With two of the most successful programs in college hockey history facing off, fireworks were expected. Michigan and Denver delivered — and then some.
On Thursday night, Denver outlasted Michigan in a riveting Frozen Four contest, securing a spot in the national championship game with a 4-3 victory. An unlikely hero ended the marathon battle, as Pioneers defenseman Kent Anderson scored the game-winning goal in double overtime.
Denver will have to recover quickly with the national championship game scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 11. The Pioneers will take on Wisconsin, which beat North Dakota earlier in the evening, 2-1.
Check out all of the highlights from Denver’s win over Michigan below.
Michigan vs. Denver score 123OT2OTFMichigan201003Denver111014Michigan vs. Denver updates, highlights from 2026 Frozen Four gameEnd of double overtime: Denver 4, Michigan 3
12:50 a.m. ET: Kent Anderson scores! DENVER WINS! The Pioneers will face Wisconsin in the national championship game.
KENT ANDERSON CALLS GAME IN DOUBLE OT! 🚨#MFrozenFour x 🎥 ESPN2 / @DU_Hockey pic.twitter.com/UfKfLJOkns
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 10, 2026
12:46 a.m. ET: Hicks has surpassed his previous career high for saves. His total may reach 50 before this game ends.
12:26 a.m. ET: Double overtime has begun. Hicks immediately saves what could have been a game-winning goal.
End of overtime: Michigan 3, Denver 3
12:10 a.m. ET: One overtime period was not enough. We are going to double OT.
12:05 a.m. ET: Ouch! Denver’s Boston Buckberger appears to have a nasty cut on his hand. His glove got caught underneath Will Horcoff’s skate. Certainly not intentional, but that looks painful.
12 a.m. ET: It’s clear that everyone is running on fumes at this point. Those in the Eastern Time Zone have started a new day.
11:46 p.m. ET: Hicks has been rock solid. He continues to keep Denver’s championship dream alive.
11:37 p.m. ET: Hughes may have suffered an injury, but it looks like he will play through the pain.
End of third period: Michigan 3, Denver 3
11:14 p.m. ET: Free hockey! We are going to overtime.
11:10 p.m. ET: WOW! With 2:46 left in the game, Clarke Caswell finds a spot in front of the net and deflects the puck past Ivankovic.
“That’s a beaut Clark(e)” 🌟
Clarke Caswell tips it in for the Pioneers with under three minutes remaining to tie it back up! #MFrozenFour x 🎥 ESPN2 / @DU_Hockey pic.twitter.com/ZbvK5RRwFk
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 10, 2026
10:58 p.m. ET: GOAL! With 8:58 left in the game, Jayden Perron rips a shot past Hicks on the power play to give Michigan a 3-2 lead.
Wolverines back on top 🌟 @umichhockey
📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/b8LWS72LTG
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) April 10, 2026
10:50 p.m. ET: Another Michigan penalty, and this time it’s Garrett Schifsky for boarding. The Wolverines kill the penalty, though.
10:40 p.m. ET: Denver gets a power play because of a Tyler Duke tripping penalty, but the Pioneers are unable to take advantage of the opportunity. Hicks appears to take a hit to the head, but he will remain in the game.
10:35 p.m. ET: The third period has started.
End of second period: Michigan 2, Denver 2
10:18 p.m. ET: After the Ashcroft goal early in the period, Hicks and Ivankovic turned into brick walls. Still tied heading into the third.
10 p.m. ET: Hughes and Nick Moldenhauer try to beat Hicks, but he is locked in.
9:44 p.m. ET: Right as the power play ends, Cale Ashcroft scores. All tied up at 2-2 in the second.
Cale Ashcroft ties. it. up. 😮💨
📺 ESPN2#MFrozenFour x @DU_Hockey pic.twitter.com/aTleNm7Tus
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 10, 2026
9:40 p.m. ET: The second period has begun, and Denver already has a power play opportunity.
End of first period: Michigan 2, Denver 1
9:20 p.m. ET: Well, that was fast. T.J. Hughes scores to give the Wolverines their first lead of the game.
Michigan takes the lead ‼️ @umichhockey
📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/0yz7zLziRr
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) April 10, 2026
9:18 p.m. ET: MICHIGAN RESPONDS! Josh Eernisse scores with 3:42 left in the first period.
The Wolverines even the score 😤 @umichhockey
📺: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/uqh77SSjiX
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) April 10, 2026
9:03 p.m. ET: GOAL! After a turnover, Kyle Chyzowski scores. Denver 1, Michigan 0.
BING, BANG, GOAL! 🚨
Kyle Chyzowski opens the scoring for the Pios midway through the first! #MFrozenFour x 🎥 ESPN2 / @DU_Hockey pic.twitter.com/3RNLesH5g2
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 10, 2026
8:55 p.m. ET: Denver’s Johnny Hicks handles the shot from Michigan’s Adam Valentini. Both goalies have been tested early.
8:47 p.m. ET: Jack Ivankovic with two quick saves for Michigan to start the game.
8:45 p.m. ET: It’s time to play some hockey!
8:30 p.m. ET: The lines for Michigan and Denver:
The Pioneers’ Projected Lineup for the #MFrozenFour vs. Michigan.#GoPios pic.twitter.com/0afhZja27W
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) April 9, 2026
Tonight’s lines ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/WGgS6448ir
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) April 9, 2026
8:05 p.m. ET: Michigan vs. Denver should begin around 8:45 p.m. ET.
How to watch Michigan vs. Denver: TV channels, live streams
Michigan vs. Denver will air nationally on ESPN2. The game will also be available to stream on fubo and the ESPN app.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB and college sports, plus “SportsCenter,” “First Take” and all your favorite ESPN shows — anytime, anywhere — only in the new ESPN app.
NCAA men’s hockey tournament schedule, results 2026Thursday, March 26 — Regional SemifinalsGameMichigan State 2, UConn 1Wisconsin 5, Dartmouth 1Quinnipiac 5, Providence 2North Dakota 3, Merrimack 0Friday, March 27 — Regional SemifinalsGameWestern Michigan 3, Minnesota State 1Michigan 5, Bentley 1Denver 5, Cornell 0Minnesota Duluth 3, Penn State 1Saturday, March 28 — Regional FinalsGameWisconsin 4, Michigan State 3 (OT)North Dakota 5, Quinnipiac 0Sunday, March 29 — Regional FinalsGameDenver 6, Western Michigan 2Michigan 4, Minnesota Duluth 3Thursday, April 9 — SemifinalsGameWisconsin 2, North Dakota 1Denver 4, Michigan 3 (2OT)Saturday, April 11 — FinalsGameTime (ET)TV/Live StreamDenver vs. Wisconsin5:30 p.m.ESPN, ESPN app, fuboNCAA men’s hockey tournament champions by year
Here are the last 10 tournament champions:
YearChampionRunner-up2025Western MichiganBoston University2024DenverBoston College2023QuinnipiacMinnesota2022DenverMinnesota State2021MassachusettsSt. Cloud State2020No tournament (COVID-19 pandemic)—2019Minnesota DuluthMassachusetts2018Minnesota DuluthNotre Dame2017DenverMinnesota Duluth2016North DakotaQuinnipiac2015ProvidenceBoston University