Bo Hanson is a graduate transfer defenseman from St. Lawrence who had not scored a goal this year. The fifth-seeded Denver Pioneers traveled to Grand Forks, North Dakota for the Frozen Faceoff without eight players due to COVID-19 protocols and dressed just 16 skaters, nine of whom were forwards and as a result, Hanson played forward instead of defenseman. In a thrilling rollercoaster of a game, it was Hanson’s heroics, with five minutes left and just a minute and a half after the fourth-seeded Omaha Mavericks tied the game at four, which gave Denver the 5-4 victory and a berth in the Frozen Faceoff semifinals on Monday. Denver’s opponent on Monday is dependent on the result of the last quarterfinal, between Western Michigan and Minnesota Duluth, tonight. Continue reading Bo Hanson’s First DU Goal Lifts Shorthanded Pioneers Over Mavericks in Frozen Faceoff Quarterfinal Thriller →

While it feels like just yesterday that we kicked off the NCHC season in Omaha in the pod, we’ve finally arrived at the 2021 Frozen Faceoff. The Pioneers finish with an overall record of 9-12-1 in a very difficult season for all of the student-athletes.  You have to commend them for playing through such condensed schedules, constant testing, and spending a lot of time away from campus. Denver finished their season with a pair of wins against Colorado College, but they haven’t played since February 27th.  They face the Omaha Mavericks in a sudden-death game to advance to the semifinals on Monday.

Continue reading Denver Hockey Frozen Faceoff Preview: Omaha →

According to College Hockey News, the University of Denver (9-12-1) will be short-handed headed into Saturday’s first-round showdown with Omaha (14-9-1) at the new-look, single-elimination NCHC Frozen Faceoff in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Continue reading Pioneers to Skate Shorthanded at Frozen Faceoff Due to COVID →

It’s been a season that has felt lost, uneven, and at times unnecessary. But even in a season such as this one, amidst national turmoil, a global pandemic, and an unrelenting economic crisis, at least one thing has remained constant: the Denver Pioneers are better than the Colorado College Tigers and have won another Gold Pan. By virtue of tonight’s 4-0 victory at Magness Arena, the Pioneers improved their all-time record against the Tigers to 186-121-21 and won their 15th pan since its inception 28 years ago. Continue reading Pioneers Dominate Tigers In 4-0 Shutout to Clinch Second-Straight Gold Pan →

When a team scores five goals in a period, usually good things are happening. For the Denver Pioneers (8-12-1, 28 pts), after a bye last weekend, an explosive five-goal second period from five different players, was exactly what the doctor ordered as they coasted to a 5-1 victory over the Colorado College Tigers (4-15-2, 21 pts). It was the penultimate college hockey game at the Broadmoor World Arena as Colorado College will christen Robson Arena, its new home on campus, next season. Continue reading Pioneers Explode for Five Goals in Second Period, Pull Within One Win of Clinching Gold Pan →

In a tough season filled with bad nights of hockey, the Denver Pioneers (7-11-1, 25 pts) delivered another dud against the #2 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (14-4-1, 41 pts), falling 3-0 at the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was a game that featured 17 penalties, 11 power plays, and a game that altogether did not spell success for the Pioneers. It was, fittingly, a DU penalty followed by a North Dakota power-play goal that served as the turning point of the game. Continue reading Lackluster Pioneers Shut Out by #2 Fighting Hawks in Grand Forks →