Denver Pioneers survive epic double-OT thriller, one win away from record 11th national title

It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t comfortable. At times, it was downright nerve-wracking. But when it was all over Thursday night in Las Vegas, the Denver Pioneers were still standing — and they’re dancing their way into the NCAA Championship game.

Kent Anderson buried a shot from the slot at 7:25 of the second overtime to lift No. 2-seeded Denver past top-ranked Michigan 4-3 in a Frozen Four semifinal that had Pioneers fans biting their nails all night long. Denver will now face Wisconsin on Saturday with a shot at an unprecedented 11th NCAA national championship — a record that already belongs to the Pioneers alone.

“I don’t score many goals, so this is ranking up top so far,” Anderson said after his clutch strike. “That means everything to play in this national championship game.”

Here’s the thing — Denver probably shouldn’t have won this one. The Wolverines outshot the Pioneers a staggering 52-26. Michigan had every reason to believe Thursday night was finally their moment. But standing in the way of all that firepower was freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks, who turned in one of the most remarkable performances in recent Frozen Four memory, stopping 49 shots. Hicks entered the game leading the entire nation with a 1.12 goals-against average and a .958 save percentage — and he delivered when it mattered most, even after taking a brutal hit early in the third period.

Clarke Caswell was the hero of regulation, scoring the tying goal late and adding an assist to keep Denver’s title hopes alive. Kyle Chyzowski and Cale Ashcroft also found the back of the net for the Pioneers, who improved to 28-11-3 on the season.

For Michigan (31-8-1), it’s a heartbreaking end. The Wolverines had hoped to make their first championship appearance since 2011 and win their first title since 1998. They’d also reached the Frozen Four for the fourth time in five years — making this one sting even more.

“It’s hard to have it be over,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “What these seniors have done for this program, it’s really special.”

Now, Denver turns its attention to Wisconsin — a 2-1 winner over North Dakota in the other semifinal — with a chance to write more history. The Pioneers have already won it all in 1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004, 2005, 2017, 2022 and 2024. Championship No. 11 would be theirs and theirs alone.How to Watch Denver vs. Wisconsin — NCAA Championship Game

Saturday, April 11 | 3:30 p.m. Mountain Time | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

Don’t miss a second of it, Colorado. Here’s every way you can watch:

• On TV: ESPN (the championship moves from ESPN2 to the flagship ESPN network)
• Streaming: ESPN app or ESPN+ (included with most Disney+ bundle subscriptions)
• Live TV Streaming Services: Fubo TV, YouTube TV, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream, or Hulu + Live TV — all carry ESPN
• On the DU Athletics site: Live video and audio streams are also available at denverpioneers.com

Set those reminders, Pioneers fans. Denver’s playing for the record books Saturday afternoon — and all of Colorado will be watching. Let’s go, DU!