LAS VEGAS — Wisconsin is one win away from completing a remarkable turnaround that began with late-night conversations on a couch.
The Badgers (24-12-2) face Denver (28-11-3) in the Frozen Four championship game Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at T-Mobile Arena, seeking their first national title since 2006 and seventh overall. It is Wisconsin’s first appearance in the final in 16 years.
Roommates Gavin Morrissey and Joe Palodichuk spent countless nights discussing their vision for a program that had fallen on hard times after decades as a powerhouse. Since 2013-14, the Badgers posted a winning record only four times, including this season.
“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 team’s 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.”
Third-year coach Mike Hastings conducted an “autopsy” after a 13-21-3 season in 2024-25, Wisconsin’s third losing record in four years. “We had some real hard conversations with some different guys and they signed up for the work,” Hastings said. “This group’s been special.”
The Badgers started the season 6-0-2 and climbed to No. 2 before a six-game losing streak in January. After a 7-1 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals, they needed help to make the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. They responded with a 5-1 win over Dartmouth, then rallied from a two-goal deficit in the final five minutes of regulation against Michigan State to win 4-3 in overtime. In the national semifinals, goaltender Daniel Hauser made 21 saves in a 2-1 victory over North Dakota.
Denver enters on a 12-game win streak and is 15-0-1 since a Jan. 23 loss to St. Cloud State. Goaltender Johnny Hicks leads the nation with a 1.20 goals-against average and made a career-high 49 saves in a 4-3 double-overtime win over Michigan in the semifinals. The Pioneers have won three national titles since 2022 and 10 overall, and swept a two-game series from Wisconsin last season.
“We know it’s going to be a battle,” Denver defenseman Cale Ashcroft said. “They’ve earned their right to be there.”
