Michigan Hockey takes down Ohio State for Big Ten Tournament title

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - MARCH 21: The Michigan Wolverines pose with the championship trophy after Michigan defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 7-3 in the Big Ten Tournament Championship game at Yost Ice Arena on March 21, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Jaime Crawford/Getty Images) | Getty Images Going into the Big Ten Tournament Championship, there was a clear difference in desires. No.

2 seed Michigan had likely already locked up the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, while No. 5 Ohio State was fighting to keep its season alive. Desires aside, it was the Wolverines rolling to a 7-3 victory to secure their third tournament championship in five years (first since 2023 and first ever at Yost Ice Arena) with an impressive effort over their rivals to the south.

Early on, freshman forward Adam Valentini took an unfortunate penalty as the Buckeyes’ Max Montes chipped the puck into the offensive zone and drew a trip. On the ensuing power play, senior forward Josh Eernisse helped bleed the clock with a courageous block on the back of his leg. But Ohio State would strike late as William Smith ripped a right circle one-timer past freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic to make it 1-0.

The Buckeyes came out firing — perhaps riding the high of upsetting Michigan State in East Lansing last weekend — but Ivankovic helped weather the storm and Michigan had its forecheck going. Late in the frame, senior forward Garrett Schifsky controlled the puck in the defensive zone, fended off an Ohio State forward, drove through the neutral zone and into Buckeye territory unscathed and ripped a deep slot shot top corner for the leveler, 1-1. The Wolverines came out of the intermission firing, and it did not take long to grab the lead.