University of Denver Spring 2026

Wisconsin goalie Daniel Hauser surrendered a rebound off a shot from Garrett Brown. The first attempt to jam it home was stopped, but the second slipped through to tie the game with 12:29 remaining. “It’s a one-shot game after two [periods],” Carle said in an interview with ESPN after the game. “We finally got one to the net, and [Lorenz] was able to hang around that area. It certainly gave our guys a lot more belief.” Indeed, the goal injected new life into the Pioneers, and Chyzowski tipped in Boston Buckberger’s slapshot with 5:52 remaining to lift the Pioneers to victory. Driven by determination After a second consecutive game spent enduring numerous shots and intensely physical play, Carle said he was proud of his team’s determination. “We weathered it well,” he said. “[Wisconsin] threw a lot of stuff to the paint, a lot of stuff off the rush. We were

finally able to crack them a little, obviously, and possess some pucks. We got a puck on the net ourselves and capitalized. We found a way to make two plays in the third.” Hicks was selected as the Frozen Four’s Most Outstanding Player after a second consecutive game of highlight-reel stops. He finished with 29 saves, including nine in the third period, and finished his first-year campaign without losing a game since taking over the starting job in January. Back in Denver, the team celebrated the historic victory with the DU community at Magness Arena. Looking back at a roller coaster season with an outcome few thought possible, Carle summed it up perfectly. “We were 13-11, our backs were against the wall. We could have packed it up then, but this group really dug in,” he told the crowd. “They committed to each other, to themselves, and to the program—and if we made it through that adversity, we all thought something special like this could happen.” 

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER MAGAZINE | SPRING 2026