Story byLeader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis. Zachary Bott, The Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire, Wis. Wed, February 4, 2026 at 2:47 AM UTC·4 min readSitting above the UW-Eau Claire hockey team locker rooms at Hobbs Ice Arena are banners. These banners hold the history of the university’s successes on the ice and will do so in perpetuity. On one side, you have the men’s accomplishments which range from winning the 2013 NCAA Division III National Championship, making four NCAA tournament appearances and winning three regular season WIAC championships and five Commissioner’s Cups, the latest of which coming last season. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Blugold women’s banners aren’t as extensive, yet still hold worthy accomplishments in their back-to-back O’Brien Cup wins in 2018 and 2019 and the team’s lone regular season championship in 2020. This year’s Blugolds, ranked No. 10 in Division III by U. S. College Hockey Online, are aiming to add more to those banners.“(It’s) nothing this group has done before, so it would be nice to see that go up on the wall,” sophomore Blugold forward Adrienne Hansen said. Eau Claire (16-5-0) is undefeated in eight WIAC games this year, placing it at the top of the conference ahead of UW-River Falls. Standing in the way of the Blugolds achieving their goals are the back-to-back defending national champions and current DIII No.
