Denver beats Wisconsin 2-1 for its 11th national title, 3rd in 5 years
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kyle Chyzowski tipped in a shot from the point with 5:52 left to back up another sensational performance from goalie Johnny Hicks and rally Denver to a 2-1 victory over Wisconsin on Saturday for the Pioneers' third national championship in five years. The victory also extended the Pioneers' record to 11 national titles overall and denied the Badgers their seventh overall and first since 2006. This also was a rare loss for a Big Ten Conference team in a championship game this academic year.
That conference already is home to the current champions in football ( Indiana ), men’s basketball ( Michigan ) and women’s basketball ( UCLA ). But the National Collegiate Hockey Conference remains the sport's premier league by claiming eight of the past 10 national champions. Hicks continued his stellar play by making 29 saves, just two days after a personal-high 49 against Michigan .
He did not lose in regulation since taking over the starter, going 16-0-1. Hicks entered this game by leading the nation with a 1. 20 goals-against average and .
957 save percentage. Rieger Lorenz scored the other goal for Denver. Wisconsin's goal came from Vasily Zelenov, and Daniel Hauser stopped 13 shots.
Zelenov's blast from the left circle off the rush with 6:24 left in the first period put Wisconsin up 1-0, a lead that held up until 7:31 of the third. That's when Kristian Epperson passed to defenseman Garrett Brown at the left point. His shot resulted in a rebound opportunity for Lorenz, who scored easily around Hauser into the open net.