Denver hockey fell short in their quest to claim an eighth national championship title. Skating to the Frozen Four hosted in Tampa, Florida for the first time since their last national title in 2005, DU was dropped 4-2 in an anguishing game against their conference-rival, the University of North Dakota (UND) Fighting Hawks, who scored two goals in the final minute of regulation.
“It was a great college hockey team and it’s what we expected,” said head coach Jim Montgomery. “Two days ago I said ‘The team that’s going to win is the team that makes the last play. North Dakota is the team that made the last play.’”
Both teams skated to a quick, energetic first period. Threats on net were generated by the nation’s two most dynamic, highest scoring lines; Denver’s Pacific Rim line, consisting of Trevor Moore (Thousand Oaks, California), Dylan Gambrell (Bonney Lake, Washington) and Danton Heinen (Langley, British Columbia), and North Dakota’s CBS line of Drake Caggiula, Nick Schmaltz and Brock Boeser.
After twenty minutes of play and two Denver powerplay opportunities, the Pioneers and Fighting Hawks remained scoreless. Shots on goal were tied four apiece, with neither team successful in beating Denver’s Tanner Jaillet (Red Deer, Alberta) and UND’s Cam Johnson.
Caggiula beat Jaillet with a wrist shot to draw the first blood 1:03 into the second period. The Pioneers relinquished the goal in transition after freshman forward Jarid Lukosevicius (Squamish, British Columbia) couldn’t connect on a pass with senior captain Grant Arnold (Centennial, Colorado). The puck was tipped from Arnold and into North Dakota control, where Boeser fed Caggiula in the slot.
The Pacific Rim line took the ice, but made a costly mistake which accounted for the second goal of the night for the Fighting Hawks. Caggiula clogged Denver’s passing lanes, collected a defensive zone turnover and punished the Pioneers with his second tally at 6:15 into the second period.
Beginning the third period, DU found itself trailing by two goals and needing a quick goal. The team received support from Colorado Avalanche prospect Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin), as he sniped a one-timer from high in the slot past Johnson 2:50 into the final period. Arnold and Matt Marcinew (Calgary, Alberta) assisted on the play.
Eight minutes later, junior defenseman Matt VanVoorhis (Edina, Minnesota) would secure the Pioneers’ second goal, tying the game at 2-2. VanVoorhis rushed towards the offensive zone and centered the puck to Colin Staub (Colorado Springs, Colorado), who was positioned in front of the net. VanVoorhis’ pass was deflected by North Dakota’s defenseman Gage Ausmus’ stick and snuck past Johnson.
With the score tied, the two teams battled relentlessly during the final ten minutes of play. The Pioneers constructed promising chances on net, but were unable to convert.
Pressure from the CBS line forced the Pioneers to ice the puck with one minute remaining in regulation. Boeser won the faceoff and eventually slipped the puck to Schmaltz, who was skating behind Denver’s defenseman. Schmaltz backhanded the puck on the weak-side past Jaillet to secure the game-winning-goal for North Dakota with 56.8 seconds on the clock.
The Pioneers pulled Jaillet during the final moments of the game, but were deflated by a late North Dakota empty net goal. Rhett Gardner sealed Denver’s fate with two seconds on the clock.
Following the devastating loss, captain Grant Arnold and assistant captain Will Butcher appeared in the post-game press conference still sporting their Crimson sweaters.
“This is the last time I’m going to be able to wear this jersey,” said Arnold. “A lot of blood, sweat and tears. A lot of great wins and friendships made. Denver hockey is a family. Denver athletics is a family. I just want to show the pride I have for Denver hockey and Denver athletics. I just want to keep it on for a little bit longer.”
Exerting immense resiliancy following a rough 7-7-2 start to the 2015-16 season, the Pioneers shocked the nation with their sensational 18-3-4 second half run, including an 11-game win streak. A team which faced adversity and tribulation, DU hockey persevered, sparking the program’s deepest tournament run in over ten years.
The 2015-16 season ended in disappointing fashion, but the strong finish to the season should give the Pioneers momentum and confidence heading into next season.
