Denver hockey claims record 11th national title | April 11, 2026 | Colorado’s Top 150 Sports Moments
Happy birthday, Colorado — and Colorado sports.
Leading into the state’s 150th birthday Aug. 1, The Denver Gazette has partnered with the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame to publicize the definitive list of Colorado’s top 150 sports moments.
For Nos. 50 to 1, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati coordinated a 19-member committee to rank in order what they considered the top moments. The No. 1 moment will be revealed July 31. Plati and Broncos icon Jim Saccomano will unveil the list weekly on a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame podcast at coloradosports.org/podcast/.
No. 36 — April 11, 2026
The Denver Pioneers won their record 11th NCAA men’s hockey title (and third in the last five years), defeating the University of Wisconsin, 2-1. Held scoreless for the first 47 minutes with only nine shots on goal, the DU offense came alive, with Rieger Lorenz putting a rebound in the net to tie the game at 1. Then, with 5:52 remaining, Kyle Chyzowski tipped one in for the winning score. DU’s freshman goalie, Johnny Hicks, stopped 29 of 30 Badger shots and was named the Frozen Four’s outstanding performer.
—Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian