Badgers Advance to National Championship Game

Freshman goalie Daniel Hauser shuts down North Dakota's high-powered offense to lead Wisconsin to the title game.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:19am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring abstracted, angular forms representing hockey players, a goaltender, and a puck, all set against a muted color palette of blues, grays, and whites with hints of red and yellow, conceptually capturing the intensity and drama of the Frozen Four semifinal matchup.Wisconsin's improbable run to the national championship game is captured in a fractured, cubist-inspired illustration that reflects the Badgers' tenacious and relentless play.Denver Today

The Wisconsin Badgers are headed to the national championship game after a dominant 2-1 victory over North Dakota in the Frozen Four semifinals. Freshman goaltender Daniel Hauser was sensational, making 20 saves and keeping North Dakota's high-scoring offense in check until the final minute of the game. Wisconsin jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period and their stifling defense and penalty kill held strong the rest of the way to secure the win and a spot in the title game.

Why it matters

Wisconsin's run to the national championship game marks a resurgence for the storied hockey program, which is making its first Frozen Four appearance since 2010. After a mid-season slump, the Badgers have found their stride at the perfect time and are now one win away from capturing their seventh national title, which would match the accomplishment of the school's women's hockey team earlier this year.

The details

Freshman goaltender Daniel Hauser was the star of the game for Wisconsin, making a series of acrobatic saves to shut down North Dakota's high-powered offense. The Badgers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from senior Simon Tassy and sophomore Ryan Botterill, and their stifling defense and penalty kill unit held strong the rest of the way. North Dakota's lone goal came in the final minute with the extra attacker, but it was too little, too late as Wisconsin secured the victory.

  • The Badgers scored two goals in a 27-second span midway through the first period to take a 2-0 lead.
  • North Dakota went on a 1:56 five-on-three power play in the second period but were unable to score.
  • Wisconsin took a late penalty in the third period, but North Dakota's power play was cut short by a questionable slashing call against one of their players.

The players

Daniel Hauser

A freshman goaltender who made 20 saves and kept North Dakota's offense in check for most of the game, deserving of the shutout despite North Dakota's late goal.

Simon Tassy

A senior forward who scored the opening goal for Wisconsin in the first period to give the Badgers an early lead.

Ryan Botterill

A sophomore forward who scored the second goal for Wisconsin just 27 seconds after Tassy's tally, extending the Badgers' lead to 2-0 in the first period.

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What they’re saying

“We've been through a lot this season, but the guys never gave up. I'm so proud of the way we battled tonight and punched our ticket to the national championship game.”

— Tony Granato, Wisconsin Head Coach

“Daniel was unbelievable tonight. He made so many big saves to keep us in the game, and the penalty kill was huge against their dangerous power play. This team has really come together at the right time.”

— Simon Tassy, Wisconsin Senior Forward

What’s next

Wisconsin will face either Michigan or Denver in the national championship game on Saturday night. The Badgers will be looking to capture their seventh national title and first since 2006.

The takeaway

Wisconsin's run to the national championship game is a testament to the resilience of this Badgers team. After a mid-season slump, they have regained their form at the perfect time and are now one win away from bringing home the program's seventh national title, which would be a historic accomplishment for the school.