UW-Madison men’s and women’s hockey teams gear up for outdoor games at Wrigley Field

For one weekend only, a historic ballpark will transform into an outdoor college ice hockey rink.

Owen Lindmark is a center on the University of Wisconsin-Madison men’s hockey team. He grew up in Naperville, Illinois — a suburb of Chicago.

As a kid, he’d often go to Wrigley Field to watch the Chicago Cubs play baseball.  

On Jan. 4, he’ll have the unique opportunity to play hockey in front of his family and friends at the stadium as part of “The Frozen Confines: Big Ten Hockey Series.”

“Having the opportunity to play a hockey game there, it’s going to be a really fun experience,” Lindmark told WPR. 

Both the UW-Madison men’s and women’s hockey teams will play at Wrigley as part of the series. It’ll be the first time the ballpark has hosted a college hockey game in its 110-year-old history.

“It’s going to be a very, very cool environment … and special place to play,” Lindmark said. “And we’re going to be ready to go.”

Ice hockey has been played outside for decades. The UW-Madison men’s and women’s teams have both played outside before. But this will be the first time the programs have played outside at a baseball stadium, according to a statement from the university.

Kelly Gorbatenko, a forward for the women’s hockey team, estimated more than 50 people from her hometown of Barrington, Illinois will make the trip to the stadium for the game.

“It being outdoor, that’s the kind of hockey I grew up playing, playing on the outdoor rink, and that’s when I’ve always had the most fun,” Gorbatenko said. 

“I think it just really brings you back to when you’re a kid, and you’re playing just for the fun of it. And it’s a different atmosphere,” she added. 

The women’s team will take on Ohio State in a rematch of the NCAA Championship Games in 2023 and 2024. The women’s team beat Ohio State in 2023, marking the program’s seventh national title.

The men’s team will face off against Michigan State.

The games will be played just days after the Chicago Blackhawks play against the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.

Commissioner of Big Ten Ice Hockey, Adam Augustine, said outdoor games are special because they bring the game back to its roots.

“For a lot of us, this is how we grew up playing the game and learning the game,” said Augustine, who is also a UW-Madison graduate. 

“There’s just something different about the way the game sounds, the way the skates sound on the ice, the puck and everything,” he added. 

Wrigley Field was built in 1914. It recently received a National Historic Landmark designation by the National Park Service. 

It’s the second oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball, behind only Fenway Park in Boston. The historic stadium also hosted the 2009 NHL Winter Classic.

“The opportunity to be first to do something in a place that’s been around as long as Wrigley Field … it’s a combination of factors that just makes it such a unique experience for those involved,” Augustine said. 

The UW-Madison men’s hockey team plays games at the Kohl Center, which has a capacity of around 15,000. The women’s team plays at the LaBahn Arena, with a capacity of under 3,000. 

Augustine said over 20,000 hockey fans should be at the games in Chicago.

“We’re in a great city, with a lot of interest in the sport of hockey, so certainly expecting great crowds,” Augustine said. 

Weather could be a factor

It’s too early to know what the temperature will be in Chicago when the puck drops, but the weather will likely be a factor for players. It was -10 degrees in Minnesota for the 2022 NHL Winter Classic.

“Normally the weather is a controllable inside, but when you get outside, you never know exactly what it’s going to do,” Lindmark said. “So you got to be ready to change your game plan up a bit if the ice isn’t too good.” 

If it snows, Lindmark said that could make for an interesting game. 

“If it’s actually snowing … it’s going to be a fun game, because the puck is going to be having to slide through all that snow, it’s gonna be bouncing around on the ice,” he said.

Todd Milewski, who covers hockey for the Wisconsin State Journal, said players could be skating slower if it snows. Rain can also negatively impact the ice.

“So they have to kind of prepare as a team … their equipment people have to prepare for all sorts of possibilities ahead of time to know what they might need in terms of hand warmers or extra layers underneath the jersey,” Milewski said. 

The ice will be maintained after the NHL Winter Classic game on Dec. 31 until the college games on Jan. 3 and Jan. 4. Penn State will take on Notre Dame, and Ohio State will play against Michigan on Jan. 3.

During a press conference announcing the games, Chris Chelios, who attended the UW-Madison and played for the Chicago Blackhawks, said it’s an exciting opportunity for the college athletes. 

“(I’m) Looking forward to a big weekend, watching Wisconsin win the whole thing, both men’s and women’s,” Chelios said. “Go Badgers.” 

You can learn more about how to watch the games here.