Ice hockey is quite popular in the Midwestern American state of Wisconsin as it’s home to several competitive teams. The state hosts a professional minor-league club as well as a number of men’s and women’s collegiate teams, high school squads, junior clubs, youth programs and amateur franchises.
Does Wisconsin Have an NHL Team?
The state of Wisconsin doesn’t have an NHL club and has never had one.
Why Doesn’t Wisconsin Have an NHL Team?
There hasn’t really been much talk of NHL expansion to Wisconsin as there are already two NHL clubs relatively close by in the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild. At the moment, the NHL is reportedly considering expansion franchises in cities such as Houston, Texas, Kansas City, Missouri and Quebec, Canada.
The state’s largest city, Milwaukee, was considered a potential destination for an NHL franchise in the past. Lloyd Pettit, a former Chicago Blackhawks broadcaster and his wife Jane Pettit headed a group which attempted to bring an existing NHL club or xpansion franchise to the city in the 1990s.
However, the Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators were awarded with franchises instead and began play in the 1992/93 season. It was reported the Pettit’s, who then owned the Milwaukee Admirals minor-league team, lost interest in the venture and withdrew their request when they found out the NHL wanted a $50 million fee for a new franchise rather than the $30 million they believed it would cost.
The Pettit’s felt the cost was too steep for a club which would likely be noncompetitive for several seasons due to the NHL’s expansion draft rules which allowed existing teams to protect most of their best players.
Does Wisconsin Have an AHL Team?
The Milwaukee Admirals currently play in the AHL (American Hockey League) in the Central Division of the Western Conference with the franchise being affiliated with the Nashville Predators of the NHL.
When Did the Milwaukee Admirals Join the AHL?
The club originated in 1970 as an amateur team named the Milwaukee Kings and changed its name to the Milwaukee Admirals in 1971. The franchise played an independent schedule until 1973 when it joined the semiprofessional USHL (United States Hockey League).
The team then joined the IHL (International Hockey League) in 1977 and began playing in the AHL in 2001 when the IHL folded. The Admirals won the AHL championship, the Calder Cup, in the 2003/04 campaign but the club didn’t play in the 2020/21 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Former Professional Hockey Teams in Wisconsin
There have been several other pro hockey teams in Wisconsin over the years including:
The Milwaukee Drueckers played amateur hockey between 1918 and 1922 in Milwaukee and then became a professional club from 1922 to 1926 with their home games being held at Castle Ice Gardens. Also, in the late 1930s the Luick Dairy Company sponsored a Milwaukee team for five years.
The Milwaukee Clarks played in the city in 1948/49 as a member of the IHL and competed in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League in 1949/1950. Their home games were played at the Coliseum at the State Fair Park.
In 1950, the Milwaukee Seagulls played in the old American Hockey League, which is now known as the USHL (United States Hockey League). When the Seagulls ceased operating the Milwaukee Chiefs played in the IHL from 1952 to 1954 and were followed by the Milwaukee Falcons in the IHL in 1959/60 before they folded early in their second season. The Falcons were followed by the Milwaukee Metros but the team folded during its first season in the United States Central Hockey League in 1961.
The Green Bay Bobcats became the first pro hockey team in Green Bay in 1958 and played their home games at the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena. The franchise played in the U.S. Central Hockey League and folded in 1981.
The Madison Monsters competed in the UHL (United Hockey League) from 1995 to 1999 in the city of Madison, Wisconsin with their home games being played at the Dane County Memorial Coliseum. The league was known as the Colonial Hockey League until 1997 when it became the UHL. Before the 1999/2000 campaign the franchise relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee and became the Knoxville Speed.
When the Madison Monsters left town the Madison Kodiaks took over as the local UHL team and also played its home games at the Dane County Memorial Coliseum. The team was affiliated with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals but moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan after just one season due to poor attendance and became the Kalamazoo Wings.
In 2009/10, the Madison Ice Muskies competed in the AAHL (All American Hockey League) with their home games being played in Madison. After one season the team relocated to Wooster, Ohio and was renamed the Wooster Korn Kings. However, the franchise folded soon after moving to Ohio.
Where is the Milwaukee Admirals Hockey Stadium?
The Milwaukee Admirals have played their home games since 2016 at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Panther Arena which has a capacity of 9,652 for ice hockey. The arena opened in 1950 when it was known as the Milwaukee Arena.
Between 1974 and 1995 it was called the MECCA Arena; between 1995 and 2000 it was named the Wisconsin Center Arena and from 2000 to 2014 it was known as the U.S. Cellular Arena. The Admirals played from 1988 to 2016 at the Bradley Center and before that they played at Wilson Park.
