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Less than a week after Michigan basketball was in the Final Four, Michigan hockey had its turn in the Frozen Four. The 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Wolverines had a prime opportunity to make it an all Big Ten national championship game, with Wisconsin having already taken down North Dakota earlier in the evening.
But Denver was going to have something to say about it.
The last time that the maize and blue faced the Pioneers in the Frozen Four (2022), they were ousted, with Denver going on to win the national championship. And the Pioneers came out on the ice as the aggressor right from puck drop, keeping the puck down in Michigan's area for the bulk of the first period.
Halfway through, though Michigan managed to kill a power play, a turnover led to a quick shot off a ricochet, putting Denver on top, 1-0, at 9:29. But the Wolverines started to get it together, with Josh Eernisse scoring off a face off right off the goal, getting the assist from Kienan Draper at 16:18. A minute later, at 17:17, the maize and blue took the lead, with star T.J. Hughes finding the net just outside of the crease, and they took a 2-1 lead into the locker room after the first period.
The second period opened with Denver going on a power play again, after a high-sticking penalty. Like last time, Michigan managed to kill the power play, only for the Pioneers to score quickly after the power play expired, tying the game at two-all at 2:30 in the second period.
The Wolverines became the aggressor for the bulk of the rest of the second period, getting plenty of opportunities and keeping the puck down on the Denver side. They outshot the Pioneers, 12-5, in the second, but they appeared to get frustrated at not being able to score, and also without getting any penalties called.
The third period started with the game still tied at two-all, and the Wolverines got called for another penalty at 5:04, with Schifsky being called for boarding. Michigan killed yet another power play, allowing zero shots in the two-minute period, but this time, Denver didn't score immediately after. The maize and blue were struggling to get offensive momentum, but finally, the Wolverines got a power play opportunity at 10:14, after the Pioneers were called for cross-checking. As the best power play team in the country, this was an opportunity the Wolverines couldn't afford to squander.
Denver won the face-off, taking a good 15 seconds off the power play, but Jayden Perron slipped a shot through to take a 3-2 lead at 11:02 -- Will Horcoff and Malcolm Spence with the assist.
The Wolverines stayed aggressive, with Denver only able to get one shot off in the next few minutes, while the maize and blue kept getting back on offense. But then, under the five-minute mark, the Pioneers, sensing their time was running out, put Michigan on its heels. The Wolverines were fine, just killing opportunities, running the clock out with the lead.
With 3:21 remaining, time was on Michigan's side. The shots started coming, and at first Ivankovic was able to keep them at bay, but after Asher Barnett lost his stick, the Pioneers evened the game at three at 17:14.
The Wolverines got three quick shots off, trying to regain the lead, but Denver goalie Johnny Hicks got three saves. The Pioneers cleared the puck into Michigan territory, Horcoff and Schifsky both got shots off, but Hicks narrowly got stops.
Denver cleared, and then won the offside face-off. Michigan remained on defense for the final minute, and neither team was able to get a shot off, and the national semifinal went to overtime.
The Wolverines loosely controlled the puck starting overtime, but it went quickly back towards their own goal. Michigan got control again, turned it over, and Denver got a shot off, saved by Ivankovic. The Wolverines cleared it, but icing was called, and the Pioneers would get another shot in the shadow of the Michigan goal. Brandon Naurato called a timeout at 1:09, just to keep the team's headspace clear.
Denver won the face-off, but Michigan was able to clear. Hughes went to the bench, seemingly injured. The Wolverines got a shot off, but it went back the other way, and the Pioneers got two off. Still on their heels, the Michigan defense held Denver off, but the Wolverines never got into any offensive sets. The two teams battled in the neutral zone for some time, and once the maize and blue got it out, Schifsky had a good look at the goal, but it Hicks got a kneepad in front of it. The Wolverines got a couple more opportunities, but to no avail. The aggression continued until a whistle blew at 5:36.
The ensuing face-off was controlled by Denver. After a brief offensive, Michigan got back on offense. A hand pass on Denver gave Michigan a face-off near the Pioneers' net, and a good shot attempt was blocked by Hicks. The puck was cleared, but Michigan got back on offense. The Wolverines changed lines, which led to a quick defensive stand and then a shot on goal.
The Wolverines got another shot off, but Hicks stopped it, and it went back the other way. Both teams continued to play an extremely physical brand of hockey, and a whistle blew at 10:25.
