Friday, April 10, 2026

Men’s Notes: Denver, Wisconsin advance to title game

DU wins in double-OT, Badgers knock off North Dakota

LAS VEGAS – The first-ever NCAA Frozen Four in Las Vegas is certainly doing its part to uphold the city’s Entertainment Capital of the World mantra.

Wisconsin held off a last-minute rally by North Dakota in the first of two semifinals Thursday at T-Mobile Arena, and Denver captain Kent Anderson (Sr., Calgary, Alberta) ended the third-longest game in Frozen Four history in the nightcap against Michigan, setting up a championship showdown between the Badgers and Pioneers on Saturday night.

DU is chasing its record 11th men’s hockey national title – and third in five years – while the Badgers aim to end a 20-year championship drought.

Saturday’s championship game begins at 2:30 p.m. PT (5:30 p.m. ET) on ESPN, ESPN+ and TSN2. The game can also be heard on Westwood One Sports.

Frozen Four Media (.pdf) | Tournament Bracket

Daily Scoreboard | Weekly Schedule | Scoring Leaders | Goaltending Leaders

Wisconsin 2, North Dakota 1

Box Score

Wisconsin came into the Frozen Four with the second-worst penalty kill (70.9 percent) in all of college hockey.

You can crumple up those numbers and throw them straight into the trash after the way the Badgers’ PK performed Thursday afternoon.

Wisconsin killed all five North Dakota power-play opportunities, including nearly two full minutes of a 5-on-3 advantage in the second period, on its way to a 2-1 victory and a berth in Saturday’s national championship game at T-Mobile Arena.

The Badgers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals 27 seconds apart by Simon Tassy (Sr., Montreal, Quebec) and Ryan Botterill (So., Portage La Prairie, Manitoba). Tassy’s was a top-corner snipe from the high slot, while Botterill converted a breakaway for the eventual game-winner.

But the big story was the Badgers stifling of a North Dakota power play that had been firing at nearly 27 percent on the season, making it one of the nation’s top units.

“We spent a lot of time preparing against their power play, watching a lot of film,” said UW defenseman and senior captain Ben Dexheimer (Edina, Minn.). “Honestly, at the end of the day, I think this time of year it comes down to the want to get the puck out, the want to block shots. I think that was the difference with our kill tonight.”

When UND did generate an opportunity – be it with the man advantage or at even strength – UW netminder Daniel Hauser (Fr., Chestermere, Alberta) was equal to the task. The freshman made a handful of Grade A stops, including breakaway chances by Will Zellers (Fr., Maple Grove, Minn.) and Ollie Josephson (Fr., Victoria, British Columbia).

“We know if we make a mistake, which is going to happen, we have a guy back there that can bail us out multiple times a game, which he showed today,” Dexheimer said of Hauser. “He’s been an unbelievable rock back there for us. We love what he’s doing.”

Hauser also got a little help from the iron when UND’s Cole Reschny (Fr., Macklin, Saskatchewan) flipped a backhand shot off the crossbar midway through the third period, nullifying what would have been an electrifying short-handed goal.

The Fighting Hawks (29-10-1) finally solve5d Hauser with an extra attacker on the ice late in the third, while Ellis Rickwood (Sr., Brantford, Ontario) banged home a Dylan James (Sr., Calgary, Alberta) centering feed, but it was too little, too late for the tournament’s No. 2 overall seed.

“We new North Dakota would be a very difficult out,” UW head coach Mike Hastings (St. Cloud State ’93) said. “They were. At this time of year, you’ve just got to find a way to survive and move on.”

Denver 4, Michigan 3 (2OT)

Box Score

Anderson isn’t known for his goal-scoring prowess. He’d scored only one time in 41 games this season prior to the Frozen Four, and he had totaled just five tallies in 148 career contests.

But the senior captain scored the biggest goal of his life Thursday night when Kristian Epperson (Fr., Mequon, Wis.) found him alone on the slot, and Anderson wired a shot glove-side past Michigan goalie Jack Ivankovic, giving the Pioneers a 4-3 win at 12:35 of the second overtime period.

It ended the third-longest game in Frozen Four history and sent the Pioneers to the national title game for the sixth time this century.

