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.

The Indiana Fever made a series of offseason moves Saturday to surround superstar Caitlin Clark with talent as the team looks to contend for a WNBA championship this year.

The Fever re-signed key players Lexie Hull and Kelsey Mitchell, while adding veteran Monique Billings from the Golden State Valkyries.

The players were signed after the Fever were one game shy of reaching the WNBA Finals in 2025 while Clark missed the entire postseason with an injury.

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With Clark set to return, Indiana is keeping its core together while adding veteran depth to bolster its roster ahead of the 2026 season.

The Fever have the fourth-best odds to win the WNBA title in 2026 behind the Minnesota Lynx, the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty.

Hull previously teased the Fever’s offseason plans and championship ambitions in an interview with Fox News Digital.

FEVER WIN FIRST PLAYOFF SERIES IN 10 YEARS DESPITE CAITLIN CLARK’S INJURY, ADVANCE TO WNBA SEMIFINALS

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark reacts during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center June 19, 2025. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)

“I think it’s because we made it where we made it last year without some of our key pieces, and with a lot of injuries, and a lot of, like, this adversity. … Our bench was longer than every other bench. We had more people in the training room getting treatment than any other team, and we still almost made it to the Finals,” Hull said.

“Tasting that and being so close and feeling like we have so much more to give, I think that just changes our mindset a little bit. And it’s not necessarily overconfident, but confident in the fact that we really do have a chance. And we should be playing like every game matters, and we’re preparing for that last one.

“I think it’s very achievable with what we’re going to be able to do with free agency.”

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Indiana Fever guards Kelsey Mitchell (0) and Caitlin Clark (22) talk during the first half in Game 2 of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff series against the Connecticut Sun Sept. 25, 2024, in Uncasville, Conn. (Jessica Hill/AP)

The Fever’s season ended in 107-98 overtime loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals last year.

With Clark returning from injury, their core intact and at least one new addition, Indiana is looking to finish the job.

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