Denver wins 3rd Frozen Four in 5 seasons

The Denver Pioneers beat the Wisconsin Badgers 2-1 to claim the NCAA men's hockey national championship Saturday.

It's Denver's third title in the five seasons, all under head coach David Carle. The Pioneers also won in 2022 and 2024. It's the program's record-extending 11th all-time title.

Kyle Chyzowski tipped a Boston Buckberger point shot for the game-winning goal with just under six minutes left.

Wisconsin outshot Denver 30-15 and led 1-0 until Rieger Lorenz tied the game 7:31 into the third period.

Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks was named the Frozen Four's Most Outstanding Player. He finishes his freshman campaign unbeaten after making 78 saves in the Frozen Four. He took over as the Pioneers' starter in January and went 16-0 with one tie, which Denver won in a shootout.

"I'm just so happy that we could get it done with this group," Hicks told ESPN's Colby Cohen. "We've gone through so much adversity this year. I'm just so proud of everyone."

The Pioneers knocked off the reigning champions Western Michigan in their regional final. Denver then bested No. 1-ranked Michigan in the Frozen Four semifinals in double overtime Thursday.

The Frozen Four all-tournament team featured Denver's Chyzowski, Lorenz, Buckberger, and Hicks, plus Wisconsin's Vasily Zelenov and Ben Dexheimer.