The biggest indoor sports arena in Milwaukee however is the Fiserv Forum which is home to the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA (National Baseketball Association) and opened in August, 2018.
Who Are Some Notable NHL Players Born in Wisconsin?
There have been approximately 40 Wisconsin-born players in the NHL with the most notable of these being:
- Phil Kessel
- Cole Caufield
- Joe Pavelski
- Gary Suter
- Ryan Suter
- Drew Stafford
- Craig Smith
- Alex Galchenyuk
- Nick Schmatlz
- Craig Ludwig
- David Maley
- Will Butcher
- Jake McCabe
- Jack Skille
- David Steckel
- Mason Appleton
- Anders Bjork
Does Wisconsin Have Any ECHL Teams?
There are currently no ECHL teams located in Wisconsin and there never have been any from the state in the league.
Does Wisconsin Have NCAA Hockey?
The Wisconsin Badgers play in the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey program with their home games being held at the Kohl Center in the city of Madison with capacity for over 15,000 fans. The men’s and women’s teams represent the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The men’s team has won six national championships, which came in 1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990 and 2006.
The Marquette Golden Eagles men’s team represents Marquette University and play in Division II in the American Collegiate Hockey Association while the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) host men’s and women’s hockey teams in Division III of the NCAA. In addition, University of Wisconsin Stevens Point have men’s and women’s teams in Division III.
Other popular colleges with hockey programs in Wisconsin include: Concordia University, Lawrence University, Marian University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee School of Engineering, Northland College, Northland International University, Saint Norbert College, University of Wisconsin (Eau Claire), University of Wisconsin (Stout) and the University of Wisconsin (Superior).
What Junior Hockey is in Wisconsin?
The WJHL (Wisconsin Junior Hockey League) was an independent Junior A league which formed in 2008/09, but folded in November, 2008 due to financial problems. There are still several notable junior teams in the state though such as the following:
The Wisconsin Lumberjacks, who play at the Spooner Civic Center in the town of Spooner, joined the SIJHL (Superior International Junior Hockey League) in 2019.
The junior A league is a member of the CJHL (Canadian Junior Hockey League) and Hockey Canada with teams in the American states of Wisconsin and and Minnesota and the Canadian province of Ontario. The Wisconsin Wilderness played in the league in 2013/14 before folding.
The Chippewa Steel Tier II junior hockey team plays in Chippewa Falls in the NAHL (North American Hockey) while the Green Bay Gamblers Tier I junior team compete in the Eastern Conference of the USHL (United States Hockey League). The club is based in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin with their home games being played at the Resch Center.
The Janesville Jets Tier II junior team competes in the NAHL (North American Hockey League) as well and play their home games at the Janesville Ice Arena in the city of Janesville. Other Wisconsin-based NAHL teams include the Wisconsin Windigo in the town of Eagle River.
The Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings Junior A team plays in the USPHL (United States Premier Hockey League) in the Premier Midwest Division. The team’s home games take place at the South Wood County Recreation Center in the city of Wisconsin Rapids. The Dells Ducks (Lake Delton) and Hudson Havoc (Hudson) are two other Wisconsin junior teams in the USPHL.
Is Hockey Popular in Wisconsin?
Youth, high school and collegiate hockey are popular in Wisconsin with teams from the University of Wisconsin and Marquette University attracting up to 2,500 fans on outdoor rinks as far back as the 1920s.
Pond hockey was played on Lake Mendota in the city of Madison in the late 1800s and the University of Wisconsin launched an informal ice hockey program in the 1910s and joined an intercollegiate league in 1921.
In addition, the Wisconsin Amateur Hockey Association (WAHA) was formed in the 1960s and the Southeastern Hockey Association of Wisconsin originated in the 1970s to help grow youth hockey.
The state has also been home to several other youth, amateur, semi-pro and pro minor league clubs including the Wisconsin Junior Jets Hockey Program.
Final Thoughts
Ice hockey is alive and well in Wisconsin as the sport has a long and colourful history there. There’s no doubt hockey will continue to thrive there but it’s highly unlikely the state will be awarded with an NHL expansion franchise anytime soon.
What hockey teams are in other states?
- What Hockey Team Is In New York?
- What Hockey Team Is in Ohio?
- What Hockey Team is in Minnesota?
- What Hockey Teams are in Alberta? (Battle of Alberta)
- How Many NHL Hockey Teams are in Florida?
Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.
