University of Denver Pioneers Have Extended Their NCAA Record The 11th National Championship Victory

63 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Hockey Teams. And only one Championship Team.

“These fucking guys are amazing!” – Denver Pioneers Goaltender, Johnny Hicks.

Cut the net and add it to the main display in the hallway, along with new additional hardware. C11ampioship number 11. Third National Title in 5 years. Denver University (29-11-3) is the Mecca of college hockey. And it’s not debatable. High stakes in Las Vegas, kicking off “Hockey in the Desert” and the Pios were there for the taking.

First, Captain Kent Anderson, who played his 150^th game in a Denver Pios sweater put the #1 Seed Michigan (31-9-1) to sleep with his double overtime game winning goal, and now Boston Buckburger is the hero with his game winning clapper in the Natty Game against Wisconsin (24-13-2), defeating the Badgers 2-1. Such an incredible display of hockey from both teams today at each other’s throats playing at a fast and furious pace throughout all three periods. Denver couldn’t get much going, only ripping nine shots through the first 47 minutes of the game. Two shots in the 1^st period, three shots in the 2^nd period, and 10 shots in the 3rd period.

Getting the offense off their heels and on their toes was brutal, and for most of the game it looked like Wisconsin had Denver figured out. By the end of the game, DU only got off 15 shots against Wisconsin, which tied the record for the fewest shots in a national championship game. But Denver has been there before, six times. This is their 6^th straight appearance in the national championship where Denver has been outshot and were still able to pull it off. Six. Times. All thanks to the netminders, especially DU’s goaltender, Johnny Hicks, who stood on his head.

Freshman (20-year-old) Johnny Hicks aka “Johnny Bricks” from Kamloops, British Columbia Canada is undoubtedly the “2026 Most Outstanding Performer” during the NCAA Tournament to the Frozen Four. This kid came out of nowhere, starting the year as a 3^rd string goaltender, and then ultimately becoming the face of the Natty team after his dominant performance against Wisconsin. Hicks was appointed as the starting goalie in the middle of the season, claiming the position as the clear-cut starter going (10-0-1) after his initial first start, finishing the season (16-0-1). He was the only reason why the Pioneers made it past the #1 seed Michigan in the first round of the Final Four.  

In the game against Michigan, the game went to double OT, and Denver was outshot 53 to 26, and four power plays without getting scored on. Denver was getting demolished in their zone and outplayed in the neutral zone. Against Wisconsin, Hicks made 29 saves on 30 shots, never letting up.

DU had no business winning this game if it weren’t for Johhny Bricks, who now has the bragging rights to mention that he is undefeated in his collegiate career, has never been beaten in the playoffs, and stands 5’10” tall listed as one of the smaller goalies in the game. The kid is unbeaten in his last 17 games. One of the most mesmerizing runs from a goalie seen in a very long time, breaking the single-season SV% record stopping 78 of 82 shots with a 1.19 GGA, and (.957) SV% in the Frozen Four Finals. Hicks made 128 saves, only letting in six goals in four games in his very first “Frozen Four” playoff run. This goes to show other NCAA hockey organizations that investing in the goalie to support the five on the ice is essential and critical in the big games when nothing is going as planned.

Statements from the University of Denver Pioneers Forward, Clarke Caswell and Head Coach David Carle;

“That’s the reason I chose Denver. to win a national championship. Other programs offer some other stuff but you don’t get the opportunity to win a national championship every single year unless you go to Denver.”

• – Denver University Pioneers, Forward Clark Caswell (Freshman)

“We invest, we have great leadership from our commissioner down… And again, I think we’re seeing that money doesn’t buy everything, and bigness doesn’t win championships all the time. At least in our sport, and maybe that’s changing. Everybody seems to think it is or could or will. I will tell you we will do our damndest in our conference and in Denver to make sure that doesn’t happen that way. But we’re really proud to represent the NCHC. The best league in college hockey if you’re a kid who wants to win and develop. We just again, we think it’s the best place to be.” 

• – Denver University Pioneers, Head Coach David Carle

Denver University has been the standard in college hockey and just raised the standard even higher. Proven to be the best in the NCHC, and the best division in college hockey by a long shot. The best part about it is that the Pioneers weren’t even ranked in the top 10 during the regular season and were overlooked in every way imaginable.

Magness Arena at the Ritchie Center has become a national sports treasure developing into more of a hockey museum that includes a massive case along the hallway full of championship hardware. As a player, if you want to win a national title in hockey, you go to Denver University. Head Coach David Carle is the “Nick Saban” of NCAA D1 Hockey, and nobody does it better at a better college.

An absolute dynasty that’ll be the pinnacle standard for hockey for an extended period of time.

Dante Robinson | Senior NCAA Hockey Analyst for The NSR Network