Hockey blue bloods don’t get purer than the four teams in Las Vegas this weekend.

The NCAA champion Saturday night will add to a long, storied tradition as this year’s Frozen Four field consists of the programs with the most national titles.

Some, like Denver and Michigan, are recent Frozen Four visitors, with each making three of the last four, while North Dakota returns for the first time in a decade and Wisconsin the first time in 16 years.

Here’s everything you need to know about the four teams competing at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in Thursday’s national semifinals:

Denver

Nickname: Pioneers

Frozen Four appearances: 21st

National championships: 10 (1st all-time)

Conference: NCHC

2025-26 record: 27-11-3

Head coach: David Carle (8th season)

Players to know: F Rieger Lorenz (16 goals, 18 assists, 34 points); F Sam Harris (15 goals, 19 assists, 34 points); F James Reeder (10 goals, 23 assists, 33 points); D Eric Pohlkamp (18 goals, 21 assists, 39 points); D Boston Buckberger (10 goals, 18 assists, 28 points); G Johnny Hicks (14-0-1 record, 1.12 goals-against average, .958 save percentage)

How they got here: The Pios have won 11 straight games, the longest streak of the semifinalists. DU’s unbeaten streak is at 15 games and dates back to January. Carle’s team has been a rocket ship since the freshman Hicks was put in goal when the streak began. The Pios are as deep as they’ve been with four lines capable of producing like a top line and are the only team from last year’s Frozen Four in St. Louis to make it back to Las Vegas.

Michigan

Nickname: Wolverines

Location: Ann Arbor

Frozen Four appearances: 29th

National championships: 9 (2nd)

Conference: Big Ten

2025-26 record: 31-7-1

Head coach: Brandon Naurato (4th season)

Players to know: F T.J. Hughes (21 goals, 35 assists, 54 points); F Michael Hage (13 goals, 38 assists, 51 points); F Jayden Perron (17 goals, 23 assists, 40 points); F Will Horcoff (25 goals, 13 assists, 38 points); D Tyler Duke (two goals, 16 assists, 18 points); G Jack Ivankovic (25-7-1 record, 2.13 goals-against average, .923 save percentage)

How they got here: The Wolverines are the No. 1 overall seed for a reason. After winning nine of their first 10 games, they took the top spot in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll and have held onto that No. 1 ranking for almost the entirety of the last few months. Michigan won the Big Ten tournament title against rival Ohio State then scored nine goals in two games at the Albany Regional to advance to its third Frozen Four in four seasons under Naurato. 

North Dakota

Nickname: Fighting Hawks

Location: Grand Forks

Frozen Four appearances: 23rd

National championships: 6 (3rd)

Conference: NCHC

2025-26 record: 29-9-1

Head coach: Dane Jackson (1st season)

Players to know: F Ellis Rickwood (8 goals, 28 assists, 36 points); F Cole Reschny (6 goals, 29 assists, 35 points); F Will Zellers (18 goals, 16 assists, 34 points); F Dylan James (21 goals, 10 assists, 31 points); D Jake Liavanage (five goals, 20 assists, 25 points); G Jan Špunar (20-4-1 record, 1.90 goals-against average, .917 save percentage)

How they got here: The first season under Jackson couldn’t have gone better. The Fighting Hawks quickly restored themselves as one of the top teams in the country thanks to a talented group of freshmen and entered the postseason having won a trophy with the Penrose Cup as regular-season NCHC champs. After a disappointing home loss in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, North Dakota dominated the Sioux Falls Region, winning by a combined 8-0 thanks to one of the best defenses in the country.

Wisconsin

Nickname: Badgers

Location: Madison

Frozen Four appearances: 12th

National championships: 6 (4th)

Conference: Big Ten

2025-26 record: 23-12-2

Head coach: Mike Hastings (3rd season)

Players to know: F Gavin Morrissey (9 goals, 27 assists, 38 points); F Quinn Finley (17 goals, 16 assists, 33 points); F Christian Fitzgerald (16 goals, 15 assists, 31 points); D Ben Dexheimer (seven goals, 20 assists, 27 points); G Daniel Hauser (20-7-2 record, 2.56 goals-against average, .899 save percentage)

How they got here: Unbeaten in nine of their first 10 games, the Badgers got off to a red-hot start and were near the top of the USCHO rankings for much of the first three months of the season. Six straight losses to close January put an NCAA Tournament berth in doubt. A 6-2 record in February righted the ship and earned Wisconsin a No. 3 seed, despite an early exit from the Big Ten tournament. After a convincing 5-1 win over crowd favorite Dartmouth in the first round, the Badgers picked up a 4-3 overtime upset over No. 1 seed Michigan State in the Worcester Regional final thanks to a goal by Dexheimer, the senior captain.