Get local news delivered to your inbox!
E-edition PLUS unlimited articles & videos
Personalized news alerts with our mobile app
*FREE access to newspapers.com archives
Hundreds of games, puzzles & comics online
*Refers to the latest 2 years of wiscnews.com stories. Cancel anytime.
The Badgers women’s and men’s hockey teams play at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on Saturday but each has a tough challenge on Thursday: The top-ranked women’s team hosts No. 2 Ohio State and the men’s team plays at No. 1 Michigan State.
Everything from head to toe has been considered, consulted and collected.
Now University of Wisconsin hockey teams just have to see which plan will get used when they skate onto the temporary ice at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on Saturday.
‘Hard to imagine’ Wisconsin hockey games at Wrigley Field, but they’re coming
Will it be cold enough for players to need base layers for warmth underneath the shoulder pads and new sweaters?
Will the outdoor conditions not normally experienced by hockey players have those who wear bubble face shields ready to switch to the cage style for the day?
Will rain or snow change the ice surface and have players looking for different sharpening profiles for their skate blades?
Those are among the questions unique to outdoor play, something the Badgers men’s team hasn’t done since 2013 and the women’s team has experienced only once, in 2010.
“We’ll have hand warmers and hats, gloves, ski masks — whatever it is to stay warm,” Badgers forward Kelly Gorbatenko said. “But we’ll be moving out there. We have some great people that are helping us out there to keep warm.”
The Chicago forecast for Saturday night has temperatures falling into the teens but little chance of precipitation. The top-ranked Badgers women are scheduled to play No. 2 Ohio State at 4:30 p.m. and the men’s team has a game against No. 1 Michigan State set for 8.
Start times for outdoor games are more subject to change than for standard indoor contests because of the introduction of weather elements. Those unknowns also have sent Badgers equipment managers Nate LaPoint and Mia Commendatore out looking for advice and apparel.
Wisconsin goaltender Scott Gudmandson wore a stocking cap on top of his helmet and a mask under to keep warm during the 2010 Camp Randall Hockey Classic.
LaPoint, who has worked with the Wisconsin men’s team since 2009, is getting some help from home, too.
Most goalies don’t like wearing insulating hoods underneath their mask, he said, but they need something to keep their head from losing heat. Typical stocking caps aren’t big enough to fit over goalie masks so LaPoint’s wife, Callie, has made larger ones for them to use.
“Those little things could make a big difference,” Nate LaPoint said. “If it’s going to be a cold, cold day out, those are things that might help a goalie stay a little bit warm, especially at those times of a lull where maybe they’re not going to see any action for five minutes. You’re just losing all that heat through your head. And a hat’s a big thing to have on.”
How a goal that never went in the net helped Wisconsin win the Holiday Face-Off
LaPoint has been with the Badgers for two of their three outdoor games, at Camp Randall Stadium in 2010 (the women also played at the same event) and at Chicago’s Soldier Field in 2013. They also played at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field in 2006, before LaPoint’s tenure.
He has used knowledge from those games and consultations with people around sports to come up with plans. A colleague with the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, who played in Tuesday’s Winter Classic, offered info on the setup. So did people with the Milwaukee Brewers, who have insider info on the Wrigley clubhouses and the process of bringing in equipment.
Badgers defenseman Daniel Laatsch thought back to an outdoor game he played in youth hockey.
“I remember I was freezing out there,” he said. “My face hurt. Your ears hurt. So I feel like just recognizing that in a game and just using whatever our equipment guy brings us.”
Commendatore, who’s in her first full season as equipment manager for the Badgers women’s hockey team, was looking through the handbook that teams got from the Big Ten to prepare for the Wrigley experience when a number stood out.
“There’s 67 steps,” she said.
That’s what the Badgers face in a stairway — in a downward direction to get to the field, then in an upward direction to get to their locker room after periods.
“That was something where it was like, oh, OK, we can manage that but we might have to strategize a little bit,” Commendatore said. “We might need to leave a little earlier for the players to get on the ice. And we might have to get the goalies on an elevator, perhaps.”
Commendatore said she has leaned on LaPoint’s experience with outdoor games and the introduction he made to Red Batty, the former Green Bay Packers equipment manager who also has advised the Badgers in previous outdoor games.
A 17-year-old Wisconsin record falls, with an assist to an extra season of eligibility
Wisconsin football equipment staffers have offered hoods and hand warmers to the hockey teams. That’s just scratching the surface of what’s available.
LaPoint said he started working on acquiring cold-weather apparel after the Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series was formally announced in August. There are two men’s games planned for Friday: Ohio State vs. Michigan and Penn State vs. Notre Dame.
Players tend to wear extra apparel under their upper-body equipment but not on their legs, LaPoint said. He has a few bottoms in case but they’ll probably only be worn by staff members who don’t have the chance to get warm with trips out onto the ice.
Players need to keep their hands warm but don’t always want to sacrifice dexterity by adding a layer under their hockey gloves. They’ll have hand warming pouches available to hold while they’re on the bench and goalies can use them during longer stoppages.
Wearing latex gloves underneath the hockey gloves might help players keep the heat in, Commendatore said.
“You’ll see a lot of guys using the grip sticks and things like that, trying to get a little extra grip on their stick because it is cold,” LaPoint said. “Some of those things don’t feel as right in cooler temperatures.”
Only a few Badgers players wear clear face shields instead of cage masks, and the jury is out on whether the bubble style protection will need to get swapped out because they fog up or get icy. Wisconsin will have a few extra cages in case players want to change after warmups.
