photo courtesy of Denver Athletics
With tonight’s (March 3) 4-2 victory over the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks (UNO), the University of Denver Pioneers secured their first Penrose Cup as the NCHC Regular Season Champions. Traveling to Baxter Arena, the Pioneers extended their winning streak to ten games.
While Denver claimed the “w,” the Mavericks battled the Pioneers into the third period where the score was tied two apiece.
Finnish freshman and Florida Panthers prospect Henrik Borgstrom scored the game-winner on the power play 2:11 into the final frame. Seven minutes later, Borgstrom buried a feed from sophomore Anaheim Ducks prospect Troy Terry, finalizing Denver’s lead 4-2.
Terry converted the Pioneers’ first goal 3:52 into the first period. Terry wired a wrist shot past UNO goaltender Evan Weninger off of a feed from classmate Jarid Lukosevicius in transition. The Mavericks tied the score up less than five minutes later. UNO Mason Morelli tipped in shot taken by Lukas Buchta from the point past Tanner Jaillet.
The Mavericks doubled their lead 4:27 into the second frame, beating Jaillet with a wrist shot from the point. Denver countered just over 10 minutes later as sophomore forward Logan O’Connor buried a rebound to tie the score two apiece.
The Pioneers are currently averaging 4.36 goals per game. Borgstrom is the leading goal scorer and with tonight’s pair he increased his tally to 19.
Denver will complete its conference series with UNO tomorrow night. With Western Michigan’s 7-4 win over Minnesota-Duluth the Pioneers clinched the Penrose Cup during the first intermission of their game. Denver will host Colorado College in the first round of the NCHC playoffs next weekend (March 10 and March 11).
Penrose Cup Champions! This DU team is really, truly fantastic and a very deserving league Champion in arguably the toughest conference in all of college sports. Denver took over the game in the third period, on the road, when it mattered, and made Dean Blais look not so smart for challenging the Pios with with that “Not in our building” stuff..
That’s 10 for DU in a row over Omaha, and 10 in a row down the stretch of league play.
Borgstrom is the most exciting Pioneer freshman forward I have ever seen in 35+ years of watching DU hockey, and his pair of goals tonight were deflating daggers to the Mavs.
Penrose Cup Champions! This DU team is really, truly fantastic and a very deserving league Champion in arguably the toughest conference in all of college sports. Denver took over the game in the third period, on the road, when it mattered, and made Dean Blais look not so smart for challenging the Pios with with that “Not in our building” stuff..
That’s 10 for DU in a row over Omaha, and 10 in a row down the stretch of league play.
Borgstrom is the most exciting Pioneer freshman forward I have ever seen in 35+ years of watching DU hockey, and his pair of goals tonight were deflating daggers to the Mavs.
Mr. Penrose, we welcome you to Denver!!!!!
Mr. Penrose, we welcome you to Denver!!!!!
Congrats Pios fans. Clearly the best, most consistent team in the NCHC this year.
Congrats Pios fans. Clearly the best, most consistent team in the NCHC this year.