Denver wins Frozen Four
Denver came from behind to beat Wisconsin 2–1 and clinch the 2026 NCAA men's hockey championship at T‑Mobile Arena on April 11, giving the Pioneers their 11th national title and extending their Division I record, per NCAA.com and ESPN. (ncaa.com) Johnny Hicks, a freshman goalie who had not lost a college game entering the final, made 29 saves and was named the Frozen Four’s Most Outstanding Player. ( )
Denver erased a third-period deficit on April 11 and beat Wisconsin 2-1 in Las Vegas to win the 2026 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s hockey championship. (ncaa.com) Wisconsin led 1-0 after Vasily Zelenov scored in the first period at T-Mobile Arena, but Denver tied it on a Rieger Lorenz goal and went ahead when Kyle Chyzowski redirected a point shot with 5:52 left. (ncaa.com) Freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks stopped 29 shots in the final after making 49 saves in a double-overtime semifinal against Michigan, and he was named the Frozen Four’s Most Outstanding Player. (denverpost.com; nationaltoday.com) The win gave Denver 11 national titles, extending the program’s Division I record. It was also the Pioneers’ third championship in five seasons and second in three. (ncaa.com; nhl.com) Denver’s latest title also kept the National Collegiate Hockey Conference on top of the sport’s recent championship list, with that league claiming eight of the past 10 men’s hockey crowns. (nbcchicago.com) Wisconsin entered the game chasing its first national championship since 2006 and finished the season 24-13-2 after reaching the title game under coach Mike Hastings. (denverpioneers.com; uscho.com) Denver finished 29-11-3 and won the title two days after a taxing semifinal against Michigan, when Hicks carried the Pioneers through a 3-2 double-overtime game. (denverpioneers.com; du.edu) For Denver, the closing image was familiar: another late push, another standout goaltending performance, and another trophy added to the program’s record total. (ncaa.com; denverpost.com)
