(UW ATHLETICS) – Wisconsin men’s and women’s hockey standouts Ben Dexheimer and Caroline Harvey were named UW’s recipients of the 2026 Big Ten Medal of Honor.
The awards were presented at the end of April as part of the 2026 Buckinghams, UW Athletics’ annual awards show and student-athlete showcase.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is the conference’s most prestigious award and the first award in intercollegiate athletics to demonstrate support for the educational emphasis placed on athletics. First established in 1915, only one male and one female student-athlete now receive this award per Big Ten institution.
A member of the 2026 All-Big Ten First Team and the Big Ten’s top-scoring defender, Dexheimer captained the Badgers and led them to their first NCAA National Championship game since 2010. The Edina, Minnesota native scored the game-winning goal against third-overall seed Michigan State in the regional finals to send Wisconsin to the NCAA Frozen Four.
Following his four-year career as a Badger, Dexheimer signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild starting in 2026-27. He joined the AHL’s Iowa Wild on an Amateur Tryout Agreement (ATO) contract for the remainder of the season, skating in two games.
Dexheimer found success in the classroom as a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. He was chosen as Wisconsin’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner and received the team’s Spike Carlson/Chris Chelios Most Valuable Player award.
The 2026 Patty Kazmaier Award recipient and captain of the 2026 National Championship team, Harvey enjoyed a historic career with the Badgers. A native of Salem, New Hampshire, she broke UW’s single-season defensive scoring record with 64 points, a record she previously held, and completed her career with 201 points, the most of any Badger defender.
A three-time ACHA First-Team All-American, Harvey also helped lead Team USA to gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where she earned MVP honors. Months after completing her time as a Badger, Harvey was drafted first overall in the 2026 PWHL Draft and named the 2026 IIHF Female Player of Year.
Academically, Harvey excelled in the classroom as a three-time honoree of both the Academic All-Big Ten and Academic All-WCHA teams. In 2025, she was named a WCHA Scholar Athlete, the league’s highest academic honor.
Dexheimer and Harvey’s recognition marks the first time in school history that both Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients were members of the hockey team.
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