Wisconsin Badgers
#2 North Dakota
Quick Six: Men’s hockey Frozen Four begins Thursday
April 07, 2026 | Men's Hockey
Badgers skate in national semifinals vs. North Dakota on April 9
LAS VEGAS – The No. 4 Wisconsin men's hockey team is Frozen Four-bound! The Badgers will face North Dakota in the national semifinals on Thursday, April 9, at 4 p.m. CT at T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights. The game airs on ESPN2.
Here are six quick things to know before tuning in:
Rosters: Badgers || Fighting Hawks || Wolverines || Pioneers
POSTSEASON GUIDE
1 - FROM THE HISTORY BOOKS: Six-time NCAA champion Wisconsin is in its 28th NCAA Tournament appearance, the eighth-most in the nation. UW officially boasts a 39-24-2 mark all-time in NCAA tournament action, with its .615 NCAA win percentage ranking sixth all-time. Its six titles rank fourth all-time.
This year's Frozen Four features the top four teams with the most all-time NCAA championships, including the Badgers (six), North Dakota (eight), Michigan (nine) and Denver (10).
The field is set! 🧊 pic.twitter.com/OI5htSrug6
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 30, 2026
In the national semifinals, UW will face third-overall-seed and former Western Collegiate Hockey Association conference rival, North Dakota. The Badgers and Fighting Hawks have played each other three times in NCAA Tournament history, with North Dakota winning each time. Their first postseason meeting was on March 27, 1982, when UND beat UW, 5-2, in the national championship game in Providence, Rhode Island. In the 2008 regional final in Madison at the Kohl Center on March 30, UW fell, 3-2, in overtime to North Dakota, before losing, 5-2, to the Hawks in the first round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati on March 28.
Overall, UW leads 87-73-13 in all-time meetings between the teams. Wisconsin most recently played North Dakota on October 14, 2023, in Grand Forks, a 2-0 loss in the 2023 Icebreaker Tournament title game.
If Wisconsin moves on to the national championship game, it'll potentially face a familiar NCAA tournament opponent.
UW and top overall seed Michigan are Big Ten conference rivals who have faced each other several times in the postseason since the NCAA Tournament started in 1949, with UW owning a 2-3-0 NCAA tournament record versus UM. The Badgers and Wolverines first met in the tournament in 1977, when UW claimed its second national championship on March 26 with a 6-5 overtime win versus Michigan in Detroit. The teams met again on April 2, 1992, when Wisconsin won, 4-2, over UM in the national semifinals in Albany, New York. The Badgers then lost in the second round of the 1993 tournament, a 4-3 overtime loss to Michigan in Detroit on March 27, before also being bested by the Wolverines in the second round of the 1995 tournament, a 4-3 loss in Madison. The teams' most recent meeting in the NCAA tournament came on March 25, 2005, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where UM won, 4-1, in the first round.
Overall, UW has a 73-95-15 record against the Wolverines, including going 64-66-9 in the modern era since 1963, facing them four times in regular-season play during the 2025-26 season. UW began the season series by splitting a weekend with then-second-ranked UM in Ann Arbor on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 7-8, losing game one, 7-4, before winning game two, 6-1. When then-No. 2 Michigan came to Madison on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21, the teams split again, with UW winning game one, 4-1, before dropping game two, 3-1.
Denver, which will face Michigan in the second national semifinal game, is also a historic postseason opponent for the Badgers, as the teams have faced each other three times, with the Badgers owning a 3-0 NCAA tournament record over the Pioneers. UW and DU first met in the NCAA tournament in the 1972 third-place game on March 18 in Boston, where Wisconsin won, 5-2. The Badgers then won their first national championship on March 17, 1973, in Boston, a 4-2 win over the Pioneers. UW and DU's most recent meeting came on March 29, 2008, a 6-2 Wisconsin win in the first round at the Kohl Center. All-time, UW has a 76-66-13 record over its former WCHA foe, with the teams' last meeting coming Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26, 2024, in Denver.
