EAST LANSING – Michigan State hockey returns home to Munn Ice Arena this weekend after its first road conference matchup against Notre Dame. The Spartans swept the Irish in South Bend, Ind., and now shift their focus to the Wisconsin Badgers.
Wisconsin ranks third in the Big Ten standings, with a 4-2-0 record in conference play. The Badgers are coming off a split series against Michigan and Ohio State, earning No. 7 in both the NCAA and USCHO collegiate hockey polls.
The Badgers gave senior defenseman Ben Dexheimer the nod at captain this year, and his 2025-26 campaign has gotten off to a hot start. Dexheimer has recorded 11 points in 12 games this year, tied for second on the team. Sophomore forward Gavin Morrissey has taken a huge leap forward. Morrissey leads Wisconsin in points with 13 and has already recorded 10 assists through the first 12 games. Senior forward Christian Fitzgerald out of British Columbia leads the Badgers in scoring, he’s tallied eight goals this season. Alongside him, junior forward Quinn Finley has taken a team-high 45 shots on goal so far this year.
In net this year, the Badgers turned to freshman goaltender Daniel Hauser. Hauser has started all 12 games this year and played them through. With a record of 8-2-2 and a .913 save percentage, Hauser has had a very impressive start to his career as a Badger. Although he has already faced three ranked opponents this year, Michigan State will be the most talented offense he has faced so far this season.
Michigan State enters this game on a nine-game win streak, which is the longest active streak in the NCAA. The Spartans are the unanimous No. 1 team in the nation according to both the NCAA and USCHO polls, and it’s the second time this season they’ve earned every first-place vote in both polls.
The Spartans dominated both matchups against Notre Dame, winning 4-1 and 3-1 the following night to sweep the Fighting Irish in their first road conference matchup of the year. Freshman forward Porter Martone had another great weekend, scoring three times in the two-game series. Fellow first-year forward Ryker Lee had a four-point weekend and continued to show dazzling stick-handling ability throughout the weekend.
In the net, junior goaltender Trey Augustine once again showed why he’s one of the nation’s elite goaltenders. The junior stopped 52 of 54 Irish shots, which was the best save percentage in the conference this week at .963. Augustine ranks third in the nation with 1.32 goals allowed on average and a .948 save percentage so far this year. Augustine earned his second consecutive Big Ten First Star of the Week and secured his 50th career win with the Spartans.
The Spartans enter the week dominating in most statistical categories. They rank second nationally in scoring defense at 1.40 goals allowed per game, and eighth in scoring offense at 3.70 goals per game. Few other teams in the nation have the balance that the Spartans do, as Michigan State ranks third in scoring margin at +2.30.
Throughout November, MSU hockey continues its annual “Spartans Full Strength” initiative with the Stephen Swistak Memorial Fund, which honors the former Spartan defenseman who passed away in 2015 after his battle with cancer. Players and staff will be seen wearing purple ribbons in this series as a tribute, and Michigan State will have a heartfelt tribute during the pregame.
Wisconsin has the edge over Michigan State, with an all-time record of 70-64-4. Puck drop is set for 8:30 on Friday night and 7:00 on Saturday night.
