The #2 Denver Pioneers (13-3-0, 3-3-0 NCHC) may not have found their offensive footing but they found two important goals in game two in Kalamazoo when they needed them most. After skating to a 1-1 tie with the #7 Western Michigan Broncos (10-3-1, 6-1-1 NCHC) after two periods, the Pioneers found themselves down 2-1 in the waning minutes. With his own net empty, Samu Salminen fired a pass from Boston Buckberger past a stout Hampton Slukynsky to tie the game with just over a minute left. Captain Carter King won it nearly three minutes into three-on-three overtime with a beauty of a five-hole shot after turning on the jets on a breakaway. Continue reading Pioneers Battle Back for OT Split at Western Michigan with Extra-Skater & OT Goals →

For two periods of game one of this weekend’s series in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the #2 Denver Pioneers (12-3-0, 2-3-0 NCHC) were outshot and outworked by the #7 Western Michigan Broncos (10-2-1, 6-0-1 NCHC). The Pioneers bounced back for a strong third period but the Broncos’ three goals – one in the final minute of the first period and two less than a minute apart in the middle of the second period – were enough to earn the win and keep the Pioneers’ uncharacteristically cold offense from completing a third-period comeback. Jake Fisher and James Reeder each scored in the third period but it wasn’t enough as the Broncos all but cruised to the 3-2 victory, Denver’s third-straight loss after skating to a 12-0 start to the season. Continue reading Pioneers Drop Third-Straight in Loss at Western Michigan →

You would have to get on the way-back machine to experience a home loss sweep like this weekend at the hands of Arizona State. In February of 2020, DU was swept by Minnesota Duluth at Magness Arena – 1,757 days ago. The 5-2 loss Saturday night was a repeat of Friday night when ASU was the better team on the ice as well. DU had critical defensive breakdowns and could not execute on several grade-A scoring chances against a relentless ASU team. Luke Pavicich was golden between the pipes for the Sun Devils and stifled a number of great scoring opportunities from DU. Denver got off 60 shots on the night to 49 for ASU but only a pair of shots found their intended target. Matt Davis was not the problem either as DU turnovers, odd-man rushes and clean scoring looks carried over from Friday night’s game. The final ASU goal was an empty-netter and Davis made several big stops on the night to keep DU in the game. Continue reading Arizona State Completes Weekend Sweep with 5-2 Win →

Whether it was an emotional letdown after sweeping North Dakota in Grand Forks or the fact that finals were this week, the #1 Denver Pioneers (12-1-0, 2-1-0 NCHC) served up their first true bad game of the season in a 3-2 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils (5-7-1, 2-3-0 NCHC) at Magness Arena. The Pioneers’ winning streak ends at 21, dating back to last March and their program-best start to the season ends at 12 straight wins. Continue reading Pioneers Lose for the First Time Since March as They Fall to Arizona State →

Friday was clinical domination. At no point during those 60 minutes did the hosts have a prayer. Saturday, however, was much more about weathering the storm from a desperate team looking to salvage an all-important split on home ice. In game two at The Ralph after a surgical 5-2 victory in game one, the #1 Denver Pioneers (12-0-0, 2-0-0 NCHC) withstood an early flurry from the #9 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (5-6-0, 2-2-0 NCHC) and twice came back from one-goal deficits before Boston Buckberger hammered the nail in the Nodak-labeled coffin to earn the Pioneers a 3-2 win and a rare sweep at The Ralph. It was the program’s 21st consecutive win and kept the top-ranked team in the land unbeaten through 12 games. Continue reading #1 Denver Finishes Off First Sweep of North Dakota at The Ralph Since 2022 →

The last time the Denver Pioneers lost a hockey game was March 8th. Since that 4-3 loss to Colorado College in Colorado Springs (a game where DU very nearly came back from a 4-1 deficit), the Pioneers have won an NCHC championship, the program’s 10th national title…and 11 straight games to start the 2024-25 season, by far the most to open a season by a defending national champion since 2000. In their 11th game this season and their toughest test to date, the #1 Pioneers (11-0-0, 1-0-0 NCHC) went into the Ralph Engelstad Arena and dominated the #9 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (5-5-0, 2-1-0 NCHC) to the tune of a 5-2 victory, which somehow made the game seem closer than it actually was. Continue reading #1 Pioneers Win 20th Straight with 5-2 Victory at North Dakota →