Jan. 8, 2005

Box Score

DENVER - Goaltender Peter Mannino (Farmington Hills, Mich.) stopped all 28 Michigan Tech shots and fellow freshman Andrew Thomas' (Bow, N.H.) first career goal led the fifth-ranked Denver Pioneers to a 1-0 win tonight over the Huskies in WCHA action at Magness Arena. Denver improves to 14-6-1, 9-4-1 WCHA, while Tech drops to 2-17-1, 2-14-0 WCHA.

"Tonight was a real battle," head coach George Gwozdecky said. "I was proud of the way our guys played. We created so many great opportunities and had so many point-blank shots. It was a great effort and we won battles in a difficult game. We still have some work to do in certain areas, which we will do before our next series at St. Cloud State.'

The Pioneers came out with a stronger effort than last night and scored the only goal they would need when Thomas banged in a rebound off a shot from senior Kevin Ulanski (Madison, Wis.) at 6:53 in the first period.

Mannino earned his second consecutive shutout and helped lead the Pioneer's penalty-kill unit to a five-of-five effort. He preserved his shutout with a big save on a 2-on-1 odd-man rush by Tech late in the third period to win his fifth consecutive decision.

Michigan Tech goalie Cam Ellsworth finished his spectacular weekend by stopping 41 of 42 Pioneer shots. Ellsworth stopped 76 of 77 shots in the two-game series.

The Pioneers were able to pick up the pace tonight with an added lift from the sophomore line consisting of Brock McMorris (Cherry Hills, Colo.), Mike Handza (Glenshaw, Pa.) and Ryan Helgason (Woodbury, Minn.). The trio helped Denver outshoot Tech, 42-28.

The Pioneers will enjoy a bye week before returning to action on Jan. 21-22 at St. Cloud State. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. MT both Friday and Saturday.