The University of Wisconsin and Providence College women’s hockey teams will open their respective seasons on Oct. 2-3 at Sharks Ice-San Jose with a two-game series.

The two respected NCAA Division I programs have not met since November of 2009, when the Badgers defeated the Friars, 4-1, in Providence.

Open practices are scheduled for both teams on Oct. 1 at Sharks Ice. Game 1of the series will begin that evening at 7 p.m. and Game 2 is scheduled for 3 p.m on Saturday.

“San Jose has hosted multiple (USA Hockey National Championships) for the girls, and this presents a great opportunity to expose Division I women’s hockey to that part of the country,” said Badgers head coach Mark Johnson.

“It should be a great weekend of hockey and, at the same time, an opportunity for both teams to give back as we’ll gather Sunday morning (Oct. 4) to put a clinic on for youth girls players in the area.”

The series will also feature San Jose Jr. Sharks graduate and Providence College senior Lexi Romanchuk. A 1994 birth year for the Friars, the defenseman played the majority of her youth career with the Jr. Sharks and earned academic honors at Valley Christian High School.

For more information on the weekend’s events, visit SharksIceAtSanJose.com.