The Wisconsin Badgers are one win away from capturing their first NCAA men’s hockey title in 20 years.
The underdog Badgers beat the North Dakota Fighting Hawks 2-1 on Thursday in the first semifinal of the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.
If Wisconsin wins Saturday’s final, it would mark only the second time a school has won both the men’s and women’s hockey championships in the same year after the Badgers women’s team took the 2026 title last month. Wisconsin pulled off the only double in 2006.
North Dakota’s Ellis Rickwood scored with the goalie pulled with 52.7 seconds left to push his team within one goal, but Wisconsin held on.
Wisconsin freshman goalie Daniel Hauser, the WHL’s career wins leader, made 21 saves.
Wisconsin’s Simon Tassy and Ryan Botterill beat North Dakota goalie Jan Spunar 27 seconds apart midway through the second period to open the scoring.
Wisconsin got one of the final at-large bids in the 16-team NCAA tournament, while North Dakota was a No. 1 seed.
The Badgers, making their first Frozen Four appearance since 2010, await the winner of the second semifinal between top-ranked Michigan and Denver.