Wisconsin Edges North Dakota in Frozen Four Semifinal

Badgers advance to national championship game with 2-1 victory over Fighting Hawks

Apr. 10, 2026 at 5:28am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action of a hockey game, with the players and ice surface broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes and planes in shades of blue, gold, and green.The Badgers' narrow victory over the Fighting Hawks sets the stage for an intriguing national championship matchup in the Frozen Four.Las Vegas Today

In a closely contested Frozen Four semifinal matchup at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the Wisconsin Badgers defeated the North Dakota Fighting Hawks 2-1 on Thursday night. The Badgers scored two quick goals in the first period and held on late to secure the victory and a spot in the national championship game.

Why it matters

The Frozen Four is the culmination of the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament, and this semifinal matchup between two of the top teams in the country was a highly anticipated clash. Wisconsin's win over North Dakota, a perennial powerhouse, sets up an intriguing championship game against either Michigan or Denver.

The details

Wisconsin struck first with a goal by Simon Tassy at the 12:54 mark of the first period, followed by another Badgers goal just 27 seconds later by Ryan Botterill. North Dakota battled back and cut the deficit to 2-1 late in the third period on a goal by Ellis Rickwood, but the Fighting Hawks were unable to find the equalizer in the final minute. Wisconsin outshot North Dakota 37-22 for the game.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Wisconsin scored its two first-period goals 27 seconds apart, with Tassy's goal coming at the 12:54 mark and Botterill's at 13:21.
  • North Dakota's lone goal was scored by Rickwood at the 19:08 mark of the third period.

The players

Simon Tassy

A forward for the Wisconsin Badgers who scored the opening goal in the first period.

Ryan Botterill

A Wisconsin Badgers forward who scored the second goal for the team in the first period.

Ellis Rickwood

A North Dakota Fighting Hawks forward who scored his team's lone goal in the third period.

Daniel Houser

The Wisconsin Badgers' freshman goaltender who made 21 saves in the victory.

Jan Spunar

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks' freshman goaltender who made 35 saves in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The Badgers will now face the winner of the Michigan-Denver semifinal in the national championship game on Saturday, April 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The takeaway

Wisconsin's victory over North Dakota sets up an intriguing national championship matchup between the Badgers and either the Michigan Wolverines or Denver Pioneers, two of the top teams in college hockey. The Frozen Four final will be a must-watch event for fans of the sport.