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NCAA Hockey delivers most watched championship in over a decade
TL;DR
The NCAA Men's Hockey National Championship game between Wisconsin and Denver attracted 901,000 viewers, the highest since 2009, marking a 52% increase from last year. Denver won the title 2-1, securing their third championship in five years.
NCAA Hockey delivers most watched championship in over a decade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
As announced by ESPN, the recent Wisconsin versus Denver Men's Hockey National Championship game was the most watched title game since 2009, bringing in 901,000 viewers â up 52% from the year previously.
578,000 tuned in to watch the Michigan Wolverines take on the Pioneers in the semifinals, in addition to 324,000 viewers for the Frozen Four game between Wisconsin and North Dakota. In total, the semifinals â which aired on ESPN2 and averaged 476,000 viewers â were up 77% year-over-year. Full tournament coverage was up 50%, marking the best since 2010. All these viewers watched as Denver claimed their second title in three seasons.
The 2-1 win for the Pioneers over Wisconsin also marked Denver's third title within the last five years.
April 11's 2026 Frozen Four final and all of the Frozen Four games were held at the NHL's Las Vegas Golden Knight's T-Mobile Arena. Goaltender Johnny Hicks the Badgers their first championship since 2006. The goalie was named Most Outstanding Player after posting 29 saves following his 49-save performance in the 4-3 double overtime win against Michigan in the Frozen Four semifinals.
Denver delivers most-watched college hockey national championship since 2009
Pioneers' Head Coach David Carle said his team found a way to win when it mattered most.
"Unbelievable game. Certainly we bent but didn't break," Carle previously said to the media following the title game. "Johnny kept us within striking range ... We found a way again. Johnny kept us within range, as we have found a way in other games. These guys, we saved our best period for last."
This now marks the Pioneers fourth title in the past 10 years (2017, 2022, 2024 and 2026)â securing them as not only one of the greatest hockey dynasties in NCAA history, but now the most watched.
The entire 2026 Frozen Four was also reportedly the most-watched since 2002.
Q&A
What were the viewership numbers for the NCAA Men's Hockey National Championship game?
The championship game had 901,000 viewers, making it the most watched title game since 2009.
How did the viewership for the NCAA Hockey semifinals compare to last year?
The semifinals averaged 476,000 viewers, which is a 77% increase year-over-year.
Who won the NCAA Men's Hockey Championship and what was the final score?
Denver won the championship against Wisconsin with a final score of 2-1.