Week 25 Hockey Release

OFFICIAL RELEASE

• The Big Ten Conference has advanced two teams to the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four, to be held April 9 and April 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Thursday’s semifinals will pair No. 12/4 Wisconsin against No. 2/2 North Dakota at 5 p.m. ET, followed by No. 4/3 Denver versus No. 1/1 Michigan at 8:30 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena — home of the NHL Vegas Golden Knights. Both games will air on ESPN2. The NCAA will crown its 78th champion on Saturday with the title game beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. This is the first time the event has been held in Las Vegas. This year’s Frozen Four field has won a combined 33 national championships and includes the top-four schools with the most titles: Denver (10), Michigan (9), North Dakota (8) and Wisconsin (6). 

• Wisconsin (23-12-2) vs. No. 2 seed North Dakota (29-9-1)
Wisconsin is appearing in its 12th Frozen Four, having captured its last national championship 20 years ago in Milwaukee. Wisconsin won the Worcester Regional two weeks ago, defeating Dartmouth, 5-1, in the regional semifinal and upsetting No. 1 seed Michigan State, 4-3, in the final. The Badgers scored twice in the final five minutes of regulation and secured their first Frozen Four berth since 2010 on captain Ben Dexheimer’s goal 24 seconds into overtime. He was named to the All-Regional Team along with Quinn Finley and Gavin Morrissey. Wisconsin owns an 87-73-13 lead all-time against North Dakota. The teams will be meeting for just the second time in seven seasons. 

• Denver (27-11-3) vs. No. 1 seed Michigan (31-7-1)
Michigan has qualified for its NCAA-record 29th Frozen Four. The No. 1 seed overall, Michigan turned away Bentley, 5-1, and Minnesota Duluth, 4-3, to win the Albany Regional and earn a Frozen Fourth berth for the fourth time in five years. Earning spots on the All-Regional Team were Most Outstanding Player Jack Ivankovic along with T.J. Hughes, Ben Robertson and Garrett Schifsky. The Wolverines are looking for their first national title since 1998. Denver leads the all-time series against Michigan, 47-36-1, with the teams last meeting at the 2022 NCAA Semifinals, won by Denver, 3-2, in overtime.

• The Big Ten Conference has sent representatives to the Frozen Four five consecutive years: Michigan/Wisconsin (2026), Penn State (2025), Michigan (2024), Michigan/Minnesota (2023) and Michigan/Minnesota (2022). Since Big Ten Hockey was formed in 2013-14, the conference has qualified 13 teams for the Frozen Four. Three teams have advanced to the championship game as the conference looks for its first national champion. 

Big Ten Appearances in the Frozen Four (since 2014)
Michigan — 2018, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026
Minnesota — 2014, 2022, 2023
Notre Dame — 2017, 2018
Ohio State — 2018
Penn State — 2025
Wisconsin — 2026

• Michigan senior forward T.J. Hughes has been chosen as a Hat Trick Finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate player. Nationally, Hughes ranks second in total points (56), third in assists (35) and tenth in goals (21). He is also the NCAA’s active career points leader, having compiled 178 points (68-110) in 155 games. The Hobey Baker winner will be revealed at the Friday Night at the Frozen Four Awards Ceremony, to be held April 10 at 8 p.m. ET in the Park MGM Presidio Ballroom. The NHL Network will carry the event live.