DU Wins 11th NCAA Men's Hockey Title

Outshot and even outplayed over the first two periods, the University of Denver managed to rebound over the final 20 minutes tonight in Las Vegas to claim its latest NCAA hockey national title.

Rieger Lorenz and Kyle Chyzowski scored just under seven minutes apart in the third period, the first one off a rebound and the second on a deflection, to lift Denver to a 2-1 comeback victory over Wisconsin in the 2026 NCAA Division I men's hockey national championship game. It is the 11th NCAA crown in DU's hockey history, its second in three years, and its third in five seasons.

Vasily Zelenov staked Wisconsin to a 1-0 lead just over 13 minutes into regulation on a wrist shot from the left circle, but the Badgers went scoreless the rest of the way despite outshooting DU, 21-5, through the first 40 minutes of play, and by a 30-15 count overall. Daniel Hauser finished with 13 stops in goal for Wisconsin (24-13-2 overall). 

Denver (29-11-3) finished the campaign on a 16-0-1 run, all with goaltender and 2026 Frozen Four MVP Johnny Hicks (29 saves) in net. It was the first time DU defeated Wisconsin in the NCAAs in four tries all-time, and it also prevented the Badgers from winning their first men's hockey national title in 20 years. Next year's Frozen Four will be held in Washington, D.C.

Major College Hockey Awards Handed Out

Four major college hockey awards were handed out Friday night at the NCAA Frozen Four in Las Vegas.

Sophomore forward Max Plante (Minnesota-Duluth) earned this year's Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top player in NCAA Division I men's college hockey. Hailing from Hermantown, Minn., he paced the Bulldogs with career-high totals of 27 goals and 25 assists for 52 points in 40 games, while also leading UMD to the NCAA tournament. He is the 11th player from the state of Minnesota to win the Hobey Baker, and the seventh Bulldog, both tops among the award's 44 winners all-time.

Junior netminder Trey Augustine (Michigan State) claimed this year's Mike Richter Award as the nation's top goaltender. A native of South Lyon, Mich., he fashioned a 24-9-1 record in 34 games this past season, with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage, while earning Big Ten Goaltender of the Year accolades. He is now a member of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins. 

Senior forward Meg Simon (Middlebury) was the 2026 recipient of the Hockey Humanitarian Award. Originally from East Grand Rapids, Mich., she is the fifth skater from the NCAA Division III ranks to earn the award. She serves as the Co-Chair of Volunteering for Middlebury's women’s hockey program, and has worked with the Middlebury Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA) and Special Olympics Vermont, among other organizations, both on and off campus. Simon tallied two assists in 39 career games with the Panthers while helping them to three NCAA tournament berths and two semifinal appearances.

Senior forward Kevin Anderson (Princeton) was this year's recipient of the Derek Hines Unsung Hero Award, named for the late Army skater, and which is bequeathed to the player judged to best exemplify sportsmanship, competitiveness, intelligence and work ethic. Anderson, from Regina, Sask., has helped create and cultivate the “Tiger Pals” program that pairs Princeton student-athletes with local children who need strong, consistent mentorship, and has also hosted his “Tiger Pals” program at Hobey Baker Rink for skates, games and social gatherings with the Tigers, while also serving with Team IMPACT. He finished his college career with 7-11-18 points in 87 games for Princeton, which came within an overtime goal of this year's NCAA tournament.

Freshman forward Ethan Wyttenbach (Quinnipiac) was named the winner of the 2026 Tim Taylor Award, which is named after the former longtime Yale head coach and goes to the Rookie of the Year in NCAA Division I men's hockey. A native of Roslyn, N.Y., Wyttenbach  paced all Division I men's scorers with 59 points (25g-34a) this past season while also leading the Bobcats to the NCAA tournament. He was drafted 144th overall by the Calgary Flames in last year's NHL Entry Draft.

