Nov. 17, 2006

Box Score

DENVER - Senior netminder Glenn Fisher (Edmonton, Alberta) recorded his second consecutive shutout with a solid 31-save effort and redshirt freshman Brock Trotter (Brandon, Manitoba) scored the lone goal on the power play as the No. 11 Denver Pioneers blanked Michigan Tech 1-0 in a hard-hitting, physical WCHA game before a sellout crowd of 6,096 at Magness Arena. Fisher, the WCHA's top goaltender, keyed a penalty kill unit that went 6-for-6 on a night when DU honored 2006 Hobey Baker Award winner and current San Jose Sharks defenseman Matt Carle. DU improves to 7-4, 5-2 with its fourth consecutive win, while MTU falls to 6-4-1, 3-3-1.

"Thank goodness for great goaltending, because Glenn Fisher was the reason we won the game," said Denver Head Coach George Gwozdecky. "His performance tonight really showed why he's the best goaltender in the country. Glenn has really worked hard on his all-around game and is playing with a lot of confidence."

Denver got on the scoreboard at the 18:41 mark when Trotter netted his fourth goal of the season with the Pioneers on the power play. Trotter controlled the puck behind Michigan Tech's net and attempted a centering pass that went off MTU netminder Michael-Lee Teslak's right skate and into the net to give DU a 1-0 lead after one period. Ryan Dingle (Steamboat Springs, Colo.) and Keith Seabrook (Delta, British Columbia) were credited with assists on the play.

During the first intermission, the Pioneers paid tribute to Carle, who last season became the first player in DU hockey history to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player. Carle received a standing ovation from DU's 38th consecutive regular-season sellout crowd.

"It was great to be back to share the award with the tremendous DU fans," Carle said. "I have great memories of DU and I want to thank the University and the San Jose Sharks for allowing me to take part in the ceremony."

The Huskies put a flurry of shots on the DU goal in the middle frame, but Fisher stood tall and made 11 saves, including a tough, cross-body stop on a tip attempt by Tech's Derek Kitti to keep the Huskies off the board.

While Fisher was credited with the victory between the pipes, it may have been Chris Butler (St. Louis, Mo.) who made the biggest save of the night. At the 16:42 mark of the third period, Fisher stopped a wrister off the stick of Michigan Tech's Geoff Kinrade, but was left out of position on the rebound, leaving Tech's Phil Axtell with a wide-open net. Butler was able to dive into the crease and stop the backhand attempt from crossing the goal line to help preserve the shutout.

MTU outshot DU 31-20 on the evening. The Pioneers were 1-for-9 on the power play, while the Huskies were 0-for-6 with the man advantage.

Denver looks for the series sweep tomorrow night at Magness Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. MST.