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When the University of Denver hosts Michigan in a two-game series starting Friday, Oct. 16, the Pioneers will first raise their 2026 national championship banner. The ceremony comes exactly six months after Denver eliminated Michigan in double overtime of the Frozen Four semifinals.
Despite matching the nation's top two teams and boasting 32 NHL draft picks—including seven first-round selections—the game will not be shown on national television. Viewers outside Magness Arena must purchase a $16.95 day pass to stream the contest on NCHC.tv.
Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato expressed frustration over the omission on Oct. 13. While acknowledging he is not a television scheduler, Naurato noted that national broadcasts have previously featured marquee matchups. He cited ESPN's decision to air Penn State versus Arizona State last fall to spotlight eventual No. 1 draft pick Gavin McKenna. "If that one could be aired, then this one speaks for itself," Naurato said. "I mean, how many draft picks are in this? There's a lot of storylines."
This marks the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 clash since Michigan and Michigan State met in February, a split series that ended with the Spartans winning the Duel in the D. The upcoming Denver series promises similar intensity, reminiscent of the Frozen Four thriller where then-senior captain Kent Anderson scored the double-overtime winner for the Pioneers.
That loss has fueled Michigan throughout the offseason, with several core players returning for a shot at redemption. "Everyone who's back this year, definitely some extra motivation," defenseman Ben Robertson said.
No. 2 Michigan (4-0) has opened the season on fire, leading the nation with an average of seven goals per game. Senior forward Jayden Perron tops Division I with seven goals and 13 points, while linemate Michael Hage is close behind with 12 points. Five Wolverines rank among the country's top 14 scorers after dominant performances against Bowling Green and Alaska-Anchorage.
No. 1 Denver (2-0) also faced Anchorage, traveling to Alaska for its opening series. First-round picks Ryan Lin and Daxon Rudolph anchor a formidable blue line, with Rudolph leading the team with five points in two games. The Pioneers enter off a bye and will play their home opener on Friday, making the banner-raising even more poignant for the visiting Wolverines.
This series marks Michigan's first trip to Denver since March 1981, when both teams competed in the WCHA and the Wolverines swept a playoff series. The emotional weight is undeniable, as Michigan feels Denver snatched a championship opportunity away. Yet the Wolverines aim to balance that motivation with maturity, avoiding overexcitement that could lead to distraction.
"You want to be as even-keeled as possible," Robertson said. "Obviously we all have the same memories of last year, and them ending our season, but I think we're more successful when we think about it as another game. When emotions run high, you can tend to lose focus."
Michigan hasn't faced a challenge this daunting—the nation's top team on the road—since the 2021 Ice Breaker in Duluth, Minn., where it swept Minnesota State and Minnesota-Duluth. That season also ended with a Frozen Four semifinal overtime loss to Denver, this time in Boston. The Pioneers have claimed NCAA titles in 2022, 2024, and 2026.
"Whenever you win three national championships in five years, you're doing something right," Naurato said. Denver has been the hurdle Michigan couldn't clear for two of its best recent teams. This year's squad seeks a breakthrough but understands October results don't define April success.
"If we're 0-2 or 2-0, we're still going to learn a lot," Naurato said. "You're not there either way. So it's just good to play teams like this and get into the good habits and just see where we level up."
Originally reported by yahoo.