“Really proud of him, how he’s led this team,” DU head coach David Carle said of his captain. “It was a great play, obviously, to get it off his stick. He works on that shot a lot in goalie skates. We do a drill that’s very similar to that almost on a weekly basis.

“Unsung hero. Not many had him on the ‘Bucci OT Challenge.’ No matter.”

The marathon victory extended Denver’s winning streak to 12 games and its unbeaten streak to 16. That also meant freshman goalie Johnny Hicks (Kamloops, British Columbia) still hasn’t lost an NCAA game.

Hicks stopped 49 shots (21 of them in overtime) to improve his record to an astounding 15-0-1.

The Pioneers forced overtime with just under three minutes remaining, when Clarke Caswell (Fr., Brandon, Manitoba) tipped home a Garrett Brown (Jr., San Jose, Calif.) centering feed from the corner.

Kyle Chyzkowski (Fr., Surrey, British Columbia) and Cale Ashcroft (Jr., St. Albert, Alberta) also scored for DU, while Michigan got goals from Josh Eernisse (Sr., Eagan, Minn.), T.J. Hughes (Sr., Hamilton, Ontario), and Jayden Perron (Jr., Winnipeg, Manitoba).

“It means everything to play in this national championship game,” Anderson said. “It’s our goal at the beginning of the year. It’s what we work for, and what we play for at Denver.”

Longest Frozen Four Games:

100:28—Maine (4) vs. Michigan (3), NSF, March 30, 1995 (3 OT)
97:11—Bowling Green (5) vs. Minn. Duluth (4), CH, March 24, 1984 (4 OT)
92:35—Denver (4) vs. Michigan (3), NSF, April 9, 2026 (2 OT)
89:31—Colorado Col. (4) vs. Vermont (3), NSF, March 28, 1996 (2 OT)
85:45—Rensselaer (6) vs. Minn. Duluth (5), NSF, March 29, 1985 (3 OT)

Must Read:

The Athletic: Wisconsin upsets North Dakota to advance to national title game
Badger Extra: Out of a nightmare, freshman gives Wisconsin a back-checking boost
Boston Globe: On Wisconsin: Badgers hold off North Dakota to reach NCAA Frozen Four title game
College Hockey News: With the will, there’s a way
College Hockey News: Dexheimer shines again for title-game-bound Badgers
College Hockey News: Wisconsin’s fast start sends Badgers to national title game
College Hockey News: Soaking in Sin City
Grand Forks Herald: UND’s Frozen Four run ends with 2-1 loss to Wisconsin
Grand Forks Herald: UND fans quieted by Frozen Four defeat
USCHO: Five chances, no answers for North Dakota on power play
Wisconsin State Journal: Wisconsin stuns North Dakota, will play for men’s hockey national title

Notebook Quotebook:

“I’m not great at processing things. What I do know is I love this team more than anything – every single one of these guys. I want them to be a part of my life forever.”

— North Dakota senior F and assistant captain Ben Strinden (Fargo, N.D.) following Thursday’s 2-1 loss to Wisconsin (source: Grand Forks Herald).

Fries at the Bottom of the Bag:

Thursday attendance was 17,942 … DU’s 16-game unbeaten streak (15-0-1) is the longest by a team entering the national title game since Minnesota State brought a 17-game unbeaten streak into the 2022 championship game. MSU lost that night to Denver … The Pioneers’ 12-game winning streak is the longest in NCAA Division I men’s hockey this season … Wisconsin D Joe Palodichuk (Jr., Cottage Grove, Minn.), who had an assist, played in his 100th NCAA game Thursday … James closed out his career at North Dakota on a five-game point streak, although his four-game goal streak came to an end.

Conference Champions (playoffs):

Atlantic Hockey – Bentley
Big Ten – Michigan
CCHA – Minnesota State
ECAC Hockey – Dartmouth
Hockey East – Merrimack
NCHC – Denver

Conference Champions (reg. season)

Atlantic Hockey – Bentley
Big Ten – Michigan State
CCHA – Minnesota State
ECAC Hockey – Quinnipiac
Hockey East – Providence
NCHC – North Dakota

Conference Websites

College Hockey Inc. Resources:

Did you know? 93% of NCAA Division I men’s hockey players earn their degree!