The Wisconsin men’s hockey team is officially the best in the nation. After absolutely dismantling Notre Dame with back-to-back blowouts, 7-1 and 9-1, over the Big Ten’s opening weekend, the Badgers have supplanted Michigan as the No. 1 team in both major polls. These guys are playing on another level right now, and the rest of college hockey needs to take notice.
Undefeated and Untouchable
This isn’t some fluke climb. Wisconsin is sitting pretty at a perfect 6-0-0, the only undefeated and untied squad in the top 10. They were ranked No. 2 just last week, but after those absolute shellackings of the Fighting Irish on October 30 and the next evening, there was no doubt. Meanwhile, the former No. 1, Michigan, stumbled at home against Ohio State, losing 5-2 on October 31 before eking out a 5-4 overtime win the next day. The message is clear: the Badgers earned this top spot with pure dominance on the ice. They hauled in 37 of 50 first-place votes in the USCHO poll and 29 of 34 first-place votes in the USA Hockey ranking. That’s a strong endorsement from folks who watch this game closely.
Hastings’ Era of Excellence
This isn’t head coach Mike Hastings’ first rodeo at the top. This marks the second time the Badgers have been ranked No. 1 under his leadership. Back on November 13, 2023, they jumped four spots to claim the top rank for a week after sweeping Michigan, extending a six-game winning streak against ranked teams. Hastings clearly knows how to build a program that can reach the summit. You gotta love seeing a team play with this kind of confidence and execution, especially when it earns them the undisputed top spot.
Now, the test really begins. Wisconsin is set to hit the road for a pair of games against Minnesota on November 5 and November 7. The Gophers, currently No. 18 in the USCHO poll and No. 17 in the USA Hockey ranking with a 3-3-2 record, will be looking to knock off the new kings of college hockey. Can the Badgers maintain their perfect record and their No. 1 ranking on the road? You know we’ll be watching to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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