The University of Denver Pioneer’s college hockey team has been one of the best teams in the WCHA and in the NCAA all year long. Before New Years, the DU Pioneers went 16-4, holding a top 5 ranking for most of the season. But after New Years they hit a considerable bump in the road starting with a split against Wisconsin and they have now gone 5-6-1 since New Years, losing to some teams such as North Dakota, Minnesota State and the Air Force Academy.
The most disheartening loss came against Top 5 ranked North Dakota when the University of Denver hockey team led the North Dakota Fighting Sioux by 3 in the second period before allowing the last 4 goals of the game to lose 5-4.
The Denver Pioneers have fallen in the rankings since the New Year, but they have remained ranked in the top 10 in the country. Their games this weekend against the University of Alaska Anchorage were important games for the Denver Pioneers in the WCHA, because with a win, they clinched home ice for the WCHA playoffs.
The Denver Pioneers hockey team came out ready to play on Friday night and handed the Seawolves a 4-2 loss. Leading the Pioneers in goal was Peter Mannino making 24 saves and leading in scoring was Tyler Bozak and Rhett Rakhshani each with a goal and an assist.
On Saturday night the University of Denver hockey team came out to play. They defeated the Seawolves once again, this time 3-1 behind the strong goaltending of Peter Mannino and goals from Glasser, Testwuide and Rakhshani.
The University of Denver currently are ranked 8th in the country and with 2 series left, one against Michigan Tech and a home and home against Colorado College, DU has already secured home ice for the WCHA playoffs. And barring a complete nosedive like last year, the University of Denver Pioneers will be headed to the NCAA hockey championships this year.
