The University of Wisconsin men's hockey team will have a new starting goaltender for the 2024-25 season.
Kyle McClellan, a finalist for the Mike Richter Award as the nation's top goaltender, has signed an amateur tryout with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League.
Changes on the ice lead Wisconsin men's hockey goalies to national leadership
McClellan led the nation in save percentage with .931 and seven shutouts in the 2023-24 season, his second year with the Badgers after transferring from Mercyhurst. He was the Big Ten goaltender of the year, and his save percentage ranked third in Badgers history for a season.
Others are also reading…
After losing 3-2 in overtime to Quinnipiac in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 29, coach Mike Hastings said he was a “rock” for the Badgers.
“He's been outstanding since the beginning of the year,” Hastings said. “He put in a lot of work with the support of his teammates, his nutritionist, his strength coach, but it was Kyle who put in the effort. I think we're starting to see what we're doing.'' McClellan is made of. ”
McClellan, 25, started his senior season with two consecutive shutouts against Augustana and returned from the holiday break with two more shutouts to lead the Badgers to the Holiday Faceoff Championship.
The Badgers have been studying the goalie market in the transfer portal with the idea that McClellan would likely leave after this season rather than take advantage of his fifth year of eligibility.
Kyle McClellan's .931 save percentage in the 2023-24 season ranks third in Badger history.
Samantha Madar, State Journal Archives
William Gramm, who started three games, is scheduled to return for the 2024-25 season. Wisconsin also signed Anton Castro of the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League to join the team this offseason.
Two of the most experienced goaltenders in this portal are RIT's Tommy Scarfone and Penn State's Liam Souliere, who both have one season of eligibility remaining. Scarfone helped the Tigers win the regular season and playoffs in Atlantic Hockey.
McClellan was a top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, but did not finish in the top three in the voting. We'll find out Friday if he's Wisconsin's first recipient of the Mike Richter Award, named after the former Badgers goaltender.
Wisconsin NHL first-round draft pick enters transfer portal as forward commit to Badgers
He had a strong second half of the 2021-22 season at Mercyhurst and entered the transfer portal looking for a better path to a professional career. Wisconsin acquired him, but he only started eight of the team's 36 games in 2022-23.
Head coach Hastings said he wasn't sure where the goalie position was going heading into Week 1 of the season, but McClellan has been a key part of the team's 9-1 start. This gave the Badgers his No. 1 spot in the national rankings for the week and set the team up for his second NCAA Tournament appearance in the past 10 seasons.
“I'm proud of this group,” McClellan said after the first-round loss. “Personally, this is similar to my story. No one expected us to even come close to where we are now. It shows what our group is capable of, and I I know we left everything out there and we're going to be good for the world in the years to come. ”
PHOTOS: Samantha Madar's favorite photos of Wisconsin men's hockey from the regular season
Wisconsin's Christian Fitzgerald takes to the ice before a game against the Lindenwood Lions on Jan. 13, 2024, at the Kohl Center in Madison.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Quinn Finley celebrates after scoring a goal in an unofficial penalty shootout against Minnesota at the Kohl Center on February 3, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Owen Mehlenbacher shoots the puck against Minnesota defenseman Karl Fisch during the first period at the Kohl Center, Feb. 2, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin's David Cirie breaks his stick while shooting the puck during the second period of a game against Lindenwood at the Kohl Center on Jan. 13, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
University of Wisconsin forward Owen Lindmark celebrates after scoring in the third period against Minnesota on February 2, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Tyson Dike attempts to pass the puck during the second period of a game against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center on February 10, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin goaltender Kyle McClellan stops the puck during the second period of a game against Notre Dame on February 9, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
University of Wisconsin forward Mathieu de Saint Phalle (left) and forward Simon Tussey celebrate after defeating Michigan at the Kohl Center in Madison on Nov. 4, 2023.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
The Wisconsin student section sings during the third period of a game against Notre Dame on February 9, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin defenseman Joe Parodiczak slides into the puck with Minnesota forward Brody Lamb during the third period at Kohl Center on February 3, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Carson Bantle (right) celebrates with forward David Cirier after scoring in the third period against Notre Dame on February 9, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
University of Wisconsin forward Mathieu de Saint Phalle celebrates after scoring a goal in the first period against Michigan on Nov. 4, 2023, at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin's Daniel Latsch, from left, Kyle McClellan and Anthony Koehler are introduced before the game against the Lindenwood Lions on January 12, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Quinn Finley prepares for puck drop during the first period against Notre Dame on Feb. 10, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin's Ben Dexheimer takes to the ice before a game against Lindenwood on Jan. 12, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
On February 2, 2024, during the first period at Kohl Center, Minnesota defenseman Ryan Chesley, 71, grabbed Wisconsin forward Sawyer Scholl and threw him onto the ice.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward William Whitelaw, 8, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal in an unofficial shootout against Minnesota at the Kohl Center on February 3, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Notre Dame's Niko Jovanovic pushes Wisconsin forward Quinn Finley onto the ice during the first period at the Kohl Center on February 9, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
University of Wisconsin forward Simon Tussey skates with the puck during the first period of a game against Notre Dame on February 9, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
University of Wisconsin forward Christian Fitzgerald celebrates with fans after scoring in the second period against Notre Dame at the Kohl Center in Madison on February 9, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Penn State defenseman Jimmy Dowd Jr.'s skate touches Wisconsin forward Simon Tussey during the second period at the Kohl Center on Dec. 8, 2023.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Carson Buntle smiles as Notre Dame forward Carter Slaggert, 25, speaks with Buntle during the third period at the Kohl Center on February 9, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin defenseman Joe Parodiczak (14), forward Tyson Dike (16) and defenseman Ben Dexheimer (4) were hit by forward William after Whitelaw scored in the first period.・Celebrate with Whitelaw (8). February 10, 2024 at the call center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Carson Bantle shoots the puck during the first period of a game against Notre Dame on February 10, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Notre Dame defenseman Michael Mastrodomenico punches Wisconsin forward Simon Tussey during the second period at the Kohl Center on February 10, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin's Jack Hoback passes the puck to Owen Lindmark during a game against Alaska Anchorage on Nov. 24, 2023 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin defenseman Anthony Koehler, 24, forward Mathieu de Saint Phalle, 12, and forwards David Cilliers, 15, and Carson Bantle, 21, were leaning against the boards as referees called Madison's call center at the game site on Feb. 3, 2024, while reviewing the play against Minnesota.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Simon Tussey shoots the puck at Michigan State goaltender Trey Augustine during the first period at the Kohl Center in Madison on March 1, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin forward Owen Mehlenbacher passes the puck during the first period of a game against the Michigan State Spartans on March 1, 2024 at the Kohl Center.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin players yell at Michigan State forward Reid Lebster, who rolled onto the Badgers' bench in the first period, at the Kohl Center on March 1, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Michigan State defenseman Patrick Geary punches Wisconsin forward Sawyer Scholl during the first period at the Kohl Center on March 2, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
Wisconsin goaltender Kyle McClellan blocks a Michigan State shot during the second period at the Kohl Center in Madison on March 2, 2024.
Samantha Madar, State Journal
