NCAA MEN'S FROZEN FOUR: WISCONSIN VS DENVER

April 11, 2026

Mike Hastings

Ben Dexheimer

Gavin Morrissey

Joe Palodichuk

T-Mobile Arena

Wisconsin Badgers

Finals Postgame Media Conference

Denver 2, Wisconsin 1

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Wisconsin. We'll start with some opening thoughts from Coach Hastings.

MIKE HASTINGS: First I'd like to say congratulations to Denver. They found a way to get it done. David and his group does a really good job.

Secondly I'd like to say thank you to Las Vegas for hosting us. Not the result we want, but the experience, other than that result, has been nothing but fantastic. So that experience for our athletes, for our staff, and hopefully for our fans, is something that they'll remember.

THE MODERATOR: Questions for the players.

Q. Ben, can you put into words the feeling at this point, knowing you were that close.

BEN DEXHEIMER: A little shocked right now. Definitely going to settle here in here in the next few days.

I couldn't be prouder of this team from the ups and downs throughout the year. I just love every one of those guys in that room.

Q. Gavin, obviously you and your teammates created a lot of opportunities. What was the challenge of getting that second goal?

GAVIN MORRISSEY: I think you got to give a lot of credit to the other team. They defend really well. They block a lot of shots. Their goalie is outstanding his whole season really.

I know it wasn't for lack of effort on our end. Maybe just give credit to the other team.

Q. Gavin, what made the third different than the first two periods?

GAVIN MORRISSEY: Uhm... It's kind of hard to say in the moment. They made two good plays to get shots through for goals. Like I said, we were throwing everything we had at the net, just couldn't find a way to get one through.

Q. (No microphone.)

GAVIN MORRISSEY: It's hard to tell in the moment.

Q. Joe, the second goal that they scored, looked like the guy got behind you. Would you do that any differently if you had another chance at it?

JOE PALODICHUK: I mean, I had body position on him. I had him behind me. As a defensive man, you try to front. That's what I did. He got a stick on it.

Q. Is there a lesson from today that you take moving forward with this team?

JOE PALODICHUK: Our seniors, what they've done for this program, it wasn't easy. I mean, I'm just so thankful to be a Badger, share this experience with all 26 guys and staff and alumni, everyone involved in the whole institution.

That's all I have to say.

GAVIN MORRISSEY: Yeah, the same thing. Like Joe said, we're really proud of all the guys in the room, every member of the Wisconsin Badgers organization.

It sucks in the moment. I know our guys will carry this into next year. This one's hard to forget. At the end of the day, just proud of the team.

Q. Ben, coach talked about recognizing the foundation and leaving the university better than you find it. The Frozen Four seemed far away from you your freshman year. You made the decision to stay through a coaching change. What does it mean having been a part of that journey?

BEN DEXHEIMER: It's been amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better four years. I don't think there's a better place to do it at. From where this program was my freshman year to where we are now, I couldn't be more proud to wear the W.

I think we've kind of set the standard for Wisconsin now. I couldn't be more proud to leave a place in the hands of the guys that are coming back next year and the coaching staff that will keep this program afloat.

Q. Ben, did you think that shot hit the crossbar went in?

BEN DEXHEIMER: Yeah, I thought it definitely had a chance to go in. There's a little bit of traffic in front. It all happened so fast. It unfortunately did not.

THE MODERATOR: Guys, thanks very much. We'll continue with questions for Coach Hastings.

Q. What did you see when Daniel lost his stick? Looked like it slid out of his hands.

MIKE HASTINGS: I didn't see it exit his hand, so I'm not dodging your question, I just didn't see it.

Q. What happened in the third? Did you keep playing the same way? Denver got a couple good opportunities? How was it different, if at all?

MIKE HASTINGS: It would have been great to hold them to nine total shots, but when you're playing a team that's as accomplished as they are, you know they're going to make a push.

But if you're asking me if we just laid down, no, I thought we played our tails off. So you knew they were going to make a little bit of a push, and they did. But I thought, again, we had some opportunities. We just didn't capitalize.

We needed, in my opinion, to get it to two. We just couldn't do that.

Q. Is there a lesson that you hope your guys take forward from a game like this?

MIKE HASTINGS: There will be a time for that, sure. The ones that leave the scars are the ones you remember the most.

But right now, that's really not the time. They put a kick at the can. I thought effort, attitude, discipline I thought was good. We couldn't find a way to get it to two.

But I don't think that's really the lesson. Needs to be (indiscernible) for those guys tonight.

This group has been phenomenal to coach. I know you have been able to be around there back in Madison. They're a special group. Life is hard sometimes. I'm not diminishing anything other than I thought they did what they could do tonight. Weren't rewarded for it. Up until this point, we had been.

Q. They got credit I think with 31 blocks. Was there anything you'd like to see your guys do to try and elude some of those? Is that the effort in a championship game coming through on their side?

MIKE HASTINGS: Yeah, I mean, I haven't broken it all down. I've got 31 for them. Again, we possessed the puck. I thought we had some good looks.

Yeah, I mean, obviously we only had one, so... If I'd ask for something, it would be one to get by 'em. Their commitment level, just like our commitment level, is at an all-time high when you get to this moment.

THE MODERATOR: Coach Hastings, thanks very much.

MIKE HASTINGS: Thank you.