Photo credit: John Minchillo/AP

The NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament is finally upon us. One year removed from winning their eighth national title, Denver is matched up with a familiar opponent, Penn State, in the Midwest regional semifinal…known in layman’s terms as the “first round”. The game is Saturday evening in Allentown, PA and LetsGoDU will be attending the watch-party at The Pioneers (details to come). Continue reading Denver-Penn State Q&A with Ben Jones of StateCollege.com →

Photo courtesy of CentreDaily.com

The Denver Pioneers enter the NCAA Tournament as NCHC Champs against the Penn State Nittany Lions

After an impressive 4-1 win against the St. Cloud State Huskies last Saturday, the Denver Pioneers were crowned NCHC Conference champions.  With goals from Kohen Olischefski, Jake Durflinger, Ryan Barrow, and Dylan Gambrell, the Pioneers showed that their depth played a major role in the game.  But the bigger picture win is that the Pioneers beat a team who they shared the #1 USCHO ranking with all season in their own barn.  That added confidence is a huge boost to the Pioneers going into the NCAA Tournament. Continue reading Denver Hockey Regional Semifinal Preview: Penn State →

Photo courtesy Maddie MacFarlane

ST. PAUL, Minn. – In what might have been the best, most complete performance of the season, the #4 University of Denver Pioneers beat the #1 St. Cloud State University Huskies 4-1 to become the first program to win two NCHC Championships. Denver finally ended their three-year streak of losing in the NCHC Semifinal and after winning the only trophy that eluded their grasp a year ago, they’re heading into the NCAA Tournament with as much momentum as they could have hoped for. Continue reading Pioneers muzzle Huskies to take second NCHC title, enter NCAA Tournament on high note →

Photo courtesy Maddie MacFarlane

ST. PAUL, Minn. – For the first time since head coach Jim Montgomery’s first year at the helm of the program, the #4 University of Denver Pioneers are heading back to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Final. Tanner Jaillet made 24 saves, Henrik Borgström scored a power play goal, and the Pioneers withstood a Bulldog barrage in the second period en route to a 3-1 victory over #8 Minnesota Duluth at the XcelEnergy Center. Continue reading Denver tops Minnesota Duluth 3-1, advances to second-ever Frozen Faceoff Championship →

Photo courtesy of The Denver Post

The Denver Pioneers will face the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs Friday for a chance to play in the Conference Championship

And then there were four.

The Pioneers faced an early test when they lost the first of a three-game series with Colorado College, but a team-wide urgency set in.  They got better after each game and played a full 60 minutes last Sunday when they ended the Tigers’ season.

This team is different from last season’s because they aren’t relentless on a nightly basis.  But when their backs are up against the wall, they turned into that championship team that we all know.  Hopefully they bring that version of themselves to the Xcel Energy Center for the final games of the Frozen Faceoff.

Terry 🎥 “We have to play with a swagger this weekend” #DU1NATION | #Petey pic.twitter.com/8kU9goHYiO

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 14, 2018 

Although Minnesota-Duluth hasn’t beaten Denver all year, there is no question that they can.  Every game with them this season has been decided by one goal and have been close games the whole time.  We should anticipate more of the same coming into Friday night.

The Bulldogs have been on a roll of late winning seven of their last eight games.  They had no problems in their first-round playoff matchup by sweeping the Western Michigan Broncos.  Goaltender Hunter Shepard posted two shutouts as the Bulldogs coasted to the Frozen Faceoff semifinal.

Jim Montgomery discusses being back at the Frozen Faceoff and playing Minnesota Duluth 🎥 #DU1NATION | #Petey pic.twitter.com/soYNDG0Xzk

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 15, 2018

One player that Pioneers fans need to keep their eye on in this game is Scott Perunovich.  The freshman defenseman is a scoring machine and has the ability to take over games.  With 10 goals and 24 assists this season, he’s a threat from anywhere on the ice.

The keys to this game will be faceoffs, special teams, and Denver’s Jarid Lukosevicous.  ‘Luko’ always seems to be the difference in these tight games with Duluth so expect a big game from him in another close one.

In other news, Henrik Borgstrom was awarded Player of the Year and Forward of the year from the NCHC while Tanner Jaillet was the Goalie of the Year.

Bringin’ home the hardware #DU1NATION | #Petey https://t.co/hR0dSkxWVr

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) March 15, 2018

Who to Watch

#7 – D – Scott Perunovich – 10G, 24A

#27 – F – Riley Tufte – 16G, 12A (DAL 1st, 2016)

#25 – F – Peter Krieger – 11G, 19A

#3 – D – Mikey Anderson – 4G, 16A (LAK 4th, 2017)

#4 – D – Dylan Samberg – 1G, 9A (WPG 2nd, 2017)

#32 – G – Hunter Shepard – 21-12-1, .927 SV%, 1.92 GAA

Twitter Follow – @UMDMensHockey

Where to Watch/Listen

Friday – 6:30pm MT, CBS Sports Network

All done! Who’s ready for the #FrozenFaceoff?!? 😁 pic.twitter.com/Sdz9tR9CKJ

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) March 15, 2018

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Denver and the University of Minnesota Duluth. For the past two decades, both hockey programs have been synonymous with excellence on the ice. They’ve combined for four national titles since 2004 and crossed paths at nearly every stage of the postseason. It’d be a stretch to compare the matchup to what Denver and North Dakota have been over the course of their histories, but it’s not as far-fetched as you might think. Continue reading Denver-Minnesota Duluth: Pioneers continue postseason run with National Title rematch →

Photo courtesy Maddie MacFarlane/DU Hockey

ST. PAUL, Minn. – It was ugly but it might have been the most important moment of the season for the #4 University of Denver Pioneers. That moment, or rather that game may come to define what the Pioneers do and where they go in the postseason. That game, of course, was Denver’s 2-0 shutout loss to in-state rival Colorado College in Game One of the best-of-three NCHC Quarterfinal series. Continue reading Pioneers building on NCHC Quarterfinal, playing ‘inspired hockey’ ahead of Frozen Faceoff →