Hensler Joins U.S. Collegiate Selects for Spengler Cup

Wisconsin defenseman Logan Hensler will miss the Badgers' Holiday Face-Off games while playing in Switzerland.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Hockey

Hensler Joins U.S. Collegiate Selects for Spengler Cup

University of Wisconsin third-year defenseman Logan Hensler was named to the U.S. Collegiate Selects roster for the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland. Hensler will miss Wisconsin's games at the Holiday Face-Off in Milwaukee.

Why it matters

Hensler's selection takes a key blue-liner away from the Badgers during their early-season tournament. The Spengler Cup features European pro teams and the U.S. Collegiate Selects, giving college players a high-level international stage.

Hensler, a 2025 first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators, is the third-year defenseman announced Thursday for the Spengler Cup. The Spengler Cup runs annually December 26-31, and the Badgers play Northern Michigan December 29 and Arizona State or UMass December 30 in Milwaukee.

The players

Logan Hensler

A third-year defenseman for the University of Wisconsin who was a first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in 2025 and has represented the U.S. at the World Junior Championship.

U.S. Collegiate Selects

A U.S. college all-star team that competes in the Spengler Cup, a tournament that debuted with the team finishing as runner-up.

Spengler Cup

An annual ice hockey tournament held in Davos, Switzerland, dating to 1923, featuring European pro clubs and the U.S. Collegiate Selects.

The details

Hensler was announced Thursday as part of the U.S. Collegiate Selects team bound for Davos, Switzerland. Brent Solomon and Eetu Orpana were involved in the selection process for teams playing in the World Juniors, which run December 26 through January 5.

Thursday (November 5, 2026): Hensler announced for U.S. Collegiate Selects
December 26-31, 2026: Spengler Cup takes place in Davos
December 29, 2026: Badgers face Northern Michigan at Holiday Face-Off
December 30, 2026: Badgers face Arizona State or UMass at Holiday Face-Off

Season Trajectory

Hensler has missed the Milwaukee tournament in each of the previous two seasons while representing the U.S. at the World Junior Championship. This year's Spengler Cup selection extends that pattern and could deepen the early-season roster strain for Wisconsin.

Fantasy and roster managers following Wisconsin's blue line should account for Hensler's absence during the Holiday Face-Off. The Badgers will need other defensemen to absorb the minutes he would normally play.

The takeaway

Player selections for international tournaments can shape a college program's early-season depth, so watching roster announcements helps fans anticipate lineup changes. Keeping an eye on the Holiday Face-Off schedule shows how these absences affect team performance.

What happens next

Wisconsin plays Northern Michigan on December 29 and Arizona State or UMass on December 30 at the Holiday Face-Off in Milwaukee, both without Hensler.