Nov. 3, 2001
Box Score
DENVER - Sophomore forward Connor James (Calgary, Alberta) scored with 12 minutes, 34 seconds to play to give the third-ranked University of Denver hockey team a house-rocking 3-2 victory over archrival Colorado College at Magness Arena Saturday night. Combined with the Pioneers' 3-2 overtime win in Colorado Springs on Friday, Denver (6-0-0, 4-0-0 WCHA) posted its first weekend sweep of the Tigers for the first time since March 5-6, 1993 (both in Colorado Springs), and first home-and-home weekend sweep since the 1988-89 season. In addition, the Pioneers' six-game unbeaten stretch is the best season-opening span since the 1997-98 squad opened 7-0-0.
James' marker was the last of three unanswered goals for the Pioneers, who dug themselves an early 2-0 hole after giving up back-to-back power play goals just 1:28 apart in the first four minutes of the game.
"We played well last night, and I'm glad we played well tonight," said head coach George Gwozdecky. "Our crowd was awesome tonight. It sure gave us energy. It was a hard-fought series, and I look forward to going back to practice on Monday."
The game-winner was one for the highlight reel. Junior Matt Weber (Binghamton, N.Y.) made a centering pass that James knocked out of mid-air with the blade of his stick. The puck deflected off Tiger goaltender Jeff Sanger, and the Pioneers had their only lead of the night.
After CC got its early lead, junior Greg Barber (Kelowna, British Columbia) got Denver on board soon after with his third goal of the season. Weber and senior Jesse Cook (Englewood, Colo.) assisted on the play. In the second period, Denver knotted the score at 2-2 when senior Kevin Doell (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) got his second marker of the weekend off assists from Cook and Barber at 11:30 of the period.
Junior Wade Dubielewicz (Invermere, British Columbia) was strong between the pipes for the Pioneers, stopping 31 Tiger shots in posting his third win of the season.
Denver makes its first league foray out of the state this coming weekend, traveling to Houghton, Mich., for a WCHA series against Michigan Tech on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9-10. The puck drops both nights at 5:05 p.m. MST.
