March 4, 2004
Box Score
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Senior Adam Berkhoel (Woodbury, Minn.) made 29 saves to lead the seventh-ranked Denver Pioneers to a 3-1 win over in-state rival Colorado College in WCHA action tonight at World Arena. The win clinches home ice for Denver and also extends its nation-leading unbeaten streak to eight games, sporting a 6-0-2 record since Jan. 31. Denver (22-10-5, 12-10-5) moves into fourth place in the WCHA, while Colorado College (18-14-3, 11-14-2) remains seventh.
"I told the team in the locker room that I'm so proud of them," Denver head coach George Gwozdecky said. "They have worked so hard, worked through a lot of adversity and shown true character. I thought Adam Berkhoel played terrific in goal and we played a smart third period."
Denver used second-period goals from junior Luke Fulghum (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Gabe Gauthier (Buena Park, Calif.) and clinched the win with an empty-netter from senior Connor James (Calgary, Alberta) with 28 seconds remaining in the contest. The Pioneers received a sparkling performance from Berkhoel, who won his 50th career game at Denver. The senior netminder made 10 saves in the first period, 12 in the second and seven in the third for his fourth consecutive win. Berkhoel is 6-0-2 with a 1.96 goals against average and .933 saves percentage during the Pioneers eight-game unbeaten streak.
After a scoreless period, Fulghum broke the scoreless tie with an unassisted goal at 3:36 of the second period. Fulghum used a screen from teammate Lukas Dora (Lednice, Czech Republic) and fired a wrist shot past Tiger goaltender Curtis McElhinney (29 saves). Gauthier scored the game-winner for Denver at 8:36 when he scored his team-leading 15th goal on the power play. Gauthier scooped up a rebound on a shot by Dora and beat McElhinney low to the blocker side. CC made it a one-goal game at 10:18 when Colin Stuart blasted a slap shot past Berkhoel.
Denver outshot Colorado College, 32-30, and converted one of five power-play opportunities. The Pioneers held the Tigers to 0-of-4 with the one-man advantage.
Freshman Matt Carle (Anchorage, Alaska), the reigning WCHA Rookie of the Week for three consecutive weeks, added two more assists in tonight's win. Carle has scored 15 points on three goals and 12 assists in his last seven games.
Denver will host Colorado College, St. Cloud State or Minnesota in the first round of the WCHA playoffs on March 12-14 at Magness Arena.
The Pioneers will battle Colorado College in its regular-season finale tomorrow night at Magness Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. MT.
