The 18th-ranked hockey team traveled to Omaha last weekend to take on the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks, splitting the series a game a piece. Denver lost Friday’s match 2-4 before salvaging the weekend with a 4-1 victory over UNO Saturday. The split brought DU to 14-10-6 on the season with an 8-7-3 conference record. UNO moves to 12-14-2 with a 9-7-2 conference record.
The Pioneers took the lead in Friday’s game with junior Daniel Doremus’ seventh goal of the season, although the lead would be short-lived as the Maverick’s Austin Ortega and Josh Archibald scored early in the second period. Freshman defender Will Butcher scored an equalizer late in the second, but the game slipped away from Denver with two third period goals by the Mavericks. Senior goalie Sam Brittain allowed three goals while making 27 saves before Omaha put in an empty netter with 16 seconds left in the game.
Saturday’s game went much better for the Pioneers. Sophomore defender Nolan Zajac started the scoring off with a first period goal. Nick Seeler tied the game up for the Mavericks early in the second, but the Pioneers took control after that. Freshman forward Trevor Moore gave the Pios the lead once again in the second period, paving the way for freshman forward Matt Marcinew and junior defender Josiah Didier to tack on two goals in the third period. Freshman Evan Cowley got the start at goaltender in lieu of Brittain, performing admirably with 33 saves and one goal allowed.
While there have been struggles for Pios hockey this season, the continued success of Denver’s young players shows promise for the future of the team. Will Butcher, Evan Cowley and Trevor Moore are all currently freshmen proving they can more than hold their own in the league, something that will be important next year with the departure of seniors Sam Brittain and David Makowski.
The win and tie have Denver currently sitting in fourth place in the NCHC with 29 conference points. Nebraska Omaha is in third place in the conference with 30 conference points. When the weekend began there were six teams all within four points of first place in the conference, however, St. Cloud State’s sweep of Minnesota Duluth allowed them to extend their lead in the conference.
This weekend, Denver will take on rival Colorado College (CC) in the battle for the Gold Pan. Friday’s game will take place at Magness Arena and Saturday’s game will see the Pios heading to CC to play the second game in the series away. Colorado College is currently 4-18-6 on the season with a 4-9-5 mark in the conference. This will be the second series again the Tigers this season. Denver won and tied with a shootout win earlier this season back in November.
