University Of Denver Hockey Advances To Frozen Four Championship
University Of Denver Hockey Advances To Frozen Four Championship...
The University of Denver Pioneers hockey team secured a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four championship game after a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against Boston College on Thursday night. The win marks Denver's first championship game appearance since 2017 and keeps their quest for a ninth national title alive.
The game, played at TD Garden in Boston, drew national attention as Denver rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the third period. Freshman forward Liam Devlin scored the game-winning goal just 1:12 into overtime, sending Pioneers fans into a frenzy. The victory extends Denver's winning streak to 12 games, the longest active streak in college hockey.
Denver's success has sparked excitement across Colorado, with Governor Jared Polis tweeting congratulations to the team. The Pioneers now face Michigan in Saturday's championship game, a rematch of their 2022 semifinal clash. Michigan won that meeting 3-2 in overtime.
The Frozen Four matchup is trending nationally as college hockey enjoys increased attention during March Madness. ESPN reported record viewership for Thursday's semifinals, with Denver's game drawing the larger audience. The championship will air live on ESPN2 at 6 p.m. ET Saturday.
University officials announced watch parties will be held on campus and at several Denver-area bars. Student tickets for the championship game sold out within minutes Friday morning. The team's success comes during Denver's 75th anniversary season of Division I hockey.
Head coach David Carle praised his team's resilience after Thursday's win. "These guys never quit," Carle told reporters. "We've been battle-tested all season, and it showed when we needed it most." Denver last won the national championship in 2017 under then-coach Jim Montgomery.
The championship appearance caps a remarkable turnaround for Denver hockey. After missing the NCAA tournament last season, the Pioneers entered this year unranked before climbing to No. 2 in the national polls. Their 31-9-1 record is the program's best since their last title season.
Michigan enters Saturday's game as the slight favorite, but Denver players say they're embracing the underdog role. "We've been proving people wrong all year," said team captain McKade Webster. "One more game to finish the job."
