Michigan
31-7-1
Minnesota Duluth
24-15-1
Wolverines Secure Frozen Four Berth in Regional Final Win over No. 6 Bulldogs
3/29/2026 8:09:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Jack Ivankovic earned Most Outstanding Player of the region after posting 30 saves vs. UMD.
» Jayden Perron scored the game-winning goal 3:07 into the third for his 40th point of the year.
» U-M is 61-33 in 94 tournament contests as it heads to its NCAA-record 29th Frozen Four.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The top-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team is headed back to the Frozen Four after earning a 4-3 win over second-seeded and No. 6-ranked Minnesota Duluth in the NCAA Albany Regional Final on Sunday (March 29) at MVP Arena.
A trio of first-period goals sent Michigan in front early, fueled by strong special teams play, and the Wolverines held off a late push to secure a spot in the national semifinals for the 29th time in program history, the most of any school.
Goaltender Jack Ivankovic was outstanding in net, earning Most Outstanding Player honors with 30 saves while improving to 25 wins on the season. Ivankovic stopped 30 of 33 shots and finished the regional with 54 saves on 58 shots faced.
Michigan (31-7-1) struck first at 3:05 when Will Horcoff redirected a shin-high shot from Ben Robertson at the left point, sending a bouncing puck past the netminder for his 25th goal of the season. Cole McKinney started the sequence by forcing a turnover and setting up the play.
The Wolverines doubled the lead on the power play at 9:51 when Adam Valentini blasted home a cross-ice saucer pass from Nick Moldenhauer below the right dot. Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen added the secondary assist as Michigan pushed ahead 2-0.
Michigan added to its advantage shorthanded at 12:35 when Garrett Schifsky intercepted a drop pass and skated in alone, slipping a shot through the five-hole to make it 3-0. The Wolverines combined a power-play goal, a shorthanded tally and a perfect penalty kill in the opening period to build control early.
The Bulldogs threatened late in the period, but Ivankovic turned aside multiple chances, including help from the post, to preserve the three-goal cushion. Michigan carried a 3-0 lead into the first intermission behind a 12-9 edge in shots and a narrow advantage in the faceoff circle.
Minnesota Duluth (24-15-1) nearly broke through early in the second on a breakaway, but the shot rang off the post. Ivankovic followed with his best stop of the night later in the frame, denying a point-blank one-timer from the slot to keep the shutout intact.
Through two periods, Michigan maintained its 3-0 lead while extending its edge in shots (21-17) and faceoff wins (23-17). The Wolverines also built a 10-5 advantage in blocked shots and improved to 22-0 this season when leading after two periods.
Duluth broke through just 36 seconds into the third period to cut the deficit to 3-1, but Michigan answered quickly. At 3:07, Jayden Perron used a burst of speed to get to the net and pushed home a rebound while skating through the crease, restoring a three-goal lead at 4-1. Malcolm Spence and Robertson were credited with assists on Perron's 17th goal of the season.
The Bulldogs responded with a power-play goal midway through the period and added another with 3:04 remaining to pull within 4-3. Michigan challenged the play for goaltender interference, but the goal stood.
Minnesota Duluth continued to press late, but a strong backcheck from T.J. Hughes disrupted a dangerous rush as the Wolverines protected the lead.
Duluth pulled its goaltender with 90 seconds remaining and applied sustained pressure in the offensive zone, forcing Michigan to defend through multiple long shifts and icing situations. The Wolverines ultimately held firm behind Ivankovic to secure the win.
Michigan finished with a 31-27 advantage in faceoffs, while Duluth held a 33-27 edge in shots after a strong third period. The early three-goal burst set the tone, and Perron's third-period strike proved to be the difference.
With the win, Michigan improved to 61-33 all-time in NCAA Tournament play and extended its regional winning streak to 10 games. The victory also evened the program's NCAA Tournament record against Minnesota Duluth, which previously defeated the Wolverines in the 2011 national championship game.
Michigan will now prepare for the Frozen Four, set to be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The national semifinals are slated for Thursday (April 9), with the championship game to follow on Saturday (April 11). The semifinals will air on ESPN2, while the title game will be broadcast on ESPN. Big Ten foe Wisconsin will face North Dakota in the other semifinal.
