The Pioneers hosted the Western Michigan Broncos in a doubleheader where the Pioneers won both games 5-2 and 4-3 respectively. These two wins give the Pioneers their first wins of NCHC conference play and a total record of 5-0-1

In the first game, the Pioneers would open up the scoring when senior Jarid Lukosevicius (Squamish, B.C.) broke away during a Bronco power play to the Pioneers up 1-0 in the first period at 14:18. The Broncos would level the score 11 seconds into the second period to make the score 1-1. Denver would take back the lead at 6:08 when junior Liam Finlay (Kelowna, B.C.) hit a long wrist shot that took a rebound that fell to the stick of junior Michael Davies (St. Louis, MO) who would kill the puck into the top of the goal. Senior Colin Staub (Colorado Springs, Colo.) would also go down with the assist for the Pioneers. 38 seconds later, the Broncos would level the score at two apiece.

At the ten minute mark, sophomore Ian Mitchell (Calahoo, Alberta) would glide through the Bronco defense and send the puck to Lukosevicius who would guide the puck into the back of the net. At 14:25 in the second period, Finlay would dance through the Bronco defense and rip a shot into the top left corner to put the Pioneers up 4-2 going into the second intermission. Davies and freshman Cole Guttman (Los Angeles, Calif.) both would go down for the assist.

The third period would see Lukosevicius get his third goal of the night at the 10:05 mark when he redirected a shot from Mitchell in the power play. Freshman Brett Stapley (Campbell River, B.C.) was also awarded the assist. Lukosevicius’ hat-trick puts him level with freshman Emilio Pettersen (Manglerud, Norway) for total points on the season at eight. Pioneers would go 1-2 on the power play and 2-3 on the penalty kill. Sophomore Devin Cooley (Los Gatos, Calif.) would make 26 saves on the night.

In the second game, the Pioneers capitalized on a five minute major penalty on the Broncos to get the first goal of the night. Finlay and senior Les Lancaster (Ypsilanti, Mich.) would work the puck around to freshman Slava Demin (Cypress, Calif.) who would take a wrist shot from the left circle to get his first NCAA goal. The Pioneers would take the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

In the second period, Mitchell would slide past two Bronco defenders and send a backhanded pass to Lukosevicius waiting in front of the net. The Lukosevicius power play goal was scored at 7:27 in the second period and was assisted by Mitchell and Pettersen. At the end of the second period, the Pioneers were up 2-0.

The third period would see the Broncos cut the lead to 2-1 at the 3:54 mark. The Broncos would score again at 6:53 to make it 2-2. At 9:10 in the third period, the Broncos would take lead 3-2. The Pioneers would come fighting back in a power play at 17:30 when Pettersen took a slap shot from above the left circle to tie the game 3-3 and force overtime. Pettersen was assisted by Mitchell and Stapley.

In overtime, Pettersen would connect to Davies who sent the puck across to Lukosevicius gliding across the top. Lukosevicius would shoot and place the puck into the top left corner of the goal to win the game 4-3 for the Pioneers and sweep the Broncos. The Pioneers were 3-8 on the power play and 2-2 on the penalty kill. Cooley made 23 saves on the night. The Pioneers will travel to Minnesota this Nov. 9th and 10th to take on No. 2 St. Cloud State University with the puck drop at 6:07 p.m. MST.