a game. Late in the game, freshman Finn Brink scored his first goal off the season with only two shots on goal.
Keeping the consistency, head coach Mike Hastings kept Hauser in net for game two, with sophomore Eli Pulver sitting behind him. Hauser came out of the weekend with a .962 save percentage, facing 50 shots and two goals against.
Revved up with young talent, Wisconsin faces the U.S. U18 National Team Development Program in an exhibition game at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Kohl Center.