Wisconsin, Denver to Meet in NCAA Title Game

Wisconsin scored twice in 27 seconds in the opening period, with Ryan Botterill's goal standing up as the game-winner, and the Badgers also killed off five power plays to top North Dakota, 2-1, in the early semifinal game of the 2026 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey Frozen Four in Las Vegas.

In the nightcap, Denver's Johnny Hicks made 49 saves in all, and Kent Anderson scored midway through the second overtime to lift the Pioneers to a 4-3 victory over No. 1 Michigan.

Wisconsin and DU will now meet on Saturday (5 p.m. ET, ESPN) at T-Mobile Arena for the national title, in another battle of former WCHA schools. The Badgers (24-12-2 overall) are after their first NCAA crown since 2006, while the Pioneers (28-11-3) are seeking their second NCAA title in three seasons, and third in five campaigns. 

Three NCAA Skaters Go in NHL First Round

The first round of the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas is in the books, after three current NCAA skaters were selected among the top 12 choices on Friday evening. 

Chosen first overall, as expected, was center Macklin Celebrini (Boston University), this year's Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner, who went first overall to the San Jose Sharks. Celebrini is the first overall choice from a U.S. college since Owen Power (Michigan) in 2021, and just the fourth college player ever selected first in the history of the NHL draft. 

Right behind Celebrini in the number two slot was defenseman Artyom Levshunov (Michigan State), who was chosen by the Chicago Blackhawks after helping MSU win both the Big Ten regular-season and conference crowns. Coming in 12th overall was defenseman Zeev Buium (Denver), who was tabbed by the Minnesota Wild after being a part of DU's NCAA championship team this year. 

Seven future NCAA players were then chosen among the final 18 selections of the first round. The draft concludes on Saturday at the Sphere, beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET (NHL Network).

NCAA Men's Frozen Four Sites Through 2026 Revealed

The next six sites for the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey Frozen Four have been announced.

The 2021 semifinals and final will be held in Pittsburgh, followed in successive years by: Boston; Tampa, St. Paul; St. Louis, and; Las Vegas, which will host the Frozen Four for the first time ever.

Detroit, which was supposed to host the 2020 version at its new Little Caesars Arena in April, until COVID-19 became widespread, was not included in the mix this time out. The 2019 Frozen Four was held in Buffalo and won by Minnesota-Duluth, its second consecutive NCAA title.

NCAA regional sites from 2021 to 2026 were also revealed. They will include: Albany, N.Y. (2021, 2026); Allentown, Pa. (2022, 2023, 2025); Bridgeport, Conn. (2021, 2023); Fargo, N.D. (2021, 2023, 2025); Loveland, Colo. (2021, 2022, 2026); Manchester, N.H. (2021, 2023, 2025); Maryland Heights, Mo. (2024); Sioux Falls, S.D. (2024, 2026); Springfield, Mass. (2024); Toledo, Ohio (2025), and; Worcester, Mass. (2022, 2026). 

McPhee Tabbed as Inaugural Las Vegas GM

Former Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner George McPhee (Bowling Green) is the new general manager of the as-yet unnamed Las Vegas expansion team that will start National Hockey League play in 2017-18, according to NHL.com.

McPhee, 58, who played seven seasons as a forward in the NHL with the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils, appeared in a total of 155 regular-season outings and 29 Stanley Cup playoff contests from 1983 to 1989. He later spent 17 years as GM of the Washington Capitals (1997-2014), guiding the Caps to eight regular seasons of 40 or more wins, and seven Southeast Division crowns, plus the 1998 Stanley Cup Final.

A native of Guelph, Ontario, McPhee won the Hobey Baker Award as a senior at BGSU in 1981-82 when he led the Falcons with 28 goals and 52 assists for 80 points, and also earned All-American and All-CCHA honors, according to BGSU’s athletic website. In four seasons, he racked up 114-153—267 points in 153 NCAA games, including a 40-goal campaign as a freshman in 1978-79 when he played for the late Ron Mason. He also helped the Falcons to two NCAA Tournament berths, two CCHA regular-season titles, and one CCHA playoff championship.