It was a weekend full of emotion, intensity, physical play and just plain great college hockey. But it was not the perfect weekend for the University of Denver men’s hockey team as they split two games with WCHA conference foe North Dakota.
DU came out flat on Friday as it fell 6-2, but followed it up with an inspired 7-3 pounding of UND on Saturday night.
“Up to this point, this was probably the biggest and most important game of the season. To come out and put forth a great effort and win against a very good team, I would like to think that down the road we will look back on this and say this was a turning point,” said Head Coach George Gwozdecky on Saturday’s win.
Friday night was anything but boring or pretty or memorable for the DU hockey team as it fell behind 3-0 early to the Fighting Sioux and never got closer than 3-1 and 4-2. The Pioneers received a five minute power play just one minute and a half into the game, but during those five minutes suffered two penalties of their own.
“When we have a five minute power play we need to be smart and we were not smart and basically gave it away. In big games like that we cannot have undisciplined play like that,” said senior captain Gabe Gauthier.
DU made too many mistakes on Friday night and North Dakota took advantage of that on its way to handing Denver its third straight loss.
“It was the opportunities we gave them in the first period and the inabilities to keep them off the scoreboard. We made crucial errors and did not play a smart game,” said Gwozdecky.
Denver was also the recipient of some questionable officiating and it seemed to get to Gwozdecky midway through the third period as he was ejected from the game.
“I apologize to our team. I am not proud of taking that action, but I felt at that point something needed to be said. I am not going to stand back and watch what happened on the ice and not say anything about it,” Gwozdecky explained. “I fully expect that I will never have to do that again, there was a method and a purpose behind it,” he continued.
DU received goals from Gauthier, his 14th of the season, and also sophomore Tom May put in his fifth of the year. Saturday was a much different story for the Pioneers as they came out inspired and ready to battle. This determination showed as May lit up the lamp just 11 seconds into the game on DU’s way to a 7-3 victory.
“The goal by May was huge. I think it got the fans in it. It got us into it,” said sophomore Paul Stastny.
Denver had a 1-0 lead after one period and then junior Adrian Veideman put in his fourth of the season to give the back to back NCAA National Champions a 2-0 lead. The Fighting Sioux were not going to let DU get away easy as they came back to score three straight goals and take a 3-2 lead five minutes into the third period.
The Pioneers stormed back as Stastny put in a power play goal one minute later and tied the game back up at three.
“I think we just needed a power play goal. We hadn’t gotten one in the last two games, and from there we just got the momentum and started getting a lot more physical,” said Stastny.
Dingle responded four minutes later on yet another power play to give Denver the 4-3 lead which it held for the remainder of the game. Two minutes later Stastny put in another goal, followed by two more by Dingle, including an empty netter, to help DU to a powerful and much needed victory.
“It was a very tough game for us to approach and play, but it was such an important game for us to try and win. It was hard fought. We came out with great passion and intensity, took the lead, saw the lead dissipate, and were able to respond. I am extremely proud of our team,” said Gwozdecky.
Dingle finished the game with his first career hat trick and also added an assist on a four point night, as Stastny did the same except on two goals and two assists.
“That’s how hockey goes-swings of momentum, battles both ways, they came up with some big goals and we answered back. It was like that all night and it just shows how great the game of hockey is,” said Dingle.
After the weekend, the Pioneers find themselves in second place in the WCHA , five points behind champion Minnesota, who clinched the title with a sweep of Alaska-Anchorage this past weekend. DU is one point ahead of Wisconsin and three points ahead of Colorado College heading into the final weekend. Also with the win on Saturday night Denver has clinched home ice advantage for the first round of the WCHA playoffs, which will be held March 10-12. This is the third straight year DU has acquired home ice.
“Now that we are in second, I think we control our own destiny, whether we finish in second, third or fourth,” said Stastny.
Denver hockey will travel down to Colorado Springs on Thursday night for a 7:30 p.m. date with rival Colorado College.
The Pioneers will follow it up with their final regular season game of the season on Friday night at Magness Arena, also at 7:30 p.m. against the Tigers.
