Hockey | 2/8/2026 1:24:00 PM
Blaine, Minn. - The Golden Eagles are officially third in the WCCHA for the 2025-26 season following their 6-3 win over the University of Wisconsin. In net for the Golden Eagles today was Tyler Swanson (So., G, Moorhead, Minn.) who entered with a 10-2-0 record, a 2.17 goals against average, and a .926 save percentage. For the Badgers, it was Robo Gallum with a 9-2-1 record, a 2.64 goals against average and a .916 save percentage.
The first period was slow to start, with neither team taking over for the first half of it. But it was the Golden Eagles that broke the ice with the first goal. Anthony Foster (Jr., F, Warroad, Minn.) got the game's opening goal as he buried the rebound off of a Fox Dodds (5th, F, Watford City, N.D.) and that goal would open the floodgates. A minute and a half later, on a shot from an odd angle, Jackson Dodds (5th, F, Watford City, N.D.) put the puck just over the shoulder of Gallum to give the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead. Ben Hines (Jr., F, Detroit Lakes, Minn.) and Dylan Neubauer (5th, D, Grand Forks, N.D.) had the assists. Four minutes later, with 1:51 on the clock, Fox Dodds scored a powerplay goal on a wide open net thanks to an assist from Anthony Foster. Logan Syrup (5th, F, Park River, N.D.) had the secondary assist. With 11 seconds on the clock, Mason Romfo (So., F, Langdon, N.D.) put home a shot on another open net for the Golden Eagles off of an Anthony Foster rebound in front of the net, Braden Van de Kraats (So., F, Medicine Hat, Alberta) had the secondary assist. The Golden Eagles carried a 4-0 lead into the second period.
The second period was a more defensively sound game, with neither team getting their offense going. Finally, with 5:04 left on the clock, Anthony Foster got another goal on the board for the Golden Eagles. Mason Romfo and Braden Van de Kraats assisted on this goal on the powerplay. With 3:53 remaining in the period, the Badgers managed to get on the board thanks to a two on one rush that Alex Pottratz put past the glove of Tyler Swanson. The second period came to an end with the Golden Eagles ahead 5-1.
The third period was another close one for the Golden Eagles, and it all started with a Badgers goal with 13:37 left in the game from Carson Gunderson. A minute and a half later, Owen McDonough brought the Badgers within two. Directly after the goal, Steve Johnson and Brady Heppner called their timeout to take a minute to collect themselves and get back to their game. With the final 12 minutes, the Golden Eagles locked in and shut down the Badgers to keep their two goal lead. With 1:43 remaining, the Golden Eagles forced a turnover and were able to get Braden Van de Kraats alone with the empty net and the Golden Eagles took the 6-3 lead. Tyler Lorenz (So., D, Shakopee, Minn.) and Anthony Foster assisted on the game's final goal.
Tyler Swanson backstopped a strong game, saving 25 of the 28 shots he faced. The Golden Eagles are officially 3rd in the WCCHA with this win, and will now await the final Central Regional Rankings. The team will get next week off before heading to Hammond, Indiana for the Regional Tournament.
