Carter Savoie led Denver in goals this season. Bobby Brink led the nation in assists.
So it was fitting for the Pioneers that Savoie potted the overtime winner in the national semifinals and the first assist went to Brink.
After a Michigan turnover at the blue line, Brink found a cutting Savoie wide open in front of the Michigan net. Savoie's initial shot was stopped by Michigan's Erik Portillo, but Savoie slammed home the rebound to punch the Pioneers' ticket to the championship with the 3-2 victory.
The final moments went a little like this...🤩🤩#MFrozenFour x @DU_Hockey pic.twitter.com/sdTVYRTyAv
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 8, 2022
It was the Oilers draft pick's 22nd goal and sixth game-winner on the year.
A game-winning goal he will never forget 💪
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 8, 2022
Carter Savoie's OT winner is his sixth game-winning goal this season!!!#MFrozenFour x @DU_Hockey pic.twitter.com/LdsnaaMJSU
Denver's Magnus Chrona made 19 saves in the win while Portillo stopped 30 shots in the loss. Brett Stapley and Cameron Wright had the Pioneers' other two goals, while Jimmy Lambert and Thomas Bordeleau tallied for the Wolverines.
Denver will be playing in the final for the first time since it won the title in 2017 over Minnesota Duluth. The Pioneers will face the winner of Thursday's second semifinal, Minnesota vs. Minnesota State. The championship game will be Saturday night at Boston's TD Garden.
This is a hard pill for Michigan to swallow. It had a loaded team with seven first-round NHL Draft picks. Owen Power, Matty Beniers and Kent Johnson all returned to college for another year instead of going pro in hopes of winning a national championship.
While a Frozen Four appearance and Big Ten championship are nothing to be ashamed about, a loss in the national semis is a major disappointment for a team that was expected to win the title.
MORE: What channel is Minnesota vs. Minnesota State on today?
When was the last time Denver was in the national championship?
Denver was in the finals five years ago in Chicago, when the Pioneers defeated the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs 3-2 in the finals.
Jarid Lukosevicius posted a hat trick for Denver in their first win since 2005.
How many championships does Denver have?
Denver owns the second-most title in college hockey with eight. The program is tied with North Dakota with that mark.
If Denver were to win the title this year, it would put them in a tie with Michigan for the most program titles in the NCAA at the DI level.
Here is a look at all the past winners and how many times programs have won.
| TEAM | CHAMPIONSHIPS | YEARS WON |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 9 | 1948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1996, 1998 |
| Denver | 8 | 1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004, 2005, 2017 |
| North Dakota | 8 | 1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997, 2000, 2016 |
| Wisconsin | 6 | 1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990, 2006 |
| Boston College | 5 | 1949, 2001, 2008, 2010, 2012 |
| Boston University | 5 | 1971, 1972, 1978, 1995, 2009 |
| Minnesota | 5 | 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003 |
| Lake Superior State | 3 | 1988, 1992, 1994 |
| Michigan State | 3 | 1966, 1986, 2007 |
| Michigan Tech | 3 | 1962, 1965, 1975 |
| Minnesota Duluth | 3 | 2011, 2018, 2019 |
| Colorado College | 2 | 1950, 1957 |
| Cornell | 2 | 1967, 1970 |
| Maine | 2 | 1993, 1999 |
| RPI | 2 | 1954, 1985 |
| Bowling Green | 1 | 1984 |
| Harvard | 1 | 1989 |
| UMass | 1 | 2021 |
| Northern Michigan | 1 | 1991 |
| Providence | 1 | 2015 |
| Union | 1 | 2014 |
| Yale | 1 | 2013 |
When is the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four championship?
- Date: April 9
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
The championship game will take place Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m. ET.
Denver will face Minnesota or Minnesota State in the final.
How to watch the 2022 Frozen Four championship
Frozen Four TV schedule
All Frozen Four games will be broadcast on ESPN2 or ESPN U. The Minnesota-Minnesota State game is slated to be on ESPNU.
The national championship will be on ESPN2.
| Round | TV channel |
| Minnesota State vs. Minnesota | ESPN U |
| National championship | ESPN2 |
Frozen Four streaming options
For those looking to stream Frozen Four games, they will be available on Watch ESPN and the ESPN app.
| Round | Live stream |
| National championship | Watch ESPN, ESPN app |
Canadian viewers can watch all three games on TSN.ca or through the TSN app.
Where is the NCAA Frozen Four being played?
- Frozen Four location: TD Garden, Boston
The TD Garden is the home of the Bruins and the NBA's Celtics. This is the eighth time the city has hosted the event.
It's also home to the annual Beanpot, the annual college hockey tournament featuring the four major college hockey schools of the Boston area — Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern and Harvard.
Who are the past champions of the NCAA Frozen Four?
Michigan has the most college hockey championships, with nine. Its last one came in 1998.
Denver and North Dakota have eight each, Wisconsin has six and Boston College, Boston University and Minnesota have five each.
Here are all the tournament winners over the past 10 years:
- 2021: UMass
- 2020: Tournament canceled because of COVID-19
- 2019: Minnesota Duluth
- 2018: Minnesota Duluth
- 2017: Denver
- 2016: North Dakota
- 2015: Providence
- 2014: Union
- 2013: Yale
- 2012: Boston College
