Kent Anderson's 2OT Hero Moment Sends Denver to Championship Game Against Wisconsin
Denver is heading to the Frozen Four championship game, and they did it the hard way. The Pioneers stunned No. 1 Michigan 4-3 in double overtime Thursday night in Las Vegas, with Kent Anderson scoring the winner at 7:25 of the second OT to punch their ticket to Saturday's title game against Wisconsin. This is Denver's shot at winning their third national championship in five years, and honestly, nobody saw this coming the way it played out.
Anderson's Clutch Moment and Johnny Hicks' Masterclass
Anderson, who doesn't light the lamp often, knows exactly how big this goal is. "I don't score many goals, so this is ranking up top so far," he said after the game. "That means everything to play in this national championship game." That's the kind of understatement you hear from a guy who just sent his team to the finals. But the real story was Johnny Hicks in net. The freshman goalie came up huge with 49 saves, backing up a Pioneers squad that got outshot 52-26. Hicks entered the game leading the nation with a 1.12 goals-against average and a .958 save percentage, and he proved he belongs in the spotlight. Even after taking a nasty hit early in the third period when teammate Eric Jamieson made contact with Michigan's Malcolm Spence, Hicks stayed in the game and refused to quit.
🎲 Want to Make Tonight's Game More Interesting?
Kalshi lets you trade on real sports outcomes — not just spreads. It's the only federally regulated prediction market in the US, and it's available right here in Washington state.
New users get a FREE $10 just for signing up — no deposit required to claim it.
👉 Claim Your Free $10 at KalshiDenver's Balanced Attack and Wisconsin Awaits
The Pioneers (28-11-3) got goals from Clarke Caswell, Kyle Chyzowski, and Cale Ashcroft before Anderson's heroics. Caswell also added an assist to make it a complete effort. Michigan came hungry, with Josh Eernisse, Jayden Perron, and T.J. Hughes all finding the back of the net. Hughes' goal gave the Hobey Baker finalist 179 career points, the most among active players. But it wasn't enough.
Denver coach David Carle knows what he has in Hicks. "He's a battler, he's unfazed. He was our best player tonight," Carle said. Now the Pioneers will face Wisconsin (24-12-2) on Saturday after the Badgers edged North Dakota 2-1 in the other semifinal. Denver will try to extend their record to 11 total titles. The championship game is set.
🐦 What fans are saying on X
See the latest reactions and highlights from Seattle fans about Frozen Four.
View X conversation →This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.