2 - DANCIN' IN THE DESERT: With a thrilling overtime win over top-seed Michigan State in the Worcester Regional Final on Saturday, March 28, regional third-seed and 12th-overall-seed Wisconsin advanced to its 12th official Frozen Four and first since 2010.
Senior defenseman and team captain Ben Dexheimer's point shot deflected and found its way into the net 24 seconds into overtime to send the Wisconsin men's hockey team to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over MSU.
OH CAPTAIN, OUR CAPTAIN 🫡
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 29, 2026
DEXY SENDS US TO VEGAS IN OT!!!
🍎: Gavin Morrissey pic.twitter.com/uIOW6GqtP5
A scoreless first period led to three combined goals in the second, with junior forward Quinn Finley giving UW a 1-0 lead just 18 seconds in. MSU tied it on a power-play goal at 8:10 of the second, before taking a 2-1 lead thirty-one seconds later. Early in the third period, Michigan State grabbed a two-goal cushion with a second power-play goal to make it 3-1.
Held mostly to the outside for the third period, slowly but surely the Badgers started to push, with freshman defenseman Luke Osburn finding a rebound to the right of the goal at 15:13 to pull within a goal. Thirty-four seconds later, sophomore forward Gavin Morrissey found a rebound on the other side to tie it up, 3-3. It went to overtime from there, where Dexheimer scored 24 seconds in to send the Badgers to Las Vegas.
Relentless, resilient red 💥
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 31, 2026
Badgers never quit. pic.twitter.com/VMHUbKa4ZF
Before advancing to the regional final, UW beat regional second-seed Dartmouth, 5-1, in the regional semifinals on Thursday, March 26. The win sent UW to its first regional final since 2010, and it marked its first NCAA Tournament win since the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four semifinals, snapping a five-game NCAA losing streak.
Senior Simon Tassy scored early on the power play, before the Big Green found the back of the net to tie the game at one. It stayed 1-1 until midway through the third period when senior Jack Horbach broke the tie to jump-start a four-goal third frame for the Badgers. Tassy struck again with less than six minutes left in the game to make it 3-1, UW, before senior Christian Fitzgerald and junior Quinn Finley added empty-net goals to seal a 5-1 win for UW in its first meeting in school history against Dartmouth.
Good night, Badger fans pic.twitter.com/5O22zNqH1H
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 27, 2026
3 - ALL EYES ON THE ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: After posting standout performances against Dartmouth and Michigan State, Dexheimer, Finley and Morrissey were the three Badgers on the six-person Worcester regional All-Tournament team.
All eyes on our All-Tournament team members ⭐️
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 29, 2026
Congrats to Finner, Gav and Dex! pic.twitter.com/UrWvBsxFtN
Dexheimer, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime to send the Badgers to the Frozen Four, ranks fourth on the team and leads all Badger blueliners with 27 points in 37 games played. His seven goals sit seventh on the team and first among UW defenders. The Edina, Minnesota, native notched three points in two games in the regional tournament, adding an assist in each game in addition to his heroic goal.
Come on, Dexy, ta-loo-rye-aye 🎶 pic.twitter.com/zlm2HYpdKD
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 31, 2026
Through two games, Finley led all regional tournament participants across the nation with five points. The Suamico, Wisconsin, native had an empty-net goal and two assists in UW's 5-1 win over Dartmouth before tallying the opening goal and another assist in the regional final vs. Michigan State. The junior leads the Badgers with 17 goals in 35 games played, and he sits second with 33 total points.
He's just got that dawg in him 🐶
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) April 2, 2026
Way to go, Finner! pic.twitter.com/dTS2OhMSq6
Assistant captain Morrissey came in clutch for the Badgers, tallying the game-tying goal against Michigan State with 4:13 left in regulation to send the contest to overtime. In addition, Morrissey also had two assists against the Spartans, including one on Dexheimer's game-winner and another on Finley's opening goal to finish the regional tournament with three points. The Rochester Hills, Michigan, native leads the UW roster with 27 assists and 36 points, and his nine goals are tied for fourth.
