Wisconsin men's hockey reaches national title game

Badgers defeat North Dakota 2-1 to advance to first championship game in 20 years

Apr. 10, 2026 at 4:05am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a hockey game, with overlapping planes of players, sticks, and pucks in a vibrant color palette, conveying the intensity and energy of the Badgers' semifinal victory.Wisconsin's return to the national championship game after two decades showcases the program's resilience and determination to reclaim college hockey's top prize.Las Vegas Today

The Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team defeated the North Dakota Fighting Hawks 2-1 in the Frozen Four semifinals to advance to the national championship game for the first time since 2010. Wisconsin built a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Simon Tassy and Ryan Botterill, then held on despite a late push from North Dakota.

Why it matters

Wisconsin's return to the national title game marks a significant milestone for the program, which had not won an NCAA Tournament game since 2010. The Badgers are seeking their first national championship in 20 years.

The details

Wisconsin opened the scoring just 27 seconds into the game when Simon Tassy netted his 14th goal of the season. Ryan Botterill then scored the eventual game-winner midway through the first period, firing a wrist shot past North Dakota goalie Jan Špunar. The Badgers had to kill several penalties in the later stages of the game, but goaltender Daniel Hauser made 21 saves to preserve the victory.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 9, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Wisconsin last reached the national championship game in 2010.

The players

Ryan Botterill

Wisconsin sophomore forward who scored the game-winning goal.

Ben Dexheimer

Wisconsin team captain who assisted on Botterill's goal.

Simon Tassy

Wisconsin forward who opened the scoring with his 14th goal of the season.

Daniel Hauser

Wisconsin goaltender who made 21 saves to preserve the victory.

Mike Hastings

Wisconsin head coach.

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What they’re saying

“Sometimes we make things a little more difficult than they need to be. But when you play a team the quality of the University of North Dakota, they're going to stress you out a little bit.”

— Mike Hastings, Wisconsin head coach

“Getting off to a good start, I think is really important for momentum. Then, how long can you hold onto it?”

— Mike Hastings, Wisconsin head coach

“That goal was a big confidence boost. Botterill made an unbelievable play streaking through the middle.”

— Ben Dexheimer, Wisconsin team captain

What’s next

Wisconsin will face the winner of the Michigan-Denver semifinal in the national championship game on Saturday, April 11, 2026.

The takeaway

Wisconsin's return to the national title game after a 20-year drought is a testament to the program's resilience and the team's ability to overcome adversity. The Badgers will look to capture their first national championship since 2006 in the championship game.