UND Hockey's Frozen Four Dreams Dashed by Wisconsin

Former WCHA rivals end Fighting Hawks' season with 2-1 semifinal loss in Las Vegas

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:06am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented college hockey game, with sharp planes of green, gold, and navy blue representing the competing teams and the high-stakes action on the ice.UND's Frozen Four dreams were shattered by a dominant first period from Wisconsin, exposing the challenges of returning to the national stage after a long layoff.Las Vegas Today

The University of North Dakota hockey team's Frozen Four run came to an end on Thursday as they fell 2-1 to former WCHA rival Wisconsin in the semifinal game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. UND, the gambling favorite heading into the matchup, struggled mightily in the first period and was unable to overcome an early 2-0 deficit despite a late goal that gave them a glimmer of hope.

Why it matters

UND hockey has a storied tradition, having won 8 national championships, the last coming in 2016. The team and its passionate fan base had high hopes of adding a 9th title in Dane Jackson's first season as head coach. The loss ends those championship aspirations for this year and raises questions about what went wrong in the team's slow start against their former conference rival.

The details

Wisconsin jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, dominating shots on goal 18-4. UND's power play was ineffective, going 0-for-5 on the day. The Fighting Hawks finally broke through with an extra-attacker goal by Ellis Rickwood with 52.7 seconds left, but they were unable to generate enough offense in the final minute to find the equalizer.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
  • Wisconsin took a 2-0 lead by the first intermission.
  • Ellis Rickwood scored UND's lone goal with 52.7 seconds remaining in regulation.

The players

Dylan James

A forward for the University of North Dakota hockey team.

Cole Reschny

A freshman forward for the University of North Dakota hockey team who was drafted 18th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2025.

Daniel Hauser

The freshman goaltender for the Wisconsin Badgers who made key saves to preserve the lead.

Dane Jackson

The first-year head coach of the University of North Dakota hockey team.

Bryn Chyzyk

A member of the University of North Dakota hockey coaching staff.

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What they’re saying

“That's a tough question. Our last game was 10 days ago, so the first period was a little harder than normal. Other than that, I don't know.”

— Dylan James, UND Forward

“That's a tough question ... I don't think there was anything specific. We just weren't getting enough shots on net. They capitalized on a few chances, and we didn't. It's tough to fight back.”

— Cole Reschny, UND Forward

“Not a lot of players get to play in this in their four years of college, and I get to do it in my first year. But this is the standard now. We expect to be here every year. This is the standard for this program, and there should be no reason we can't be in this tournament every year.”

— Cole Reschny, UND Forward

What’s next

The loss ends UND's season, but the Fighting Hawks will look to build on this Frozen Four appearance and return to the national stage next year under head coach Dane Jackson.

The takeaway

UND's early struggles and inability to capitalize on the power play proved too much to overcome against a tough Wisconsin team, dashing the Fighting Hawks' hopes of a 9th national championship. However, the program's high expectations and talented young core suggest this loss will only fuel their determination to get back to the Frozen Four in the seasons to come.