Denver Pioneers Defeat Wisconsin Badgers to Win Third NCAA Hockey Championship in 5 Years

Outplayed for much of the game, the Pioneers rode two third-period goals to a 2-1 victory.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:03am

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A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors, representing the dynamic movements and competing forces of a college hockey championship game.A fractured, cubist depiction of the intense action and emotion of a college hockey championship game, capturing the raw energy and competitive spirit of the players and coaches.Denver Today

The Denver Pioneers won their third NCAA men's hockey championship in five years, defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 2-1 in a hard-fought battle at the Frozen Four in Las Vegas. Despite being outshot and outplayed for much of the game, the Pioneers rallied in the third period to score two goals and secure the victory, cementing head coach David Carle's status as a college hockey great at just 36 years old.

Why it matters

This championship win further solidifies Denver's status as a powerhouse in college hockey, as they now hold the NCAA record with 11 national titles, two more than Michigan. The game also showcased the impressive turnaround of the Wisconsin program under head coach Mike Hastings, who has led the Badgers to three Frozen Four appearances in the last six years after the team struggled mightily just a season ago.

The details

The Badgers dominated possession and outshot the Pioneers 30-9 through the first two periods, with Sabres prospect Vasily Zelenov giving Wisconsin a 1-0 lead with a laser wrist shot in the first period. However, Denver freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks kept his team in the game, making several key saves to hold the deficit to one goal. In the third period, Denver finally found their rhythm, with alternate captain Rieger Lorenz (a Wild prospect) tying the game on a rebound goal. Late in the period, junior defenseman Boston Buckberger's shot was tipped in by Kyle Chyzowski to give the Pioneers a 2-1 lead, which they would hold onto for the victory.

  • The Pioneers lost first-line center Samu Salminen (a Devils prospect) for much of the first half of the game to what looked like a shoulder injury.
  • Sophomore Jake Fisher took a high dump in to the face and sprinted down the tunnel himself.
  • Rieger Lorenz scored the tying goal nearly 48 minutes into the game.
  • Boston Buckberger's game-winning goal came late in the third period.
  • The national championship was Denver's 11th, extending their NCAA record.

The players

David Carle

The 36-year-old head coach of the Denver Pioneers, who has now led the team to three NCAA championships in five years, cementing his status as a college hockey great.

Samu Salminen

A first-line center and alternate captain for the Denver Pioneers, who suffered a shoulder injury early in the game.

Jake Fisher

A sophomore for the Denver Pioneers who took a high dump in to the face and had to leave the game.

Rieger Lorenz

An alternate captain and Wild prospect for the Denver Pioneers, who scored the tying goal in the third period.

Boston Buckberger

A junior defenseman for the Denver Pioneers who scored the game-winning goal late in the third period, just two days after having his hand and finger sliced open by a skate.

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What they’re saying

“We threw everything at the net and just couldn't find a way to get one through.”

— Gavin Morrissey, Wisconsin alternate captain

“I'm still shocked. I couldn't be prouder of this team. I couldn't be more proud to wear the W. We've set the standard for Wisconsin.”

— Ben Dexheimer, Wisconsin captain

“It would have been great to hold them to nine shots, but when you're playing against a team that's as accomplished as they are, you know there's going to be a push. The ones that leave the scars are the ones you remember the most. … We had a kick at the can. … We just couldn't find a way to get it to two.”

— Mike Hastings, Wisconsin head coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This championship win further solidifies Denver's status as a college hockey powerhouse, while also showcasing the impressive turnaround of the Wisconsin program under head coach Mike Hastings. The game was a hard-fought battle that came down to the wire, with Denver's resilience and goaltending ultimately proving to be the difference.