LAS VEGAS — Kyle Chyzowski tipped in a shot from the point with 5:52 left to back up another sensational performance from goalie Johnny Hicks and rally Denver to a 2-1 victory over Wisconsin on Saturday for the Pioneers’ third national championship in five years.

The victory also extended the Pioneers’ record to 11 national titles overall and denied the Badgers their seventh overall and first since 2006.

This also was a rare loss for a Big Ten Conference team in a championship game this academic year. That conference already is home to the current champions in football (Indiana), men’s basketball (Michigan) and women’s basketball (UCLA).

But the National Collegiate Hockey Conference remains the sport’s premier league by claiming eight of the past 10 national champions.

“I’m so happy that we could get it done with this group,” said Hicks, fighting back tears. “We’ve gone through so much adversity, and I’m just so proud of this group.”

Hicks continued his stellar play by making 29 saves, just two days after a personal-high 49 against Michigan. He did not lose in regulation since taking over the starter, going 16-0-1. Hicks entered this game by leading the nation with a 1.20 goals-against average and .957 save percentage.

He was named Most Outstanding Player after also receiving that honor in Denver’s conference and regional tournaments.

“I was just playing off instinct,” Hicks said.

Rieger Lorenz scored the other goal for Denver.

Wisconsin’s goal came from Vasily Zelenov, and Daniel Hauser stopped 13 shots.

Zelenov’s blast from the left circle off the rush with 6:24 left in the first period put Wisconsin up 1-0, a lead that held up until 7:31 of the third.

That’s when Kristian Epperson passed to defenseman Garrett Brown at the left point. His shot resulted in a rebound opportunity for Lorenz, who scored easily around Hauser into the open net.

Then it was a matter of finishing the job, which is what happened when Boston Buckberger delivered a one-timer from the right point that likely would have gone into the net even if Chyzowski hadn’t gotten a stick on the puck.

Denver didn’t have a shot on goal for the first 8 1/2 minutes and ended the first period with just two for the fifth time in a title game. The Pioneers also had two shots on goal in a period in 1963 against North Dakota. Minnesota was the most recent team to have such few shots, occurring three years ago against Quinnipiac.

The Pioneers managed just three more shots on goal in the second period against Wisconsin’s forecheck, the Badgers outshooting them 21-5 through two periods.

It had a similar feel to Denver’s 4-3 double-overtime victory over Michigan in Thursday night’s semifinals. The Wolverines outshot the Denver 52-26, but the Pioneers found a way to force OT and win in extra time.

UConn freshman Eric Reibe, a rotation player on the Huskies’ Final Four team, has entered the transfer portal, a source told ESPN on Friday.

Reibe, a 7-foot-1 center from Germany, was a former McDonald’s All American and was projected to move into a starting role for UConn next season with NCAA tournament star Tarris Reed out of eligibility.

In five games with Reed sidelined toward the start of the season, Reibe averaged 12.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks, shooting 65% from the field in those five starts. As Reed became more of a dominant force over the second half of the season, Reibe’s role diminished, averaging just 6.7 minutes in six NCAA tournament games.

On the season, he averaged 5.9 points and 3.3 rebounds.

Reibe was a top-25 recruit in the high school Class of 2025, ranking as the No. 2 center in the class.

With Reibe’s departure, UConn will now be without at least three players from its nine-man rotation. Reed, program legend Alex Karaban and backup point guard Malachi Smith are all out of eligibility, while freshman starter Braylon Mullins is a projected top-20 pick and could opt to go into the NBA draft.

Dan Huley is expected to bring back starting guards Silas Demary Jr. and Solo Ball, while reserve wings Jayden Ross and Jaylin Stewart could return. Top-50 recruits Colben Landrew and Junior County have also signed with the Huskies.