Wisconsin Hockey Stuns Rivals In Overtime Thriller
Wisconsin Hockey Stuns Rivals In Overtime Thriller...
The University of Wisconsin men's hockey team delivered a heart-stopping 4-3 overtime victory against Minnesota in the Frozen Four semifinals late Friday night. The win at Boston's TD Garden sends the Badgers to their first NCAA championship game since 2010, sparking celebrations across Wisconsin.
Freshman forward James DuBois scored the game-winner 2:18 into overtime, capping a dramatic comeback after Wisconsin trailed 3-1 in the third period. The victory avenged Wisconsin's two regular-season losses to their border rivals and ended Minnesota's 12-game winning streak.
Social media erupted as the game concluded, with #BadgerHockey trending nationally on Twitter. Bars in Madison reportedly stayed open past closing time to accommodate fans watching the late-night thriller. The Wisconsin State Journal reported record traffic to its live blog during the final period.
This matchup marks the latest chapter in one of college hockey's fiercest rivalries. The teams had never met in the Frozen Four despite 26 combined NCAA tournament appearances since 2000. ESPN's broadcast drew 1.8 million viewers, the network's highest hockey audience this season excluding NHL games.
Wisconsin will face Boston College in Saturday's championship game (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Eagles defeated Michigan 5-2 in Friday's earlier semifinal. Boston College enters as favorites, having beaten Wisconsin 6-3 when the teams met in October.
University officials announced free viewing parties at the Kohl Center in Madison, with capacity expected to reach the 15,000-seat venue's limit. Governor Tony Evers tweeted that he'll attend the championship game in person, calling it "a can't-miss moment for Wisconsin sports."
The Badgers' last NCAA hockey title came in 2006 under current NHL coach Mike Eaves. This year's team, led by head coach Mike Hastings, has overcome early season struggles to win 14 of their last 16 games.
Friday's victory continues Wisconsin's strong 2025-26 athletic year, following the football team's ReliaQuest Bowl win and the women's volleyball national championship. Merchandise sales at the university bookstore reportedly tripled overnight, with hockey jerseys selling out by Saturday morning.
