LAS VEGAS — Denver needed a spark.
Reiger Lorenz was there to provide it.
Dominated in almost every statistical category, Lorenz’s goal finally got things going for the Pioneers in the third period, tying the game at a goal apiece. Kyle Chyzowski put Denver ahead for good late in the third, and the Pioneers held on for a 2-1 win over Wisconsin in the NCAA championship game Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.
“We needed a big spark there,” said Lorenz. “Glad I could give the guys that little bump. (Coach David Carle) has been on me all four years I’ve been here to get to the net, use my body. I finally listened to him. Got in front of the net and banged home.”
Lorenz scored his 17th of the season when Garrett Brown’s shot from the right face-off dot was saved by Wisconsin goalie Daniel Hauser, but Lorenz had two swipes at the rebound, and the second found the back of the net.
Denver goalie Johnny Hicks had 29 saves and extended his undefeated streak to 16-0-1 since taking over the starting job midseason.
It was the 11th NCAA title for Denver, the most by any Division I men’s program, a record it held going into the game.
“Certainly we bent but didn’t break,” Carle said. “Johnny kept us within striking range. It’s a 60-minute game for a reason.”
The Badgers (24-13-2) outshot the Pioneers 30-15, including 23-5 over the first two periods. Denver was also doubled up on shots in the semifinal by Michigan, 52-26.
On the game-winning goal with 5:52 left in regulation by Chyzowski, Daniel Hauser (13 saves) lost his stick, as it slipped from his hands as he went right-to-left to follow the puck along the back boards.
Chyzowski deflected Boston Buckburger’s shot from the point, right past a stickless Hauser.
“They made two good plays to get shots through for goals,” said Wisconsin forward Gavin Morrissey. “We were throwing everything we had at the net, just couldn’t find a way to get one through.”
Denver (29-11-3) didn’t record a shot on goal until the 8:26 mark of the game, which was dominated by the Badgers through two periods. Denver blocked 31 shots, and Wisconsin never was able to establish a two-goal cushion.
“Effort, attitude, discipline I thought was good,” said Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings, whose Minnesota State team also lost a 1-0 third period lead to Denver in 2022, a 5-1 Pioneers win. “We couldn’t find a way to get it to two.”
The Badgers opened the scoring at 13:26 of the first when Vasily Zelenov beat Denver goalie Johnny Hicks with a beautiful shot just inside the top left corner.
Hicks was named Frozen Four MVP.
“Johnny Hicks is unbelievable,” said Denver senior captain Kent Anderson. “He’s undefeated. We couldn’t have done any of this without him.
“Tonight our group stuck with it, they believed in each other,” Anderson continued. “Hickey was there for us every step of the way. He kept us in it. Just waited for us to score. Eventually we did.”
Denver, as it has time and time again under Carle, found a way to win.
“I’d probably say (Wisconsin) was the hardest team we’ve played against all year,” said Carle. “Just how they were on it, their forecheck, made it real challenging to be able to break pucks out.
“We found a way again,” he continued. “Johnny kept us within range, as we have found a way in other games. These guys, we saved our best period for last. We found a way to make one more play.”
The win was the eighth by an NCHC team in the past 10 seasons: Denver (2017, 2022, 2024, 2026), Minnesota Duluth (2018, 2019), North Dakota (2018) and Western Michigan (2025).
The Big Ten, which started sponsoring hockey in 2013, is still looking for its first hockey championship.