Following the shortest offseason in over a decade and a half after losing in the NCAA championship game against Denver, the No. 6 Wisconsin Badgers return to the ice with a home series against Robert Morris to kick off the new season. This weekend marks the Colonials’ second trip to the Kohl Center, the first being a two-game sweep for Wisconsin in the teams’ only meeting back in 2007.
The Badgers enter this season with high hopes coming off last year’s Cinderella run that ultimately struck midnight
in the third period. Mike Hastings enters his fourth campaign at the helm in Madison, having made the NCAA Tournament in two of his first three years. A return to the tournament this year would be the first back-to-back appearance for the Badgers since 2013-2014.
There will be a handful of new debuts on Friday with eight incoming freshmen and three transfers joining the roster, arguably none more important than that of J.J. Wiebusch. The Penn State transfer is a local product who put together consecutive 30-point seasons and last year played alongside top-pick Gavin McKenna. Wiebusch is expected to be a top producer this season and should be able to mirror his recent production when paired with junior center Gavin Morrissey.
Hastings has yet to name a starting goaltender heading into the season opener. The battle is between sophomore Daniel Hauser, who started 30 games for the Badgers last year, and Cornell transfer Alexis Cournoyer, last year’s ECAC Goaltender of the Year as a freshman. Whoever earns the nod for Friday, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the other get the start on Saturday. If the competition is as close as it seems, it stands to reason Hastings may want to see both in action this weekend.
While the Badgers have featured their share of workhorse goaltenders in the past, sharing the crease could be the best thing for Wisconsin’s long-term prospects—especially early in the season. Hauser was plagued by an upper body injury that predated his arrival in Madison, though he certainly looked healthy for the tournament run.
Cournoyer surely didn’t transfer after a great debut season to ride the pine. I expect the six-foot-four-inch Quebec native to get some run before siding on a singular hot hand. The obvious hope for the Badgers is that both netminders continue to push one another to bring out each other’s best. This team should feature a relatively potent offense, but pairing it with solid goaltending would be the icing on the cake.
Robert Morris ended last year in the AHA best-of-three semifinal, going the distance with Sacred Heart. The Colonials, however, went just 16-21-3 last season. As to how they fared against well-known Wisconsin opponents, Robert Morris was outscored 14-4 in a two-game sweep at Michigan and recorded both a loss and a shootout win against the Big Ten’s last-place team, Notre Dame.
The Colonials will have some scoring to make up this year, too, as they lost two of their top three point producers to the transfer portal in the offseason. Jackson Reineke is the top returner, posting 26 points in the previous campaign.
Sophomore Charlie Schenkel looks poised to carry the load between the pipes for the Colonials again this year. The six-foot-six-inch goaltender from Toronto started 30 games last year and allowed just under three goals per game. With his large frame and a full season of college hockey under his belt, Schenkel could provide some consistency in the crease that gives Robert Morris a puncher’s chance against a team like Wisconsin.
Puck drop for the season opener is slated for 8 p.m. on Friday night, with game two set to begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Both games will stream live on Big Ten Plus.
Game Info
Game 1
Date: Friday, October 2
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Place: Madison, Wis. | Kohl Center
TV: B1G+ | Radio: 1070 AM
Game 2
Date: Saturday, October 3
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: Madison, Wis. | Kohl Center
TV: B1G+ | Radio: 1070 AM
