Denver’s late rally
Denver rallied with two third‑period goals to beat Wisconsin 2–1 and claim the NCAA men’s hockey title on April 11. (usatoday.com) Freshman goalie Johnny Hicks made 29 saves in the win, extending a stretch since Jan. 24 in which he was 14‑0‑1, and the victory gave Denver its 11th national championship — the program’s third in five years. (denverpost.com)
Denver erased a 1-0 deficit with two third-period goals Saturday night and beat Wisconsin 2-1 to win the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s hockey championship in Las Vegas. (ncaa.com) Rieger Lorenz tied the game at 7:31 of the third period, and Kyle Chyzowski scored the winner at 14:08 on a tip with 5:52 left at T-Mobile Arena. (uscho.com) Wisconsin led on Vasily Zelenov’s first-period goal at 13:36 and finished with a 30-15 edge in shots, but Denver freshman goalie Johnny Hicks stopped 29 of 30 attempts. (uscho.com) The win gave Denver its 11th national title, extending the program record in Division I men’s hockey, and its third championship in five seasons after titles in 2022 and 2024. (denverpioneers.com) Denver reached this final two nights earlier by beating Michigan 4-3 in double overtime, with Hicks making a career-high 49 saves in the national semifinal. (sports.yahoo.com) Hicks’ rise changed Denver’s season in January, after he took over in net when Quentin Miller was injured on Jan. 24 against St. Cloud State. Denver entered the Frozen Four unbeaten in its previous 15 games at 14-0-1 with Hicks as the starter. (denverpioneers.com) Wisconsin was chasing its first national championship since 2006 and its seventh overall, but the Badgers went 0 for 1 on the power play and did not score after the opening period. (denverpioneers.com) All three Frozen Four games in Las Vegas were decided by one goal, and the championship drew an announced crowd of 17,849. Denver left with the trophy again, after spending most of the night one shot away from losing it. (collegehockeyinc.com)
