While Denver is obviously a college hockey powerhouse, claiming 10 national titles and shooting for an 11th this weekend. But in the larger sports picture, the Pioneers and fellow NCHA member North Dakota are relatively small compared to their Big 10 counterparts in this year’s Frozen Four, Michigan and Wisconsin.
The four teams have combined to win 33 national titles, ranked 1 through 4 in that category. Denver is on top with 10, followed by Michigan (nine), North Dakota (eight) and Wisconsin (six). The next closest are Boston College, Boston University and Minnesota with five each.
But there is a difference when it comes to overall national prominence of the NCHA teams vs. the Big Ten\.
“I think it’s what makes college hockey very unique,” said Denver coach David Carle, who has led the Pioneers to two national titles (2022 and 2024) as well as helping Denver to the 2017 championship as an assistant coach.
“It’s very local,” Carle said. “It’s very regional.Very diehard local fan bases. You get events like this where we’re quite a small school, it’s really hard for us to compete against a school like Michigan in any sport, outside our hockey team, our lacrosse program, probably our gymnastics team.”
Compare that to the success of the Big 10 in multiple sports, and you see the uniqueness of college hockey.
“We have a great athletic history and tradition,” said Carle. “But to do it with only 6,200 undergrads, and not the big alumni base that a school like Michigan has. I would even throw North Dakota in there as a smaller institution as it relates to Wisconsin and Michigan.”
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The NCHC certainly has had the upper hand over the Big 10 since both conferences were formed in 2013. The NCHC has had tremendous success in Frozen Fours with seven of the last nine NCAA championships. The Big 10 is still looking for its first hockey title.
“(The NCHC) has won seven of the last nine national championships,” said Carle. “None of us are these big, huge state schools. It starts with great leadership from our presidents and chancellors and our athletic directors. It’s ingrained within our local communities and fan bases.”
Should either Michigan or Wisconsin prevail as the winner of Saturday night’s championship game, the Big Ten will have claimed the 2026 NCAA championship in men’s hockey, men’s basketball (Michigan), women’s basketball (UCLA) and women’s hockey (Wisconsin).
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Speaking of basketball, Michigan coach Branon Naurato said his team was excited to watch the school’s men’s basketball team’s 69-63 win over Connecticut in the NCAA final on Monday night.
“We’re pumped for (basketball coach) Dusty (May),” Naurato said. “I know a lot of our guys are tight with the basketball team. We all watched the game the other night. Super excited for them. Excited to have the opportunity to do the same thing.”
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The 1950s vocal group The Four Freshmen have nothing on the goalies who will start for their respective teams this weekend in Las Vegas.
Wisconsin’s Daniel Hauser, North Dakota’s Jan Špunar, Denver’s Johnny Hicks and Michigan’s Jack Ivankovic are all first-year college players.
North Dakota coach Dane Jackson said despite his prior lack of experience at the college level, Špunar has remained cool under pressure.
“He has kind of a laid-back kind of quiet confidence that doesn’t get too riled up about too many things,” Jackson said. “I think his approach kind of allows him to (not) be flustered by anything. I really think that he’ll handle the spotlight well here. All season he’s played extremely solid for us. He just gives us a real confidence.”
While Wisconsin’s offensive heroics in its 4-3 overtime win over Michigan State in the Worcester Regional final were what made the highlight reel — when the Badgers rallied from two goals down with less than five minutes to play to force overtime — Hastings said Hauser’s contributions shouldn’t be overlooked.
“He crushes everything that he controls” Hastings said. “His diet, his preparation. He’s a ‘we’ guy. Came out of the gates hot. Had a little bump in the road. Found a way to keep another one out of the net in the regional that didn’t allow them to get to 4. That’s a winner.”
Of the four, only Ivankovic (18) is the traditional age for a college freshman. The other three are all 20 or older, with Hauser clocking in as the oldest at 22.
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Michigan senior Josh Eernisse was presented with the Elite Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2026 Frozen Four after the Wolverines’ practice at T-Mobile Arena on Wednesday.
A sport management major, Eernisse turned in a 3.97 grade-point average. The Elite Scholar-Athlete Award is presented annually to the player with the highest cumulative GPA participating at the finals site for each NCAA’s championship. Eligible athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school.
“I just tried to make the most of every opportunity I was able and fortunate to get,” Eernisse said. “(I) just tried to maximize all the resources that were given. That extends to the rink through our coaching staff, just how dedicated they are to us in terms of film and development as a person and as a player.”
Eernisse recorded 18 points this season (10-8-18) with three short-handed goals.