Wisconsin Badgers Advance to NCAA Hockey Championship Game

Badgers face off against Denver Pioneers in title matchup

Apr. 11, 2026 at 4:33pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold blues, golds, and reds depicting the action and intensity of a championship college hockey game.Two of college hockey's most decorated programs clash for the national championship in a cubist-inspired visual representation of the high-stakes matchup.Las Vegas Today

The Wisconsin Badgers men's hockey team has advanced to the NCAA Championship game after defeating Dartmouth, Michigan State, and North Dakota in the Frozen Four tournament. They will face the Denver Pioneers, who are making their third straight Frozen Four appearance, in the title game on Saturday, April 11th at 4:30pm ET in Las Vegas.

Why it matters

Wisconsin's run to the championship game is an impressive accomplishment, as they entered the tournament as a No. 3 seed and have knocked off several highly ranked opponents. A national title would be a major achievement for the Badgers program.

The details

The Badgers' path to the title game included a 5-1 win over Dartmouth in the opening round, followed by a thrilling comeback victory over Michigan State in the quarterfinals. In the Frozen Four, Wisconsin defeated a talented North Dakota squad 2-1 to advance to the championship. The Badgers will now face a tough Denver team that is making its third straight Frozen Four appearance.

  • The NCAA Championship game will be played on Saturday, April 11th at 4:30pm ET.
  • Wisconsin defeated Dartmouth 5-1 in the opening round of the tournament.
  • The Badgers came back to beat Michigan State 4-3 in overtime in the quarterfinals.
  • Wisconsin defeated North Dakota 2-1 in the Frozen Four semifinals on Thursday.

The players

Wisconsin Badgers

The men's ice hockey team from the University of Wisconsin, competing in the NCAA Division I tournament.

Denver Pioneers

The men's ice hockey team from the University of Denver, making their third straight Frozen Four appearance.

Quinn Finley

A Wisconsin Badgers player who scored the opening goal in their quarterfinal win over Michigan State.

Luke Osborn

A Wisconsin Badgers player who scored the game-tying goal in the third period of their quarterfinal win over Michigan State.

Gavin Morrissey

A Wisconsin Badgers player who scored the game-tying goal in the third period of their quarterfinal win over Michigan State.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a tough battle against Michigan State, but the guys showed a lot of heart to come back and win that game in overtime. Now we're excited to have the chance to compete for a national championship.”

— Head Coach Tony Granato, Wisconsin Badgers

“Denver is a really talented team and they've been to the Frozen Four a lot recently. We're going to have to bring our 'A' game if we want to win the title, but I know our guys are up for the challenge.”

— Captain Owen Lindmark, Wisconsin Badgers

What’s next

The winner of the Wisconsin-Denver championship game will be crowned the 2026 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey national champion.

The takeaway

Wisconsin's improbable run to the national title game is a testament to the team's resilience and ability to overcome adversity. After entering the tournament as a lower seed, the Badgers have proven they can compete with and defeat some of the top programs in college hockey.