The conditions of the ice — hard or soft, depending on the temperature and precipitation — also can impact how players want their skate blades sharpened. That’ll keep LaPoint and Commendatore on their toes.
But Commendatore knows there will be things that have to change at the last minute.
“I’ll get there at 7 a.m. but the weather and conditions can change by game time,” she said. “Almost all of it is thinking on the fly but I like to think that if players have their gear, they’ll be OK.”
3 things that stood out in Wisconsin men’s hockey’s tournament championship win
The Badgers women are going to Wrigley from Madison, where they play Ohio State on Thursday at LaBahn Arena. The men’s team, however, is getting there after a Thursday game against Michigan State in East Lansing. So all of the extra equipment and apparel had to make the trip.
LaPoint said he had an additional trunk packed for the journey. How much of it gets used is a game-day decision.
“Trying to plan for everything is a challenge,” LaPoint said.
The Wisconsin band plays the national anthem at the start of the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic between Ohio State and Wisconsin, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Wisconsin’s Ross Carlson, left front, and Ohio State’s Sam Campbell (22) battle for the puck behind the Ohio State goal during the first period of the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic college hockey game Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Wisconsin’s Robbie Earl (10) tries to shoot past the defense of Ohio State’s Nate Guenin during the third period of the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic college hockey game Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Wisconsin won 4-2.
Wisconsin’s Andrew Joudrey (24) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the third period of the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic college hockey game against Ohio State on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Wisconsin won 4-2.
Robbie Earl watches a replay on the big screen as his shift ends in the second period. The Wisconsin Badgers hosted Ohio State in a hockey game in the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006.
Robbie Earl sends a shot into Ohio State goalie Dave Caruso in the first period. The Wisconsin Badgers hosted Ohio State in a hockey game in the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006.
Wisconsin junior Jeff Likens does a Lambeau Leap with the championship trophy after Wisconsin’s 4-2 victory over Ohio State in the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006.
Teammates look on as a Wisconsin player drives toward the Bemidji State goal during the Camp Randall Hockey Classic at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
Wisconsin and Bemidji State players watch a loose puck near the Badgers goal during the Camp Randall Hockey Classic at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
A Wisconsin player drives toward the Bemidji State goal during the Camp Randall Hockey Classic at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. The Badgers won 6-1.
Badgers goaltender Becca Ruegsegger blocks a shot by Bemidji State’s Annie Bauerfield during the Camp Randall Hockey Classic at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
A Wisconsin player drives past Bemidji State defenders during the Camp Randall Hockey Classic at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
A Wisconsin player elbows a Bemidji State player in a scramble for the puck during the Camp Randall Hockey Classic at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
Wisconsin’s Brianna Decker tries to beat Bemidji State goalie Alana McElhinney during the Camp Randall Hockey Classic at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
Camp Randall Hockey Classic, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
Wisconsin’s Jake Gardiner (19), right, defends against Michigan’s Carl Hagelin (12) during the first period at the Camp Randall Hockey Classic, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
Wisconsin’s Brendan Smith (7) controls puck away from Michigan’s Kevin Lynch (11) during the first period at the Camp Randall Hockey Classic, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. Smith scored two power-play goals in the third period.
Wisconsin bench erupts after a goal scored by Brendan Smith (7) in the third period against Michigan during the Camp Randall Hockey Classic, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. The Badgers won 3-2.
Wisconsin goaltender Scott Gudmandson lifts his mask during a break in action in the game against Michigan in the Camp Randall Hockey Classic, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
Wisconsin’s Michael Davies (9) and Blake Geoffrion (5), top, begin to celebrate the game-tying goal by Brendan Smith (7) against Michigan’s goaltender Bryan Hogan (35) during the third period at the Camp Randall Hockey Classic, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
Wisconsin’s Ryan McDonagh (17) heads to the bench after scoring the first goal against Michigan in the Camp Randall Hockey Classic, Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. Following behind McDonagh is Blake Geoffrion (5).
Minnesota plays Wisconsin in the second period of a college hockey game in the OfficeMax Hockey City Classic at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013.
Minnesota forward Zach Budish (24) is checked to the ice by Wisconsin forward Michael Mersch (25) during the first period of a college hockey game at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013.
Wisconsin forward Sean Little (18) keeps Minnesota defenseman Justin Holl (12) from taking a shot on-goal as goalie Joel Rumpel (33) and Jefferson Dahl (14) watch during the third period of a college hockey game at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Wisconsin upset Minnesota 3-2.
Wisconsin forward Ryan Little (20) controls the puck as Minnesota forward Nick Bjugstad pursues during the third period of a college hockey game at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Wisconsin won 3-2.
Minnesota forward Zach Budish (24) is checks to the ice by Wisconsin forward Michael Mersch (25) during the first period of a college hockey game at Chicago’s Soldier Field Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013.
Wisconsin forward Tyler Barnes, left, side-steps a check attempt by Minnesota defenseman Jake Parenteau during the first period of a college hockey game at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013.
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
The Badgers women’s and men’s hockey teams play at Chicago’s Wrigley Field on Saturday but each has a tough challenge on Thursday: The top-ran…
Christian Fitzgerald rescued the Badgers, who lost a two-goal lead but won their third Holiday Face-Off title in four years.
Casey O’Brien became the Badgers women’s hockey career leader in assists in a home sweep of St. Thomas.
Wisconsin goaltender Scott Gudmandson wore a stocking cap on top of his helmet and a mask under to keep warm during the 2010 Camp Randall Hockey Classic.
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.
