MILWAUKEE, Wis. â€Ã‚“ The third time was not the charmfor the Northern Michigan hockey team in the championship game of the Bank OneBadger Hockey Showdown in Milwaukee on Monday night. Ã‚  The â€Ã‚˜Cats were making their third trip to the championship gameof the event and each time the Wisconsin Badgers were the opponent.  This yearâ€Ã‚™s edition was no different asWisconsin downed the Wildcats 3-1.  NMUis now 10-7-1 on the year while Wisconsin improves to 7-11-0.

The Badgers jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Rene Bourquescored his eighth goal of the season at 19:57 of the first period.  Andrew Contois, in just his second game as aWildcat, tied the game with a power-play goal for his first career goal at 2:04of the second period.  John Miller andJuha Alen assisted.  At 13:42 of thesecond period, Tom Gilbert scored the game-winning goal for the Badgers to makethe score 2-1.  The Badgers would add anempty net goal by John Funk at 19:27 of the third period for the final margin.

NMU managed 16 shots on goal to the Badgers 33 shots ongoal. The Wildcats did not have a shot on goal for the third period.  Scott Kabotoff went the distance in goal forWisconsin and registered 15 saves. Craig Kowalski was between the pipes for the â€Ã‚˜Cats and had 30 saves onthe night.

NMU will be at Bowling Green State University on Jan. 10-11for their next action.