Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks named Frozen Four MOP
Goaltender Johnny Hicks of the Denver Pioneers was named Most Outstanding Player as the team captured their second NCAA National Championship in three seasons.
Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks named Frozen Four MOP originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Goaltender Johnny Hicks shined throughout the weekend in Las Vegas, as the Denver Pioneers claimed their second National Championship in three seasons.
It also marked the Pioneers' third title in the last five years. Denver defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 2-1 on April 11's 2026 Frozen Four final at T-Mobile Arena and home of the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights . The win gave the Pioneers their 11th national title overall and denied the Badgers their first championship since 2006 ā also preventing Wisconsin from bringing home the double title to Madison, Wis.
after their women's team won their own National Championship in March. Hicks, who is only a freshman, was named Most Outstanding Player after posting 29 saves following his 49-save performance in the eventual 4-3 double overtime win against Michigan in the Frozen Four semifinals. The undrafted goaltender (who stands at 5'10", weighing just 157 pounds) finished the season 16-0-1 and took over the starting job in Jan.
; Hicks only let in one goal from Buffalo Sabres ' prospect Vasily Zelenov and would then go on to record 24 consecutive saves in the title game. He was named MOP after also having received that same accolade in Denver's conference and regional tournaments. "Johnny Hicks is unbelievable," Denver captain Kent Anderson said to the media postgame.