Denver vs. Wisconsin Score, Live Updates, Highlights From 2026 NCAA Hockey Championship Game originally appeared on NESN.
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Denver and Wisconsin will meet in the 2026 national championship game on Saturday night after narrowly escaping their semifinal matchups with action-packed wins.
On Thursday, Denver defeated Michigan in a double-overtime thriller, giving the Pioneers a chance to win their third title in five years. Defenseman Kent Anderson scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime period, setting the stage for a battle with Wisconsin.
The Badgers, meanwhile, beat North Dakota in the semifinals behind a terrific performance from goaltender Daniel Hauser. The Wisconsin men’s hockey program is looking to win its first title since 2006.
Follow along right here for live updates and highlights from the national championship game between Denver and Wisconsin.
Denver vs. Wisconsin score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |
| Denver | ||||
| Wisconsin |
Denver vs. Wisconsin live updates, highlights from 2026 NCAA championship game
4:39 p.m.: Both teams have arrived at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the championship game less than an hour away.
Championship…⏳#GoPiospic.twitter.com/8YtzlKA2uD
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) April 11, 2026
Wisco pullin up 🚍#MFrozenFour x @BadgerMHockeypic.twitter.com/eRP9gkQG2c
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 11, 2026
4:30 p.m.: Welcome to the national championship game. Today, either Denver or Wisconsin will be the kings of the 2026 college hockey season.
Let’s start with David Carle’s Denver Pioneers, who are chasing an unprecedented 11th national title. The Pios arrive at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas riding a massive wave of momentum, fueled by a 14-game unbeaten streak. Their path to this final was anything but easy; they just survived the longest game in program history on Thursday, a grueling 4-3 double-overtime thriller against the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines.
KENT ANDERSON WITH THE 2OT WINNER IN THE FROZEN FOUR SEMIS 🥶
DENVER WILL FACE WISCONSIN IN THE NATTY 👀 pic.twitter.com/D8WdNsrfWT
— ESPN (@espn) April 10, 2026
Freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks was the hero of that marathon, stopping 49 of 52 shots to keep Denver’s season alive. While Denver has already won three titles in the last decade (2017, 2022, 2024), they face a historical hurdle today: the Pioneers are 0-3 all-time against Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament.
Across the ice, Mike Hastings has the Badgers back in the title game for the first time since 2006. Wisconsin took a more efficient route to the final, stifling North Dakota in a 2-1 victory behind two goals in a 27-second span from Simon Tassy and Ryan Botterill. With freshman Daniel Hauser matching school records in net, the Badgers are looking to reclaim their spot atop the hockey world in what promises to be a legendary blue-blood battle.
How to watch Denver vs. Wisconsin tonight: TV channel, live stream
Denver vs. Wisconsin will air nationally on ESPN. The national championship game will also be available to stream on fubo and the ESPN app.
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Denver vs. Wisconsin start time
- Date: Saturday, April 11
- Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
Denver vs. Wisconsin is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 11. The game will be played at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
NCAA men’s hockey tournament schedule, results 2026
Thursday, March 26 — Regional Semifinals
| Game |
|---|
| Michigan State 2, UConn 1 |
| Wisconsin 5, Dartmouth 1 |
| Quinnipiac 5, Providence 2 |
| North Dakota 3, Merrimack 0 |
Friday, March 27 — Regional Semifinals
| Game |
|---|
| Western Michigan 3, Minnesota State 1 |
| Michigan 5, Bentley 1 |
| Denver 5, Cornell 0 |
| Minnesota Duluth 3, Penn State 1 |
Saturday, March 28 — Regional Finals
| Game |
|---|
| Wisconsin 4, Michigan State 3 (OT) |
| North Dakota 5, Quinnipiac 0 |
Sunday, March 29 — Regional Finals
| Game |
|---|
| Denver 6, Western Michigan 2 |
| Michigan 4, Minnesota Duluth 3 |
Thursday, April 9 — Semifinals
| Game |
|---|
| Wisconsin 2, North Dakota 1 |
| Denver 4, Michigan 3 (2OT) |
Saturday, April 11 —Finals
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Denver vs. Wisconsin | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, fubo |
NCAA men’s hockey tournament champions by year
Here are the last 10 tournament champions:
| Year | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Western Michigan | Boston University |
| 2024 | Denver | Boston College |
| 2023 | Quinnipiac | Minnesota |
| 2022 | Denver | Minnesota State |
| 2021 | Massachusetts | St. Cloud State |
| 2020 | No tournament (COVID-19 pandemic) | — |
| 2019 | Minnesota Duluth | Massachusetts |
| 2018 | Minnesota Duluth | Notre Dame |
| 2017 | Denver | Minnesota Duluth |
| 2016 | North Dakota | Quinnipiac |
| 2015 | Providence | Boston University |
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