Wisconsin and Denver advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four championship game following victories in their semifinal matchups on Thursday.

The Badgers secured a 2-1 win over North Dakota, marking their first appearance in the national title game since 2010. Simon Tassy and Ryan Botterill scored goals just 27 seconds apart during the opening period, giving Wisconsin an early lead. The team then managed to hold off North Dakota's offense for the remainder of the game to claim the victory.

In a closely contested second semifinal, Denver edged Michigan 4-3 in double overtime. Kent Anderson scored the winning goal 7:25 into the second overtime period. Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks played a pivotal role, recording 49 saves to keep the Pioneers' championship hopes alive. Denver, seeded No. 2 in their regional bracket, improved their record to 28-11-3 and are aiming to capture their third national title in five years.

The championship game between Wisconsin, with a 24-12-2 record, and Denver is scheduled for Saturday. Both teams will look to capitalize on their momentum as they compete for the NCAA men's ice hockey national championship.