The Gold Pan is staying home. For the seventh consecutive season, the #8 Denver Pioneers (16-11-3, 12-6-1 NCHC) have laid claim to the traveling trophy that is awarded annually to the winner of the Battle for the Gold Pan between DU and Colorado College (11-12-4, 5-8-4 NCHC). With the 3-2 shootout victory in Colorado Springs, clinched by freshman Kristian Epperson in the second round and goalie Johnny Hicks, who made all three saves, the Pioneers have already earned seven of the 12 possible points in this year’s rivalry series. The shootout victory also means they gain a point on 1st-place North Dakota, which has two games in hand on the Pioneers. Continue reading Pioneers Retain Gold Pan for 7th-Straight Season with Shootout Victory at Colorado College
Denver Jolts Undefeated Conference Leader NDSU, 78-71
Denver men’s basketball (11-14, 4-6) opened its two-game road swing Thursday night against the North Dakota State Bison, 9-0 in conference play. Denver battled for both halves as Carson Johnson paced the Pioneer scoring and Gabe Oldham hauled down 12 big rebounds. Denver rebuffed the Bison down the stretch in the confidence-building win.
The teams exchanged points early when DU’s Gabe Oldham scored a pair of consecutive buckets to put DU up 9-5 at the five-minute mark. At the first media timeout (10:14), DU led 19-14 as Jeremiah Burke and Carson Johnson combined for 13 points and Gabe Oldham pulled down four rebounds. The first ten minutes had only two fouls called. Zane Nelson buried a shot from distance, 26-18, and a Josh Lee bucket-and-one gave the Pioneers their biggest lead on the back of a 10-0 run. In the final five minutes, a Carson Johnson tray, his third in the first half, held off a Bison run, 34-27. After trading baskets, Julius Rollins finished the DU scoring, 40-34, halftime.
The second half opened with each side scoring, followed by a Logan Kinsey bucket-and-one that put DU up by nine. Denver held an 11-point edge at the ‘officials timeout’. Following three straight stops, NDSU’s Wheeler Thomas’ three-point play closed the gap to 8. Pioneer fouls put the Bison in the penalty with 13 minutes remaining. Denver went cold from the field while NDSU came surging back on a Tay Smith tray-and-one, 55-51, with eleven minutes left. NDSU knotted the game, 55-55, on a 9-0 Bison run. At 7:19, NDSU got its first lead on a pair of free throws, 58-57. However, Denver responded down the stretch. Zane Nelson secured a rebound and bucket put-in to extend the Denver lead with five minutes left. Denver led by 4 on a Carson Johnson floater with a minute remaining. Logan Kinsey ran the baseline and took a Johnson feed and bucket with 27 seconds left, 72-68. NDSU was called for basket interference and the ball went back to Denver with 19 seconds remaining. Foul shots ensued. Denver’s Zane Nelson and Carson Johnson sank the charities and DU came away with the 78-71 win.
Denver was the best team all night, holding NDSU to less than three minutes in the lead. Denver shot 50.9% and out-rebounded NDSU 35-33. On a personal note, Jeremiah Burke had a solid night against his old team with 15 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Next up is North Dakota on Saturday at 12:00 MT in Grand Forks. The Fighting Hawks, one of the league’s hottest teams, have won five conference games in a row.
Colorado College Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Players Embrace the Arts
With the addition of six former CHL players, Colorado College’s latest wave of Canadian Major Junior players is adjusting to their new academic environment. In addition to flying pucks and hard hits on the boards, they face the risk of kiln explosions, high-pressure poetry jams, and exposure to watercolor fumes. Still, the players continue to exhibit passion both on the ice and in the classroom on the Colorado College campus. Continue reading Colorado College Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Players Embrace the Arts
Gymnastics Finishes Week 4 With Another Win
The Pioneers Gymnastics got their 5th win of the season in a dual meet against Iowa State on February 1st. Unfortunately for the Cyclones, they are beating themselves, Denver merely had to show up. Continue reading Gymnastics Finishes Week 4 With Another Win
Denver Lacrosse Wrecks Cleveland State, 20-1
Denver men’s lacrosse returned to Peter Barton Stadium to open the 2026 season. The Cleveland State Vikings were the foils for the home opener and they provided little resistance to a sharp Denver team. Denver struck early and often, putting the visitors in a deep hole. Cleveland finally scored late in the third quarter but it was all Pioneers in the 20-1 rout. Continue reading Denver Lacrosse Wrecks Cleveland State, 20-1
Denver Earns 5-Point Weekend Sweep Over Minnesota Duluth With Thrilling 1-0 OT Victory
Freshman goalie Johnny Hicks pitched a shutout and Rieger Lorenz scored the game’s only goal in three-on-three overtime off of a perfect pass from Eric Pohlkamp as the #11 Denver Pioneers (16-11-2, 12-6-0 NCHC) topped the #7 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (17-11-0, 8-10-0 NCHC) 1-0 in game two of the weekend series at Magness Arena. The Pioneers claimed five of the six possible points for NCHC standings purposes and remained at #11 in the NPI. Continue reading Denver Earns 5-Point Weekend Sweep Over Minnesota Duluth With Thrilling 1-0 OT Victory
Omaha Muscles Their Way Past Denver, 84-82
DU men’s basketball (10-14-3-6) played the Omaha Mavs on Saturday afternoon at Hamilton Gym. The Pioneers were trying to string together consecutive wins and build on their previous road win in Kansas City. Omaha finished strong in the closing minutes for the 84-82 win. The Mavs owned the paint, scoring 44 points inside and out-rebounding DU by 10 in a physical battle. Continue reading Omaha Muscles Their Way Past Denver, 84-82
Pioneers Survive Bulldogs’ Third-Period Rally to Earn Huge NPI Victory
Everything was going swimmingly for the #11 Denver Pioneers (15-11-2, 11-6-0 NCHC)…until it wasn’t. Sam Harris scored in the closing moments of the first period before three different Pioneers scored in the second period to take a 4-0 lead over the #7 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (17-10-0, 8-9-0 NCHC) into the third period. But a Tory Pitner major penalty for cross-checking with six seconds left in the second period opened the door for the Bulldogs to begin their comeback. Three UMD goals later, one allowed by starter Johnny Hicks and two by backup Paxton Geisel, who came in after Hicks went down with a leg injury, the Pioneers were holding on for dear life over the final six minutes. Fortunately for DU, the Bulldogs and their #1-ranked power play unit were unable to find their fourth goal, and the Pioneers escaped with a 4-3 victory for their first Friday victory of 2026. Continue reading Pioneers Survive Bulldogs’ Third-Period Rally to Earn Huge NPI Victory
DU Rebounds in UMKC Win, 69-61
Denver men’s basketball (10-13, 3-5) traveled to Kansas City for a mid-week tilt. The Pioneers were reeling, losing 5 out of their previous 6 games. The UMKC Roos wracked up the same record over the prior 6 games. Something had to give and it was UMKC giving up 20 offensive rebounds (51 in total) to DU in a 69-61 Pioneer win. Denver also excised their end-of-game demons, trailing with little more than six minutes remaining in the game. Continue reading DU Rebounds in UMKC Win, 69-61
What Can DU Learn from Seattle U’s First Season in the WCC?
Now is a perfect time to evaluate and project how Denver Men’s Basketball will perform in their inaugural season in the West Coast Conference (WCC) next season. Seattle University provides an ideal model of what lies ahead for Denver hoops. Continue reading What Can DU Learn from Seattle U’s First Season in the WCC?