This weekend, the Madison Capitols come to Young Arena for a 6:35 p.m. game, but throughout the coming winter, Waterloo Black Hawks fans might be paying more attention to the other hockey team from Madison.
The Wisconsin Badgers suddenly have three Hawks alumni on their roster. Just two years ago there were none. Grady Deering initiated the trend as a freshman last season. The Central Iowa native had an impactful first year at the college level, churning out seven goals and eight assists while playing every night and helping the Badgers to the National Championship Game against Denver.
This year, Deering has been reunited with two former Waterloo teammates: Dylan Compton and Chase Jette. Compton was a freshman at Northeastern last year before transferring during the summer. Jette opened the 2025/26 campaign in Waterloo and finished in Green Bay during a final junior season derailed by a long stint on injured reserve.
The three Waterloo stars are hoping for more memorable exploits together, and the first weekend of college hockey was a good start. Last Friday, Compton's power play goal turned out to be the game-winner during Wisconsin's season-opening 4-2 victory over Robert Morris. Later on, Jette tallied his first collegiate point with a shorthanded assist during the third period. Then Saturday, Deering had the only goal as the Badgers blanked the Colonials 1-0.
Wisconsin is one of several Division I programs you will want to keep tabs on this season. Many college teams have already taken the ice, with more starting this weekend. Find your favorite former Hawks in the list below.
Alaska - Carson Reed, Calvin Vachon
Alaska-Anchorage - Connor Brown
Arizona State - Nicholas DeGraves
Army - Owen Crudale, JJ Cataldo
Augustana - Ryan Whiterabbit
Bemidji State - Jake McLean
Boston College - Teddy Mallgrave
Bowling Green - Adam Zlnka
Brown - Cullen Emery, Griffin Erdman
Clarkson - Adam Cardona
Colgate - Jake Schneider
Colorado College - Aidan Shirey, Charlie Strobel
Connecticut - Kam Hendrickson
Dartmouth - Emmett Croteau
Denver - Brendan McMorrow
Ferris State - Zach Bade, Adyn Merrick
Lake Superior State - Carter Batchelder, Hunter Ramos
Lindenwood - Jake Delaney
Long Island - Nate Benoit, Dane Callaway
Maryville - Adam Timm
Massachusetts - Landon Nycz
Massachusetts-Lowell - Niko Goich
Miami - Michael Phelan, Bradley Walker
Michigan - Ben Robertson, Garrett Schifsky
Michigan State - Patrick Geary, Gavin O'Connell, Brady Peddle, JJ Salajko
Michigan Tech - Owen Baker, Morgan Brady, Reid Daavettila, Tyler Miller
Minnesota - Keith Mclnnis, Jackson Nevers, Aaron Pionk, Teddy Townsend
Minnesota-Duluth - Ryan Zaremba
Minnesota State - Easton Hewson, Reid Morich, Fin Williams
Nebraska-Omaha - Marcus Broberg, Myles Hilman
North Dakota - Brock Schultz, Gavin Lindberg
Northeastern - Grayson Badger
Northern Michigan - Zach Michaelis
Notre Dame - Jaedon Kerr, David Klee
Ohio State - James Hong
Penn State - Nicholas Fascia
Princeton - Daniel Moor
Providence -JJ Monterio, John Mustard
Quinnipiac - Matthew Lansing
Sacred Heart - Jack Spicer
St. Cloud State - Gavyn Thoreson
St. Lawrence - Jake Rozzi
St. Thomas - Jakub Altrichter, Kaeden Hawkins
Union College - Tommy Cronin, Will Felicio, Jacob Jeannette
Vermont - Michael LaStarza, Daniel Sambuco, David Sacco
Western Michigan - Sam Huck, Ty Mason
Wisconsin - Dylan Compton, Grady Deering, Chase Jette
Yale - Drew Waterfield
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