Wisconsin, Denver to face off in NCAA hockey final

Two teams that were underdogs earlier in the season will compete for the championship.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 11:20am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college hockey championship game, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape.An unexpected matchup between two underdog teams highlights the thrilling unpredictability of the NCAA hockey tournament.Denver Today

The Wisconsin Badgers and Denver Pioneers hockey teams, which were ranked outside the top 10 earlier this season, will meet in the NCAA championship game. Wisconsin was ranked 13th in the USCHO poll and 14th in the NCAA Percentage Index in early February, while Denver was ranked 9th and 11th respectively at that time.

Why it matters

The matchup between Wisconsin and Denver is unexpected, as both teams were considered underdogs earlier in the season. Their unlikely paths to the final showcase the unpredictability and excitement of college hockey.

The details

Wisconsin and Denver have both exceeded expectations to reach the NCAA hockey championship game. Wisconsin was ranked 13th and 14th in major polls in early February, while Denver was ranked 9th and 11th at that time. The two teams' improbable runs to the final demonstrate the competitiveness and unpredictability of college hockey.

  • In the first week of February, Wisconsin was ranked 13th in the USCHO poll and 14th in the NCAA Percentage Index.
  • In the first week of February, Denver was ranked 9th in the USCHO poll and 11th in the NCAA Percentage Index.

The players

Wisconsin Badgers

The Wisconsin hockey team, which was ranked outside the top 10 earlier in the season but has exceeded expectations to reach the NCAA championship game.

Denver Pioneers

The Denver hockey team, which was also ranked outside the top 10 earlier in the season but has made an unlikely run to the NCAA championship game.

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The takeaway

The unexpected matchup between Wisconsin and Denver in the NCAA hockey championship game showcases the unpredictability and excitement of college hockey, as two teams that were previously ranked outside the top 10 have defied the odds to reach the final.