March 8, 2002
Box Score
DENVER - Senior Chris Paradise (St. Paul, Minn.) recorded two goals and junior netminder Wade Dubielewicz (Invermere, B.C.) turned away 13 shots to lead the second ranked University of Denver hockey team to a resounding 5-1 win over Michigan Tech on Friday night (Mar. 8) at Magness Arena. Denver earns its first WCHA postseason contest in two years and is just one win away from its first Final Five appearance since the 1998-99 season.
Sophomore Greg Keith (Delta, B.C.) opened the scoring for Denver late in the first period with his sixth tally of the season. Line mate Luke Fulghum (Colorado Springs, Colo.) set up the play when he chased down the puck floating through the slot and chipped it back in front of the net to Keith, who re-directed it by Michigan Tech netminder Cam Ellsworth to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. Freshman defenseman Jussi Halme (Nokia, Finland) recorded the game-winner, his first career goal, in the final minute of the frame to extend Denver's lead at the first intermission.
Michigan Tech forward Frank Werner scored the Huskies lone goal of the evening late in the second period to cut the deficit in half, but it would not be enough to conquer the McNaughton Cup Champions. For the second straight period Denver lit the lamp in the final minute to take a two-goal lead into the break. Paradise was credited with his first of two goals after sliding a wrist shot through the five-hole of Ellsworth from the top of the left circle.
The Pioneers, ambitious to put the game out of reach, took a three-goal lead earl y in the third period. Sophomore Connor James (Calgary, Alberta) fed Paradise in front of the net to extend his assist streak to three games and register his 23rd helper of the season. With the goal, Paradise joins the century club as a Pioneer with 100 career points (44g, 56a). Senior David Neale (Victoria, B.C.) iced the game with his seventh goal of the season to provide the final score of 5-1.
Denver's defense was impenetrable as the game wore on and allowed just 14 shots in the contest, the fewest allowed by the Pioneer blue-liners this year. Both power play units were unsuccessful in two man-advantage tries. The Pioneers have won six consecutive games against Michigan Tech, including five this season, and have out-scored them 31-10 during that span.
The Pioneers return to action on Saturday evening (Mar. 9) against the Huskies in the second game of this best-of-three WCHA playoff series. The puck is schedule to drop at 7:05 p.m. mountain time.
