Wisconsin, Denver Advance to NCAA Hockey Final

In Las Vegas, the University of Wisconsin and the University of Denver advanced to the 2026 NCAA men's hockey championship game by defeating North Dakota and Michigan, respectively, in the Frozen Four semifinals on Thursday at T-Mobile Arena.

Wisconsin secured a 2-1 victory over North Dakota in the first matchup, marking the Badgers' first appearance in the national title game since 2010. The game began with Wisconsin dominating the opening period, outshooting North Dakota 18-4. Senior forward Simon Tassy scored first, followed 27 seconds later by sophomore Ryan Botterill, who converted a pass from senior captain Ben Dexheimer from the right circle. North Dakota, which entered with a stout defense allowing just 1.90 goals per game, failed to capitalize on multiple power-play opportunities, including a 5-on-3 in the second period. The Fighting Hawks finally broke through with 52 seconds left in regulation when senior forward Ellis Rickwood scored on a 6-on-5 advantage. Wisconsin goaltender Daniel Hauser preserved the win with 21 saves, including a notable glove stop during a late scramble. North Dakota's freshman goaltender Jan Spunar finished with 35 saves, but his team managed...