Michigan won the face-off, but little happened offensively. The Wolverines had been the more aggressive team, with a. 6-2 shot advantage in overtime to this point. Denver got it down into the maize and blue's zone, and the Pioneers' shot hit the crossbar -- a close call for the maize and blue, as Ivankovic's save attempt was late. 8:15 remaining in overtime.
Ivankovic saved a straight-on shot, and a Denver offside saved the Wolverines from facing another Pioneers attack. It was short-lived, as Denver got a couple of good looks at the net before the maize and blue cleared. Ivankovic had a good save, as both teams kept trading possessions. After a timeout, both teams traded shots, again to no avail.
But Will Horcoff was given a penalty for slashing, giving Denver a power play in overtime, with 2:26 remaining in OT, the Wolverines' fifth penalty of the game.
Michigan cleared the puck out of the gates and then did it again, taking 40 seconds off the power play. Denver got a shot off, and it was blocked by Ivankovic. Then, the Wolverines got a reprieve, with the Pioneers picking up a tripping penalty -- so it would be four-on-four until the final 25 seconds, when the maize and blue would have the one-man advantage.
The Wolverines got two shots off, neither particularly lucrative. They killed the penalty and had a brief moment to attempt a five-on-four chance, but the first overtime ended, still three-all, Michigan getting half a minute of power play in the second OT.
The Wolverines had about 10 seconds to get a shot in during the power play in the second overtime, but it went right into Hicks' legs. They got another shot off coming off the face-off, but it ricocheted off Hicks, and Denver controlled the puck after. Ivankovic made two saves, giving the maize and blue another opportunity on the other end.
Luca Fantilli got a streak to the net, but the shot went right into Hicks. Another Wolverine shot also was blocked. After the puck went into the Pioneer zone, Michigan brought it back the other way and continued to get some good looks. The maize and blue were nearly doubling up Denver on shots, 47-24 -- 8-1 in the second OT -- despite the game being even at three-all. Schifsky madea slapshot that ended up underneath Hicks, though it was wide of the net.
Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Denver's Kent Anderson sent the puck over a ducking Ivankovic, ending Michigan's season and hopes to make it's first national championship game in 15 years.
Michigan outshot Denver, 52-26. Ivankovic had 22 saves, while Hicks had 49. The game lasted for nearly four and a half hours, and even though the Wolverinees were the more aggressive team, their season ended in fatigue and heartbreak in Las Vegas.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan hockey's Frozen Four run ends in 2OT loss
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But Denver was going to have something to say about it.
The last time that the maize and blue faced the Pioneers in the Frozen Four (2022), they were ousted, with Denver going on to win the national championship. And the Pioneers came out on the ice as the aggressor right from puck drop, keeping the puck down in Michigan's area for the bulk of the first period.
Halfway through, though Michigan managed to kill a power play, a turnover led to a quick shot off a ricochet, putting Denver on top, 1-0, at 9:29. But the Wolverines started to get it together, with Josh Eernisse scoring off a face off right off the goal, getting the assist from Kienan Draper at 16:18. A minute later, at 17:17, the maize and blue took the lead, with star T.J. Hughes finding the net just outside of the crease, and they took a 2-1 lead into the locker room after the first period.
Michigan takes the lead@umichhockey
: ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/0yz7zLziRr
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) April 10, 2026
The second period opened with Denver going on a power play again, after a high-sticking penalty. Like last time, Michigan managed to kill the power play, only for the Pioneers to score quickly after the power play expired, tying the game at two-all at 2:30 in the second period.
The Wolverines became the aggressor for the bulk of the rest of the second period, getting plenty of opportunities and keeping the puck down on the Denver side. They outshot the Pioneers, 12-5, in the second, but they appeared to get frustrated at not being able to score, and also without getting any penalties called.
The third period started with the game still tied at two-all, and the Wolverines got called for another penalty at 5:04, with Schifsky being called for boarding. Michigan killed yet another power play, allowing zero shots in the two-minute period, but this time, Denver didn't score immediately after. The maize and blue were struggling to get offensive momentum, but finally, the Wolverines got a power play opportunity at 10:14, after the Pioneers were called for cross-checking. As the best power play team in the country, this was an opportunity the Wolverines couldn't afford to squander.
Denver won the face-off, taking a good 15 seconds off the power play, but Jayden Perron slipped a shot through to take a 3-2 lead at 11:02 -- Will Horcoff and Malcolm Spence with the assist.
The Wolverines stayed aggressive, with Denver only able to get one shot off in the next few minutes, while the maize and blue kept getting back on offense. But then, under the five-minute mark, the Pioneers, sensing their time was running out, put Michigan on its heels. The Wolverines were fine, just killing opportunities, running the clock out with the lead.
