Michigan hockey falls to Denver in double overtime in Frozen Four

LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) – Michigan’s hockey team saw another trip to the Frozen Four end short of a national championship.

Denver took down the Wolverines, 4-3, in double overtime on Thursday and will take on Wisconsin in the national championship game on Saturday.

Kent Anderson scored the game-winner for the Pioneers, who were outshot by Michigan 52-26.

Denver will be seeking its 11th national championship in program history. Michigan is still seeking its first championship since 1998. This was the program’s tenth trip to the Frozen Four since 1998.

A high-scoring first period saw Denver jump out to a 1-0 lead. Kyle Chyzowski gave the Pioneers the advantage with 9:29 to play in the opening period, but the Wolverines took the momentum into the first intermission.

Josh Eernisse scored Michigan’s first goal of the game, and 59 seconds later, T.J. Hughes gave the Wolverines a 2-1 advantage with 2:43 remaining in the first period. It was Hughes’ 22nd goal of the season.

Denver’s Cale Ashcroft would score the lone goal of the second period to make this a 2-2 game entering the third.

With Michigan on the power play, Jayden Perron found the back of the net with just under nine minutes to play and gave the Maize and Blue a 3-2 lead.

It wouldn’t be the game-winner, though, because Denver’s Clarke Caswell evened things up with 2:46 remaining in regulation, leading to overtime.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.