Frozen Four: Denver beats Michigan in double OT, 4-3, advances to NCAA ice hockey national championship game

Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks made 49 saves in the Pioneers' 4-3 double overtime win over MIchigan in the NCAA Frozen Four on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Kent Anderson’s goal in double overtime for Denver prevented Michigan from playing for the NCAA men’s ice hockey national championship five days after the Wolverines won a national title in men’s basketball.

The game-winner came with 7:25 remaining as the Pioneers’ Eric Jamieson spun from behind the net, worked his way back along the boards and found a wide-open Anderson waiting for a pass. The defenseman wristed a shot past Michigan goaltender Jack Ivankovic for the win.

Denver will play Wisconsin for the national championship. The Badgers defeated North Dakota, 2-1, in Thursday’s first game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Rieger Lorenz came close to the game-winner for the Pioneers with 8:15 remaining in the first overtime, lifting a shot that went over Ivankovic but hit the crossbar and deflected away. The Pioneers gained a power play with 2:20 left in the period on a slashing penalty by Michigan’s Will Horcoff, but lost that advantage a minute later with Sam Harris getting whistled for tripping. Neither team could score in 4-on-4 play.

Jayden Perron scored a power-play goal with 8:58 remaining in the third period to give Michigan a 3-2 lead. But just as it appeared that the Wolverines were on their way to a victory, Clarke Caswell deflected in a rebound to tie the score for the Pioneers with 2:46 left in regulation.

Denver’s Kyle Chyzowski opened the scoring on a pass from Kieran Cebrian after Michigan’s Luca Fantilli turned it over in the Wolverines’ zone. Nearly seven minutes later, Josh Eernisse tied the score for Michigan, pouncing on the puck after Kienan Draper won a faceoff in the Pioneers’ end.

The Wolverines took the lead with under two minutes remaining in the first period with T.J. Hughes rebounding a shot from Adam Valentini and getting it past Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks, left out of position after going down on the right side.

Cale Ashcroft scored the lone goal of the second period for Denver beating Michigan goalie Jack Ivankovic with a long wrist shot to tie the score at 2-2.

This story will be updated with more information.