UND Fighting Hawks Arrive in Vegas for NCAA Frozen Four

North Dakota Fighting Hawks Arrive in Las Vegas for 2026 Frozen Four

The North Dakota Fighting Hawks have officially touched down in Las Vegas, preparing for a high-stakes run at the 2026 NCAA Men’s Hockey National Championship. Marking the program’s first Frozen Four appearance since their title win in 2016, the team arrived on Tuesday afternoon to begin preparations for the semifinals at T-Mobile Arena.

The Road to Las Vegas

North Dakota secured their spot in the national semifinals with a dominant performance in the Sioux Falls Regional. As the top seed in that regional, the Fighting Hawks delivered a clinical performance, highlighted by a 5-0 rout of Quinnipiac. During that decisive game, North Dakota’s defense stifled the opposition, limiting Quinnipiac to just four shots on goal in the third period.

Semifinal Matchup: North Dakota vs. Wisconsin

The Fighting Hawks are set to face the Wisconsin Badgers on Thursday, April 9. This matchup features two storied programs: North Dakota is seeking its ninth national championship, while Wisconsin is making its first Frozen Four appearance since 2010.

The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and the Fighting Hawks Radio Network. This semifinal is part of a larger “battle of titans” in Las Vegas, as the other semifinal features Denver facing Michigan.

Key Takeaways for the 2026 Frozen Four

• Historic Field: The four participating teams (North Dakota, Wisconsin, Denver, and Michigan) hold a combined 33 national championships, the most ever for a Frozen Four.
• Venue: T-Mobile Arena is hosting the Frozen Four for the first time.
• North Dakota’s Drought: This is the Fighting Hawks’ first trip to the national semifinals in 10 years.
• The Competition: Denver is pursuing a record 11th national title, while Michigan is appearing in the semifinals for an NCAA-record 29th time.

Fighting Hawks NHL Prospects

North Dakota enters the tournament with a roster deep with professional talent. Notable NHL affiliates on the squad include:

• Defense: EJ Emery (Latest York Rangers), Sam Laurila (New York Islanders), Andrew Strathmann (Columbus Blue Jackets), and Abram Wiebe (Calgary Flames).
• Forwards: Dylan James (Detroit Red Wings), Ollie Josephson (Seattle Kraken), David Klee (San Jose Sharks), Cade Littler (Calgary Flames), Cole Reschny (Calgary Flames), Ben Strinden (Nashville Predators), Mac Swanson (Pittsburgh Penguins), and Will Zellers (Boston Bruins).

Frozen Four Schedule Summary

As the Fighting Hawks settle into Las Vegas, the focus remains on reclaiming the national title they last held a decade ago. With a potent mix of NHL-caliber talent and recent regional momentum, North Dakota looks to turn their 23rd Frozen Four appearance into a championship victory.