CAN'T. TEACH. CLUTCH. 🫡
— Wisconsin Hockey (@BadgerMHockey) March 28, 2026
MORRISSEY (@gavmorrissey7) TIES IT!!!
🍎: Christian Fitzgerald & Ben Dexheimer pic.twitter.com/na4Htl5x2O
4 - VEGAS FAN EVENTS: There are plenty of hockey-related festivities for all the Badger fans joining us in the Neon City to attend!
On Wednesday, practice is open to the public at T-Mobile Arena in Vegas from 12:30-1:30 p.m. PT.
Wisconsin's official Frozen Four pregame will take place on Thursday, April 9, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. PT at Parry's Pizzeria & Taphouse (3752 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Suite 180, Las Vegas, Nevada 89158). Bucky Badger and the Badger Band will be in attendance, and giveaways will be available for fans while supplies last.
Fans can also attend the Frozen Fest, which will take place on Toshiba Plaza in front of the East entrance of T-Mobile Arena. This event is free and open to the general public and will feature interactive games and activities, take-home giveaways from NCAA Corporate Champions and Partners, and the opportunity to purchase official Frozen Four merchandise. This event also features music, food and drink, team arrivals, and pep rallies by each team's band and cheer squads.
On Thursday, Frozen Fest will run from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Fans are invited to line the red carpet and cheer on the Badgers as they arrive at T-Mobile Arena ahead of their semifinal game sometime between 11:40 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. More information about Frozen Fest can be found here.
Click here to find additional information about the Frozen Four from the NCAA, including ticket information, a daily schedule and the official bracket.
5 - SCOUTING THE REGIONAL: North Dakota heads into the Frozen Four with a 29-9-1 record, going 17-6-1 in NCHC play to earn the conference regular season championship. To advance to the Frozen Four, the Sioux Falls Regional top-seed Fighting Hawks defeated fourth-seed Merrimack, 3-0, in the regional semifinals, then beat third-seed Quinnipiac, 5-0, in the final. Senior forward Ellis Rickwood leads the roster with 36 points (8g, 28a) in 34 games played, while senior forward Dylan James leads with 21 goals in 39 games played. Freshman goaltender Jan Špunar has 20 wins in 27 games played, accumulating a .917 save percentage and 1.90 goals-allowed on average.
Big Ten tournament champion and top-overall seed Michigan heads to Las Vegas with a 31-7-1 record, going 17-6-1 in Big Ten play. The Wolverines' journey to the Frozen Four began in Albany, New York, where they beat fourth-seed Bentley, 5-1, in the regional semifinals before earning a 4-3 victory over second-seed Minnesota Duluth in the finals to advance. Hobey Baker top-three finalist and senior forward T.J. Hughes leads the roster and sits second in the nation with 56 points (21g, 35a) in 39 games played, while sophomore forward Will Horcoff leads with 25 goals in 39 games. Freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic has 25 wins in 34 games played, accumulating a .923 save percentage and 2.13 goals-allowed on average.
NCHC tournament-champion Denver boasts a 27-11-3 overall record, going 17-6-1 in conference play. The Loveland Regional second seed advanced to the Frozen Four with a 5-0 win over regional third-seed Cornell before beating defending national champion and regional one-seed Western Michigan, 6-2, in the final. Hobey Baker top-three finalist and junior defenseman Eric Pohlkamp leads the roster in both goals and points with 18 and 39, respectively. Freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks has 14 wins in 14 starts and has 21 overall games played, accumulating a .958 save percentage and 1.12 goals-allowed on average. Denver enters on an 11-game win streak.
6 - HOW TO WATCH: The Badgers will play North Dakota on Thursday, April 9, at 4 p.m. CT. If Wisconsin wins, it'll play the winner of Michigan vs. Denver in the national championship game on Saturday, April 11, at 4:30 p.m. CT. The semifinals air on ESPN2.
Audio play-by-play for both games can be found on 1310 WIBA in the Madison area, as well as on the Badgers app and the Varsity Network App. You can also follow along on X/Twitter and Instagram @BadgerMHockey.
