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LAS VEGAS – Michigan hockey seniors T.J. Hughes and Josh Eernisse each put on brave faces in their postgame interviews – Eernisse looking into the distance and Hughes tucking his chin to his chest, both answering questions while appearing to hold back emotions. But just 25 steps away in the Vegas Golden Knights locker room at T-Mobile Arena, which Michigan earned by entering the Frozen Four as the No. 1 overall seed, sobs and tears were flying out.
It was easier to count the players who weren't crying than those who were.
Michigan lost 4-3 in double overtime to the 2-seed Denver Pioneers on Thursday, April 9, in the national semifinal of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, but it was hard to see how from the stat sheet – at least, everywhere but the goals. The Wolverines outshot the Pioneers 52-26 overall – including a 21-6 mark in 32 minutes and 35 seconds of overtime –killed every Denver power play and were less than three minutes of regulation play from advancing to the national championship game against Wisconsin, before a tying goal from Denver freshman Clarke Caswell sent the game into overtime and senior Kent Anderson's 2OT goal provided the sudden-death finish.
THURSDAY'S HEARTBREAKER: Michigan hockey OT vs Denver Frozen Four recap: DU 4, U-M 3 (2OT)
"I thought we were outstanding, and we fought the whole time," Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said after 92:35 of hockey, third-most in a game in Frozen Four history. "And in hockey and in life, sometimes you do it the right way and you just don't get the bounces, and I think that's real adversity. And then you just keep getting back up."
Those could be encouraging words for Michigan's freshman standouts, such as goalie Jack Ivankovic or forward Adam Valentini. But for the seniors such as Eernisse and Hughes, there will be no next time – no chance to get back up while wearing maize and blue.
But even in the disappointment of a hard-fought loss, the seniors still found reasons to reflect and be grateful.
"I've tried my best to leave the 'Block M' better than I found it," said Hughes, who scored the Wolverines' second goal to give them a 2-1 lead in the first period. "I'll forever be blessed, forever be grateful to call coach my coach, and the rest of the staff my coach, and the boys from Team 101 to Team 104 my teammates and brothers."
Eernisse, who the day before was awarded the NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award and scored the first goal for the Wolverines in the first period, didn't express any regret for how Michigan played.
"I'm proud of the guys. We fought, we pushed, we pushed. I think we had our chances," he said. "[Denver] got their bounce, they buried their chance. But I would say every guy left it out there. Every guy did everything that they could."
The impact of this senior class was apparent in the locker room after the game. Fighting back tears, Ivankovic expressed how much the older players on the roster meant to his growth and development.
"They've been unbelievable the whole year," he said. "Off the ice, on the ice, they've done a lot. I just love them all and am gonna miss them so much."
Michigan's young talent may push the Wolverines to title contention again next season and for years to come. Denver coach David Carle remarked that Michigan looked like "a completely different team" from the last time these two teams met in the Frozen Four, a 3-2 Denver OT win in the 2022 semifinal.
And for that, Naurato gives a lot of credit to the seniors that have helped shape this team since that loss four years ago.
"Just the type of people that they are, how they treat people, how they push people," he said of the seniors. "Their daily habits away from the rink and at the rink have been infectious to the 15 new players and 12 freshmen.
"What these seniors have done for this program, it's really special. You can tell a little bit from the outside, but if you're in that room, all the conversations we're having, these guys, they changed the program. And I'm really proud of them for that and proud to be a part of it."
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan hockey seniors take pride in program renaissance despite loss
Continue reading...
It was easier to count the players who weren't crying than those who were.
Michigan lost 4-3 in double overtime to the 2-seed Denver Pioneers on Thursday, April 9, in the national semifinal of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, but it was hard to see how from the stat sheet – at least, everywhere but the goals. The Wolverines outshot the Pioneers 52-26 overall – including a 21-6 mark in 32 minutes and 35 seconds of overtime –killed every Denver power play and were less than three minutes of regulation play from advancing to the national championship game against Wisconsin, before a tying goal from Denver freshman Clarke Caswell sent the game into overtime and senior Kent Anderson's 2OT goal provided the sudden-death finish.
THURSDAY'S HEARTBREAKER: Michigan hockey OT vs Denver Frozen Four recap: DU 4, U-M 3 (2OT)
"I thought we were outstanding, and we fought the whole time," Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said after 92:35 of hockey, third-most in a game in Frozen Four history. "And in hockey and in life, sometimes you do it the right way and you just don't get the bounces, and I think that's real adversity. And then you just keep getting back up."
Those could be encouraging words for Michigan's freshman standouts, such as goalie Jack Ivankovic or forward Adam Valentini. But for the seniors such as Eernisse and Hughes, there will be no next time – no chance to get back up while wearing maize and blue.
But even in the disappointment of a hard-fought loss, the seniors still found reasons to reflect and be grateful.
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"I've tried my best to leave the 'Block M' better than I found it," said Hughes, who scored the Wolverines' second goal to give them a 2-1 lead in the first period. "I'll forever be blessed, forever be grateful to call coach my coach, and the rest of the staff my coach, and the boys from Team 101 to Team 104 my teammates and brothers."
Eernisse, who the day before was awarded the NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award and scored the first goal for the Wolverines in the first period, didn't express any regret for how Michigan played.
"I'm proud of the guys. We fought, we pushed, we pushed. I think we had our chances," he said. "[Denver] got their bounce, they buried their chance. But I would say every guy left it out there. Every guy did everything that they could."
The impact of this senior class was apparent in the locker room after the game. Fighting back tears, Ivankovic expressed how much the older players on the roster meant to his growth and development.
"They've been unbelievable the whole year," he said. "Off the ice, on the ice, they've done a lot. I just love them all and am gonna miss them so much."
You must be registered for see images
Michigan's young talent may push the Wolverines to title contention again next season and for years to come. Denver coach David Carle remarked that Michigan looked like "a completely different team" from the last time these two teams met in the Frozen Four, a 3-2 Denver OT win in the 2022 semifinal.
And for that, Naurato gives a lot of credit to the seniors that have helped shape this team since that loss four years ago.
"Just the type of people that they are, how they treat people, how they push people," he said of the seniors. "Their daily habits away from the rink and at the rink have been infectious to the 15 new players and 12 freshmen.
"What these seniors have done for this program, it's really special. You can tell a little bit from the outside, but if you're in that room, all the conversations we're having, these guys, they changed the program. And I'm really proud of them for that and proud to be a part of it."
Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports!
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan hockey seniors take pride in program renaissance despite loss
Continue reading...
