Feb. 21, 2004

Box Score

HOUGHTON, Mich. - Senior Adam Berkhoel (Woodbury, Minnesota) made 30 saves and three different players scored to send the 10th-ranked Denver Pioneers to a 3-0 win over Michigan Tech in WCHA tonight at MacInnes Student Ice Arena. With the much-needed win, Denver's record improves to 19-10-5 overall and 9-10-5 in the WCHA, while Michigan Tech falls to 7-20-5, 5-16-3 in league play. The Pioneers pick up two league points and remain sixth in the WCHA.

Berkhoel's shutout was his fifth of the season and 10th of his four-year career. The senior made 13 saves in the first period, five in the second and 12 in the third for his second career WCHA shutout. Berkhoel's teammates played well in front of their netminder to propel the Pioneers to a five-game unbeaten streak. Denver is now 3-0-2 in its last five games.

Junior Nick Larson (Moorhead, Minn.) picked up his first career point with an assist on sophomore Gabe Gauthier's (Buena Park, Calif.) team-leading 13th goal and freshman Mike Handza (Glenshaw, Pa.) scored his first career goal to highlight Denver's sixth WCHA road victory. Freshman Matt Carle (Anchorage, Alaska) added two assists for his fourth career multi-point game.

After a scoreless first period, Gauthier broke a scoreless tie at 9:38 of the second period. Gauthier fired a high slap shot that bounced off the right shoulder of Tech goaltender Cam Ellsworth and trickled into an empty net. Senior Lukas Dora (Lednice, Czech Republic) added a rebound goal less than four minutes later and Handza's first career goal at 19:51 gave the Pioneers a 3-0 lead. Denver dominated the second period by outshooting Tech, 19-5.

Denver outshot Tech, 38-30, and committed just four penalties in the win. The Pioneers went 0-of-2 on the power play. Denver also held Hobey Baker candidate Chris Conner to just one point (assist) in the two-game series.

The Pioneers return to action against two-time NCAA defending champion Minnesota on Feb. 27-28 at Magness Arena.