Overview
- The defending NCAA champions secured the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off title at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum, handing Wisconsin just its third loss of the season.
- Zaccharya Wisdom was credited with the tying goal during a crease scramble that survived Wisconsin’s challenge, a call Hastings questioned postgame.
- Zach Nehring scored the eventual winner in the second period, and Western Michigan closed it out with late goals, including an empty-netter, after Wisconsin led on Vasily Zelenov’s opener.
- Zelenov later exited with an apparent right-leg injury, with his status uncertain, as the Badgers also competed without Quinn Finley and two defensemen on national-team duty.
- Boston College split its games, losing 5-3 to Western Michigan before edging Lake Superior State 4-3 behind two third-period goals from Will Vote and two assists from midyear addition Oscar Hemming.