With 3:21 remaining, time was on Michigan's side. The shots started coming, and at first Ivankovic was able to keep them at bay, but after Asher Barnett lost his stick, the Pioneers evened the game at three at 17:14.
The Wolverines got three quick shots off, trying to regain the lead, but Denver goalie Johnny Hicks got three saves. The Pioneers cleared the puck into Michigan territory, Horcoff and Schifsky both got shots off, but Hicks narrowly got stops.
Denver cleared, and then won the offside face-off. Michigan remained on defense for the final minute, and neither team was able to get a shot off, and the national semifinal went to overtime.
The Wolverines loosely controlled the puck starting overtime, but it went quickly back towards their own goal. Michigan got control again, turned it over, and Denver got a shot off, saved by Ivankovic. The Wolverines cleared it, but icing was called, and the Pioneers would get another shot in the shadow of the Michigan goal. Brandon Naurato called a timeout at 1:09, just to keep the team's headspace clear.
Denver won the face-off, but Michigan was able to clear. Hughes went to the bench, seemingly injured. The Wolverines got a shot off, but it went back the other way, and the Pioneers got two off. Still on their heels, the Michigan defense held Denver off, but the Wolverines never got into any offensive sets. The two teams battled in the neutral zone for some time, and once the maize and blue got it out, Schifsky had a good look at the goal, but it Hicks got a kneepad in front of it. The Wolverines got a couple more opportunities, but to no avail. The aggression continued until a whistle blew at 5:36.
The ensuing face-off was controlled by Denver. After a brief offensive, Michigan got back on offense. A hand pass on Denver gave Michigan a face-off near the Pioneers' net, and a good shot attempt was blocked by Hicks. The puck was cleared, but Michigan got back on offense. The Wolverines changed lines, which led to a quick defensive stand and then a shot on goal.
The Wolverines got another shot off, but Hicks stopped it, and it went back the other way. Both teams continued to play an extremely physical brand of hockey, and a whistle blew at 10:25.
Michigan won the face-off, but little happened offensively. The Wolverines had been the more aggressive team, with a. 6-2 shot advantage in overtime to this point. Denver got it down into the maize and blue's zone, and the Pioneers' shot hit the crossbar -- a close call for the maize and blue, as Ivankovic's save attempt was late. 8:15 remaining in overtime.
Ivankovic saved a straight-on shot, and a Denver offside saved the Wolverines from facing another Pioneers attack. It was short-lived, as Denver got a couple of good looks at the net before the maize and blue cleared. Ivankovic had a good save, as both teams kept trading possessions. After a timeout, both teams traded shots, again to no avail.
But Will Horcoff was given a penalty for slashing, giving Denver a power play in overtime, with 2:26 remaining in OT, the Wolverines' fifth penalty of the game.
Michigan cleared the puck out of the gates and then did it again, taking 40 seconds off the power play. Denver got a shot off, and it was blocked by Ivankovic. Then, the Wolverines got a reprieve, with the Pioneers picking up a tripping penalty -- so it would be four-on-four until the final 25 seconds, when the maize and blue would have the one-man advantage.
The Wolverines got two shots off, neither particularly lucrative. They killed the penalty and had a brief moment to attempt a five-on-four chance, but the first overtime ended, still three-all, Michigan getting half a minute of power play in the second OT.
The Wolverines had about 10 seconds to get a shot in during the power play in the second overtime, but it went right into Hicks' legs. They got another shot off coming off the face-off, but it ricocheted off Hicks, and Denver controlled the puck after. Ivankovic made two saves, giving the maize and blue another opportunity on the other end.
Luca Fantilli got a streak to the net, but the shot went right into Hicks. Another Wolverine shot also was blocked. After the puck went into the Pioneer zone, Michigan brought it back the other way and continued to get some good looks. The maize and blue were nearly doubling up Denver on shots, 47-24 -- 8-1 in the second OT -- despite the game being even at three-all. Schifsky madea slapshot that ended up underneath Hicks, though it was wide of the net.
Unfortunately for the Wolverines, Denver's Kent Anderson sent the puck over a ducking Ivankovic, ending Michigan's season and hopes to make it's first national championship game in 15 years.
Michigan outshot Denver, 52-26. Ivankovic had 22 saves, while Hicks had 49. The game lasted for nearly four and a half hours, and even though the Wolverinees were the more aggressive team, their season ended in fatigue and heartbreak in Las Vegas.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan hockey's Frozen Four run ends in 2OT loss
Continue reading...
