I have a friend whose son played for Wisconsin and was on the 2006 Frozen 4 winning Badgers team. He was able to visit and attend a number of games over those years and couldn’t believe the size and enthusiasm of the crowds for US college hockey. In Canada Major Junior hockey is king and university hockey an afterthought. It’s unfortunate because most players on Canadian university teams are former Major Junior players who are bigger and stronger than when they played Junior. The hockey is fast and hard hitting.
I graduated UW in Dec. 1979, just before the 1980 Olympics. There were so many Badgers involved, including speed skaters Eric and Beth Heiden and many players and coach from the Miracle on Ice team, that after the games there was a celebration with all involved at the football stadium! Still have those pictures somewhere, along with the autographed Time magazine with the Heidens on the cover.