Wisconsin falls just short in National Championship loss to Denver

Badgers' underdog run ends with 2-1 defeat in title game

Apr. 12, 2026 at 12:21am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with sharp, overlapping shapes in muted blues, greys, and whites, punctuated by flashes of red and yellow, conveying the intensity and drama of the championship matchup.Wisconsin's valiant effort in the National Championship game fell just short, but their underdog run captivated hockey fans nationwide.Denver Today

The Wisconsin Badgers' impressive postseason run came to an end on Saturday night as they fell 2-1 to the Denver Pioneers in the National Championship game. Despite outshooting Denver 21-5 through the first two periods and holding a 1-0 lead, the Badgers were unable to hold on as the Pioneers scored twice in the third period to claim the title.

Why it matters

Wisconsin's unexpected tournament success had captured the attention of college hockey fans nationwide, as the Badgers emerged as an underdog story. While they ultimately fell just short of the championship, their remarkable playoff run demonstrated the program's potential and built excitement for the future.

The details

The Badgers controlled play for much of the game, outshooting Denver 21-5 in the first two periods and taking a 1-0 lead into the final frame. However, the Pioneers' star goaltender Johnny Hicks made 29 saves on 30 shots to keep his team in the game. Denver finally broke through with a goal 7:31 into the third period to tie it, and then took the lead with less than six minutes remaining, a lead they would not relinquish.

  • The National Championship game was played on Saturday, April 12, 2026.

The players

Johnny Hicks

The Denver Pioneers' starting goaltender, who made 29 saves on 30 shots to lead his team to the National Championship.

Rieger Lorenz

The Denver Pioneers' forward who scored the game-tying goal in the third period.

Daniel Hauser

The Wisconsin Badgers' starting goaltender, who had another strong performance in the title game despite the loss.

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What they’re saying

“It was bound to come an end. The amazing postseason run came to an end on the biggest stage for the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday evening.”

— Rohan Chakravarthi, Author

What’s next

The Badgers will look to build on their impressive tournament run and return to the National Championship game next season.

The takeaway

Wisconsin's Cinderella story came up just short, but their remarkable playoff performance demonstrated the program's potential and built excitement for the future of Badgers hockey.