North Dakota Men's Hockey Dominates Wisconsin in Recent Matchups

The Fighting Hawks have won 3 straight and 8 of the last 10 games against the Badgers.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:20am

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The North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's hockey team has had a recent stranglehold over the Wisconsin Badgers, winning 3 straight games and 8 of the last 10 matchups between the two programs. The last time the teams met on neutral ice, North Dakota eliminated Wisconsin from the 2014 NCAA Tournament with a 5-2 victory.

Why it matters

This long-standing rivalry between two of the top college hockey programs in the country has seen a clear shift in momentum, with North Dakota establishing itself as the dominant force in recent years. The outcome of these matchups can have major implications for both teams' postseason aspirations and conference standings.

The details

Wisconsin's lone win in the last 10 meetings came on the road in 2015, but the Badgers have since lost 5 of the last 6 games against North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks' most recent victory over Wisconsin was a 2-0 win in Grand Forks in October 2023, during Mike Hastings' first year as the Badgers' head coach.

  • The last time these teams met on neutral ice was on March 28, 2014, when North Dakota eliminated Wisconsin from the NCAA Tournament with a 5-2 victory.
  • Wisconsin's lone win in the last 10 meetings came on the road in 2015.
  • The teams split a November series in 2015, with Wisconsin winning 3-1.
  • The Badgers and Fighting Hawks played to a 2-2 tie in Madison in 2017.
  • North Dakota's most recent victory over Wisconsin was a 2-0 win in Grand Forks on October 14, 2023.

The players

North Dakota Fighting Hawks

One of the top college hockey programs in the country, known for their consistent success and dominance over the Wisconsin Badgers in recent years.

Wisconsin Badgers

A storied college hockey program that has struggled to match North Dakota's success in their recent head-to-head matchups.

Mike Hastings

The current head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team, who is in his first year with the program.

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The takeaway

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks have clearly established themselves as the dominant force in this long-standing rivalry with the Wisconsin Badgers, winning 8 of the last 10 meetings and eliminating the Badgers from the NCAA Tournament in 2014. This recent history suggests that North Dakota will be the team to beat when these two programs face off on the ice.