On Dec. 5, 2025, The University of Wisconsin La Crosse men’s club hockey team faced off against the Waldorf University Warriors at the Green Island Ice Arena. Club hockey offers students a chance play in a competitive setting without the weights and stressors of other sports.
“It’s a way to continue to play a competitive level of hockey but not having as much stress and commitment as NCAA hockey or other sports. We practice on average twice a week, it’s student ran and very enjoyable” said club president Josh Christofferson when connecting with The Racquet Press after the game.
In a high-flying offensive showcase the Eagles would emerge victorious with a final score of 8-5. In the first period the Eagles would take an early lead due to holding a strong net presence. UWL opened the scoring quick and early by going up 1-0 in a matter of less than three minutes. The Warriors were unable to gain any traction throughout the first period as a combination of the Eagles stifling defense and unrelenting aggressiveness would hold them scoreless. In contrast The Eagles were putting up shot after shot and making them at a high rate as they would score three more goals ending the first period of play 4-0.
Christofferson remarked about being proud of the way the team was able to start the game and their ability to ration out scoring.
“I think we did a good job of starting the game off strong, which has been an issue for us in the past. We also had different guys contributing, we had some defensemen score and multiple players score”
The UWL student section was loving the early performance as a packed crowd would erupt in cheering and chants after every goal. The second period would open the same as the first. The Eagles were able to score quickly holding a commanding 5-0 lead over the Warriors. Despite this huge lead Waldorf University would not back down. They were able to get past the Eagles’ defense and score two points bring the score closer 5-2. Before the end of the second period UWL was able to increase their lead 6-2.
The final period was characterized by more scoring and an increase in scuffles on the ice. Both teams would be trading goals. First Waldorf brought the score closer to goals, bringing the game within two with the score 6-4. Then the Eagles bounced right back, scoring two goals of their own and establishing the largest lead of the game 8-4. Throughout this period UWL and Waldorf players began crashing into each other with pushes and shoves. Two times during the period players from both teams were sent to the penalty box after scuffles on the ice. Before the period ended Waldorf was able to bring the final score to a closer 8-5 with one last goal.
This victory on the season pushes the UWL club hockey record to 6-7-1. With the remainder of the season the team is hoping to stack some more games in the win column.
“We don’t have a lot of games left for the remainder of the season. We are looking forward to playing teams we lost to earlier in a showcase against both Eau Claire and Northern Michigan and hopefully end up with a winning record overall” said Christofferson.
The team will continue their season after the winter break matching up against the UW-Eau Claire on Jan. 30-31.
