Wolverines' thrilling victory over Bulldogs seals 29th Frozen Four berth. Elite goaltending and early offensive surge propel Michigan toward Las Vegas showdown.
ALBANY, N.Y. — The lights of Las Vegas just got a little brighter for the Maize and Blue.
In a white-knuckle thriller at MVP Arena on Sunday night, the top-seeded University of Michigan men’s ice hockey team punched its ticket to an NCAA-record 29th Frozen Four, outlasting a relentless Minnesota Duluth squad 4-3. The victory clinches the Albany Regional title and sets up a titan-versus-titan semifinal matchup against Denver on April 9th at T-Mobile Arena.
A Dominant Start
Michigan (31-7-1) looked every bit the No. 1 overall seed in the opening frame, jumping out to a commanding 3-0 lead. The scoring opened just 3:05 into the game when Will Horcoff redirected a shot from Ben Robertson past UMD net-minder Adam Gajan.
The Wolverines' special teams then took center stage. Adam Valentini doubled the lead at the 9:51 mark, rifling a one-timer home on the power play. Less than three minutes later, while killing a penalty, Garrett Schifsky intercepted a casual drop pass in the neutral zone and broke away for a clinical shorthanded goal, sending the Michigan faithful into a frenzy.
"We knew Duluth wouldn't go away," Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato said following the win. "But that first period gave us the cushion we needed. Our special teams were the difference-maker early on."
The Bulldog Bite
Minnesota Duluth, a program synonymous with March grit, lived up to its reputation in the final period. After a scoreless second frame, the Bulldogs found life just 36 seconds into the third when Harper Bentz snapped one home to make it 3-1.
Michigan appeared to regain control shortly after when Jayden Perron—who earned a spot on the All-Regional Team—pounced on a rebound to restore the three-goal lead. However, UMD refused to yield. Ty Hanson scored on a power play midway through the third, and Scout Truman brought the Bulldogs within one with just 3:04 remaining.
The final minutes were a frantic display of "bend-but-don't-break" defense. With Gajan pulled for an extra attacker, the Bulldogs hemmed Michigan into their own zone, but regional Most Outstanding Player Jack Ivankovic stood tall. The freshman goaltender finished with 30 saves, including a series of sprawling stops in the dying seconds to preserve the one-goal lead.
Looking Ahead to Las Vegas
With the win, Michigan heads to the Frozen Four for the fourth time in five years. Their reward is a date with the Denver Pioneers, who advanced after defeating Western Michigan in the Loveland Regional.
Matchup
Date
Time (ET)
Venue
Michigan vs. Denver
April 9, 2026
8:30 PM
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
North Dakota vs. Wisconsin
April 9, 2026
5:00 PM
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
The semifinal against Denver will be a rematch of many historic NCAA battles, featuring two of the winningest programs in college hockey history. For Michigan, the mission is clear: capture the program’s 10th national title in a city known for high-stakes gambles. Based on last night's performance, the Wolverines are ready to go all-in.
The Prediction: Michigan 4 Denver 2
While Denver enters with a massive 11-game win streak, Michigan has been the best team in the country since Christmas (17-3-1). This game will be decided by whether Michigan can maintain their "early blitz" strategy while weather Denver's late-game surges.
Why Michigan Wins
The "Ivankovic" Factor: Freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic proved against Duluth that he can handle high-volume pressure.If he makes 30+ saves again, he can neutralize a Denver offense that relies on depth scoring.
Special Teams Supremacy: Michigan's power play—led by Adam Valentini and T.J. Hughes—is currently operating at a level that can punish Denver for even minor physical mistakes. A 2-for-4 night on the power play would likely swing the game in Michigan's favor.
Shutting Down the Pioneers' Top Line: If Tyler Duke and the Michigan defense can frustrate Denver's Eric Pohlkamp, it forces the Pioneers to rely on their secondary scoring, allowing Michigan’s high-octane offense to outpace them.