Gavin Morrissey and Joe Palodichuk lost count of the number of late nights they sat on the couch and talked about their goals for the Wisconsin men’s hockey team.

The Badgers fell on hard times recently after decades as a college hockey power, and the roommates wanted to be part of the group that restored the program’s once-proud legacy.

Now, Wisconsin (24-12-2) is back in the Frozen Four championship game for the first time in 16 years and will try for the seventh national title in school history when it faces Denver (28-11-3) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

“It’s been such a journey for us to get here and we’re really proud of what we’ve accomplished so far,” said Morrissey, a sophomore center and the Badgers’ leading scorer. “But at the end of the day, this is where we wanted to be in the summer when we were talking about this at home.

“It sure means a whole lot that we’ve been able to get here.”

The Badgers, whose last title came in 2006, were NCAA Tournament regulars until the program stumbled after a handful of high-profile recruiting misses and departures to the NHL. Since 2013-14, Wisconsin has finished with a winning record just four times, including this season.

Following a disappointing 13-21-3 showing in 2024-25 — Wisconsin’s third losing record in the past four seasons — coach Mike Hastings conducted an “autopsy” on the program.

“We had some real hard conversations with some different guys and they signed up for the work,” said Hastings, who is in his third season at Wisconsin. “This group’s been special. Now, I’m not going to say we haven’t had our headaches together and some of those valleys, but that’s what makes this so special.”

Wisconsin opened the season on an eight-game unbeaten streak (6-0-2) and was ranked as high as No. 2 before a midseason slump saw the Badgers lose six straight in January.

Following a 7-1 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals last month, Wisconsin no longer controlled its own postseason fate and needed help just to make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team.

But the Badgers got in and dismantled Dartmouth 5-1 in the opening round. They rallied from a two-goal deficit with less than five minutes remaining in regulation against Michigan State in the regional final and went on to win 4-3 in overtime.

In the national semifinals Thursday against North Dakota, Badgers goaltender Daniel Hauser had 21 saves and made two first-period goals stand up in a 2-1 victory.

“You have peaks and valleys. I think there’s a lot of teachable moments,” Palodichuk said. “But we’re still with each other and playing in the last game of the year so it’s fun.”

Standing in the Badgers’ way is Denver, which has won 12 straight and is unbeaten (15-0-1) since a 4-2 loss to St. Cloud State on Jan. 23.

Goaltender Johnny Hicks has carried the Pioneers during their unbeaten streak and came up with a career-high 49 saves in a 4-3 double-overtime win over Michigan in the national semifinals. Hicks leads the nation with a 1.20 goals-against average.

The Pioneers have an edge in experience over Wisconsin and are looking for their third national title since 2022 and 11th overall. Denver also swept a two-game series from Wisconsin last season, though both sides insist that will have zero impact on Saturday’s game.

“We know it’s going to be a battle,” Denver defenseman Cale Ashcroft said. “They’ve earned their right to be there.”

Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on X.