DU Pioneers beat Michigan in double OT at Frozen Four; dream run continues to NCAA title game
LAS VEGAS — This was a heist Danny Ocean might not have believed possible.
University of Denver captain Kent Anderson scored his second goal of the season with 7:25 remaining in the second overtime Thursday night, and the Pioneers advanced to the NCAA championship game with an incredible 4-3 win against No. 1-seeded Michigan.
“It’s special,” Pios defenseman Boston Buckberger, who missed parts of both overtimes while getting some work done on his hand, said. “For it to end with our captain, I live with him. He’s one of the best guys I know. It kind of makes you emotional.
“It seems scripted in a way. We’re just so pumped in here. We love everyone in this locker room and we can’t wait to go back to the national championship (game).”
DU freshman sensation Johnny Hicks made 49 saves. The Pios were outshot 52-26. It didn’t matter. They will play the upstart Wisconsin Badgers in the national title game here Saturday afternoon.
The Pioneers would extend their NCAA record to 11 national titles with a win over the Badgers, who upset No. 2-seeded North Dakota in the early game.
Freshman Clarke Caswell deflected a Garrett Brown shot just under the crossbar from the edge of the crease with 2:46 remaining in regulation to make it a 3-3 game. It was Caswell’s eighth goal of the season, and came on DU’s third shot of the period.
“Yeah, it was pretty special,” Caswell said of his goal. “The guys battled back the whole time. The belief never wavered. It’s a testament to how hard we work and how much we believe in each other.”
There was a scary moment with 16:07 left in the third. Michigan’s Malcolm Spence took the puck to the net and DU’s Eric Jamieson met him there. Their collision also wiped out Hicks and left him down on the ice for several minutes, but he stayed in the contest.
Hicks made 25 of his 49 saves after Caswell scored. That’s 25 saves in 35:21 of next-goal wins hockey.
“I think it just turns into a one-goal game and sudden death,” Hicks said. “There’s no point in saving any energy. You just give it everything you’ve got.”
Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks (31) knocks the puck away against Michigan in overtime of a semifinal game in the NCAA Frozen Four men’s college hockey tournament Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Jayden Perron snapped a wrist shot from the top of the right circle past Hicks with 8:58 remaining to give the Wolverines the lead. Michigan converted on its first power-play opportunity of the night, while DU went scoreless on five chances — including two in the final period and one in overtime.
Pios defenseman Cale Ashcroft had the lone goal of the middle period to even the score at 2-2. Junior Sam Harris weaved his way through traffic to create a zone entry and then found Ashcroft for a long-range shot through traffic at 2:30 of the second. It was Ashcroft’s third goal of the season, and his first since Jan. 30 against Minnesota-Duluth.
Kyle Chyzowski opened the scoring midway through the opening period for the Pioneers. He finished a quick tic-tac-toe passing play with a one-timer after a bump pass from fellow freshman Brendan McMorrow. It was Chyzowski’s 12th goal of the season, which nudged him ahead of Kristian Epperson for the most among DU’s deep, talented freshman class.
Denver forward Clarke Caswell (25) celebrates after scoring against Michigan in the third period of a semifinal game of the NCAA Frozen Four men’s college hockey tournament Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Michigan scored a pair of goals 59 seconds apart to grab the lead before the first intermission. Josh Eernisse picked the puck out of a faceoff scrum at the right dot and rifled a wrist shot into the top corner to even the score.
Hobey Baker finalist TJ Hughes scored his 22nd goal of the year at 17:17 of the first. Adam Valentini’s shot was high over the net, and Hicks stumbled trying to get back to his left post. Hughes was there for an easy one, giving Michigan the advantage.
The Pioneers had a 10-4 advantage in shots on goal at one point, but the Wolverines flipped control of the proceedings and had the final five on net in the period.
Wisconsin won the opening game, upsetting the No. 2-seeded North Dakota Fighting Hawks, 2-1. The Badgers scored a pair of goals 27 seconds apart in the first period and survived a push in the final minutes to advance to the title game for the first time since 2010.
Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks (31) stops a shot by Michigan in the first period of a semifinal game of the NCAA Frozen Four men’s college hockey tournament Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
This was a meeting between the two most successful programs in Division I college hockey. Michigan came to Las Vegas with nine national titles, but none since 1998. The Pios came to Sin City seeking No. 11, and a third in five seasons after reaching the NCAA mountaintop in 2022 and 2024.
They will get their chance Saturday afternoon after another classic night in program history.
“That’s the reason I chose Denver, to win a national championship,” Caswell said. “Other programs offer some other stuff, but you don’t get the opportunity to win a national championship every single year unless you go to Denver.”
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