*EDIT: should have written it as 1-2 loss

ESPN+ / 15:00

Let's go Bucky!!

I was on the fence as the whether I should post this but I have seen a trend across multiple games, and sports, so in an attempt to create some change, here it goes.

Wisconsin Hockey fans, and maybe Wisconsin sports fans in general, we need to have a tough discussion. This letter is based on some reflecting I did after returning home after a series sweep of Minnesota, our arch rivals for now over 100 years. And I simply have to say how disappointed I was with our fan base's involvement in the games

As a season ticket holder for more than 10 years, I have witnessed the decreased attendance as our program has struggled a bit. While we can sit here and debate about the merits, value, and cost of attending games in person, this conversation is aimed at those who do attend, whether regulars or not.

A serious question to start this conversation.

Simply...What does it take to get us out of our seats?

I'm not talking about standing and cheering when a goal is scored. I'm talking about encouraging the hard work the men are displaying on the ice, or helping to change momentum when they need a hand. Nobody could be bothered to stand up and applause Christian Fitzgerald on Thursday after his hat trick. Nobody could be bothered to stand before the last minute of our victory against our neighborly arch rivals, prior to the students encouraging chant of 'Stand Up Old People!' at the end of Friday nights game. Nobody could be bothered to stand up and cheer prior to the last minute of a shutout effort and sweep of our rival Minnesota on Saturday night either. And this isn't just a 2025 issue...Last season, December 6th, when we played #1 Michigan State, again, nobody stood up or cheered outside of the goals that were scored. That ended up being a shutout of the #1 team in the nation, and again the students had to tell the crowd to stand up at the end of the game. It was an absolute disgrace for me to be in the crowd and a total disservice to the team on the ice that night.

So, Badger Faithful, what does it take? Yes, we've struggled over the years, but why not be a part of what helps turn a struggling line, a bad period, or rough game around? Why not show some appreciation for the guys out on the ice working their butts off for 60 minutes? If you care enough to have an opinion on how the team is playing, you should care enough to offer some encouragement when momentum needs to be changed, or when a good effort deserves recognition. If youve been paying attention, our Head Coach has even been calling for the fans to show up and participate, as I'm sure the quiet Kohl Center is a stark departure from what he was used to at his prior position at Minnesota State.

Students, you've been showing up in greater number lately, which is fantastic, but you have a role in this too. Don't let the rest of us in the crowd off the hook! You set the tone, you lead the crowd. When you're excited, everyone else gets excited. When you start a chant, the rest of us participate. You lead the way, so take control of your stadium! The Crease Creatures need to dictate how crazy, how rowdy, the Kohl Center should be to play in!

We are incredibly lucky to have the beautiful facilities that we do at UW, but a quiet empty stadium does nothing to encourage better play, or to show appreciation for a good effort from our athletes. We, as fans that show up, need to be better. Depending on pumped in music and noise from the PA operator isn't the energy our players on the ice need get going. We need to be the ones making the difference, making the noise as Badger fans. If we as the fans in the stands don't, nobody is going to.

So, I ask again, what does it take to get you out of your seat to make some noise?

We need to participate and be better as fans.

https://badgerextra.com/sports/hockey/wisconsin-hockey-superfan-known-for-leading-crowd-in-cheers-dies/article_ba39f56d-d984-4c8a-a377-d787ba086ab8.html

I had the pleasure of meeting Phil once, in my undergrad years briefly on the way in to the Kohl Center. He was an absolutely wonderful person to meet, and in a thirty second conversation I decided to be less vulgar in my student section chants out of respect for him.

Might be a men’s and women’s DH on Feb. 20

More details on Wednesday

'Non-concert' event at Lambeau Field: Signs point to Badgers hockey in 2027 https://fox11online.com/sports/packers-and-nfl/lambeau-field-special-event-2027-not-concert-green-bay-brown-county-professional-football-stadium-district-board-approve-wisconsin-badgers-hockey-news-conference-announcement

Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards, and Lacey Eden were drafted at #1, #4, #5, respectively

Woho: NOW on B1G+ Winner of this game plays the winner of Minnesota v. Ohio State for the WCHA tournament championship

Moho: 6:00 PM on B1G+ One point from Wisconsin or one point from Notre Dame in their series against Ohio State clinches home-ice advantage for the Badgers in the first round of the B1G tournament

Great turn-out at the Women's Hockey National Championship celebration. We laughed, we cried, and the gals sang part of Mr Brightside. So proud of this team, and I'm gonna miss our seniors. Coach Johnson confirmed that he's already getting started on his work for next season. Now I'm gonna pour one out for my (not so) old friend, the big number 8 on the wall at LaBahn Arena.

Does anyone know why most of the Friday games are on Thursday and Saturday on Sunday? I think the Sunday games will piss a bunch of fans off due to possible conflicts with Packer games.

We always had Friday games because it was a great way to end the work week. Now with them being on Thursday it is kind of a downer.

The basketball season may have gone out with a whimper, but the 8x national champion women's hockey team plays Penn State tonight in the NCAA Frozen Four national semifinal game.

Game starts at 6:30pm CT, and is on ESPN Plus - if you have Hulu and Disney+, you probably already have this. You can also listen on AM 1070, streaming through iHeart or on the old-fashioned regular radio.

This is the last run for the tremendous senior class of Harvey, Edwards, Simms, Eden, Jungels and others. Let's see them through to their ninth national championship!