Anything that could go wrong went wrong for the #6 Denver Pioneers against the St. Cloud State Huskies on Friday night in St. Cloud, Minnesota as they fell 6-1. It was a fairly even game through the first period and into the early part of the second…until it wasn’t. The Huskies scored often and the Pioneers simply didn’t have an answer for the onslaught. Continue reading St. Cloud State slips by Denver, 5-1 →

The No. 6 Pioneers rebounded last weekend with a pair of wins against the Miami University RedHawks.  Denver’s offense exploded for 14 goals while the tandem of Magnus Chrona and Devin Cooley gave up three goals on 45 shots all weekend.  While Cole Guttman and Ian Mitchell received forward and defenseman of the week honors from the NCHC, it was Tyler Ward to stood out, netting a hat trick in Friday’s game and adding a couple more assists in Saturday’s game.  After Saturday’s game, head coach David Carle said the Pioneers were doing the right things they needed to do to win, and they kept their foot on the gas.  Now, Denver battles St. Cloud State with the fourth and final home-ice berth on the line. Denver sits in fourth, one point behind Western Michigan for third-place and four points ahead of SCSU.

Continue reading Denver Hockey Series Preview: St. Cloud State →

DENVER – All hat tricks are memorable. At the collegiate level, in the NCHC, netting three goals in a game against any opposition is an impressive feat by itself. Tyler Ward’s first career hat trick, though, transcended the ‘mundane’ nature of other hat tricks as he netted all three of his goals within the first 19 minutes of the #7 Denver Pioneers’ (18-8-5, 8-7-4-3, 31 pts) 7-3 victory over the unranked, 7th-place Miami University RedHawks (6-18-5, 3-13-3-2, 14 pts) at Magness Arena. Ward’s first-period effort and Cole Guttman’s subsequent four-point night gave Denver the jump they needed race past the RedHawks to increase its lead over fifth-place St. Cloud State to four points and keep pace with third-place Western Michigan in the NCHC standings. Continue reading Ward hat trick, Guttman’s 4 points power Pioneers past RedHawks to end losing streak →

It was another difficult series for the No. 7 Pioneers who fell to the North Dakota Fighting Hawks 4-1 and 3-1 last weekend.  Bobby Brink and Brett Edwards were the lone goal-scorers in each game in a series where it seemed that UND was getting most of the puck luck.  It was a tough environment and an even harder battle getting back into games with the Fighting Hawks who played with a lead all weekend.  The Pioneers also took a too-many-men minor in each game, something you don’t usually see.  It’s been clear that Denver hasn’t been able to play their game in the last two series, but there’s an opportunity to make up some ground before playoff time.  The Pioneers host the Miami RedHawks this weekend who may take the brunt of some built-up frustration.

Continue reading Denver Hockey Series Preview: Miami (OH) →

Just a few weeks ago, DU was riding high on an 11-game unbeaten streak. They dominated lesser opponents like CC and Miami while demonstrating their ability to play well late in games to close them out or even come back when they had to. Everything was going about as well as Denver could have wanted it to…until it wasn’t. Now, four straight losses against Minnesota Duluth and North Dakota later and with just six games left in the regular season, the Pioneers and their championship aspirations are at a crossroads. There are some hard truths that they have to face and address if they are going to get things back on track and punch their ticket to Detroit in April. Continue reading Taking Stock of DU Hockey →