Denver Beats Wisconsin to Win 2026 NCAA Hockey Championship Bracket

The University of Denver men's hockey team sits atop the college hockey world for the third time in the last five seasons.

Denver claimed a 2-1 comeback victory over Wisconsin on Saturday to win the 2026 Frozen Four title in Las Vegas.

Buffalo Sabres prospect Vasily Zelenov put Wisconsin on the board first Saturday by scoring on the rush early in the first.

In a matchup between two of the highest-scoring teams in men's college hockey this season, Wisconsin's relentless forechecking and backchecking helped limit Denver's breakouts early in the title game.

When Denver did break through in the first two periods, Wisconsin's shot-blockers were ready. The Badgers led the Pioneers 19-5 in shots by the end of the second period.

The tide started to turn when Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks made a stop at the second-period buzzer in order to keep the deficit at one goal heading into the final frame.

Hicks stood tall again early in the third with a point-blank save on Wisconsin forward Jack Horbach five minutes into play.

Those clutch saves gave Denver forward Rieger Lorenz the chance to tie the game with the Pioneers' first goal of the day two minutes later.

Hicks made another lunging save on Wisconsin's Gavin Morrissey to keep the game tied shortly before freshman forward Kyle Chyzowski tipped in the Pioneers' go-ahead goal with just under six minutes remaining.

Wisconsin rang a potential tying goal off the cross bar just before Denver drew a holding penalty in the final five minutes of regulation.

The Badgers killed off the penalty and pulled goaltender Daniel Hauser with two minutes left, but were unable to get a tying goal past Hicks before time expired.

Wisconsin earned a spot in the final after scoring twice in a 30-second span early in a 2-1 upset of North Dakota. The Badgers are still in search of their first national championship since 2006.

Denver made it to the title game thanks to a double overtime goal from Kent Anderson in a 4-3 semifinal victory over Michigan and will now leave Las Vegas with their third championship trophy in eight seasons under head coach David Carle.