Michigan Hockey loses double OT heartbreaker to Denver in Frozen Four

Despite outshooting Denver 52-26, victory was not in the cards for the Michigan Hockey team on Thursday night in the national semifinals in Las Vegas. The Pioneers outlasted head coach Brandon Naurato’s squad 4-3 in a double overtime thriller, further solidifying themselves as the marquee program in college hockey and shattering hearts in Ann Arbor. Early on, senior defenseman Tyler Duke was sent off for holding seven minutes into the first.

Even without one of their top killers, the Wolverines did well to deny entries and escaped the two minutes unscathed. However, shortly after the penalty expired, Denver picked off senior defenseman Luca Fantilli’s awkward breakout pass, leading to a tic-tac-toe look from the slot that beat freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic. The Pios kept up their rampant forecheck, hemming the Michigan defense in uncomfortable areas.

Though, the Wolverines still had quality looks on the other end, namely a pair of chances for senior captain T. J. Hughes and a step-down from Duke that hit Pioneers goaltender Johnny Hicks’ helmet and into the netting.

Hicks would eventually earn another win, improving his collegiate starting record to 15-0-1. On the ensuing offensive zone faceoff, senior forward Josh Eernisse corralled the puck from the dot and fired a wrist shot to level the score with under four minutes to play in the period. 59 seconds later, Hughes delivered another goal.