2026 NCAA Frozen Four Preview

Las Vegas is set to host a Frozen Four between programs that are used to this stage. The 2026 Frozen Four features the top four National Title-winning teams in the entire NCAA, with Denver carrying the charge with ten in their program’s storied history. The Frozen Four teams of Michigan, Denver, North Dakota, and Wisconsin have combined for 33 titles, as old as Michigan’s 1948 title to as fresh as Denver’s 2024 victory before Western Michigan won last season.

With that being said, we’ll only have two more teams remaining after Thursday night, with highly anticipated matchups to preview. Apr 9, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; North Dakota Fighting Hawks goalie Cam Johnson (33) and defenseman Christian Wolanin (24) celebrate with the trophy after beating the Quinnipiac Bobcats in the championship game of the 2016 Frozen Four college ice hockey tournament at Amalie Arena. North Dakota defeated Quinnipiac 5-1.

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images #3/12 Wisconsin vs #1/2 North Dakota: 5:00 PM EST, ESPN2 Two teams with deep resumes, but you might imagine both fanbases are relieved to be in this spot, with North Dakota in the Frozen Four for the first time since 2016, while Wisconsin sees a Frozen Four appearance for the first time since 2010. It’ll be the fourth-ever NCAA Tournament matchup between the two strong programs, with the Fighting Hawks taking all three up to this point. The two were also former conference rivals back when they butted heads in the WCHA, which only exists now for women’s hockey, dominated by the Badgers in that realm, who just won another National Title under Mark Johnson There is a contrast in these teams: one team was expected to be here, while the other had to create its own path.

North Dakota has been dominant all year, entering Las Vegas with a 29-9-1 record. The Fighting Hawks have lost just one regulation game in the last 81 days. Head Coach Dane Jackson and his crew have worked by Merrimack and Quinnipiac to win their regional, leading them here.