DENVER – The No. 6 Denver Pioneers (19-10-5, 11-10-3-3) fell to the Colorado College Tigers (15-17-4, 9-12-0-0) 1-0 on Saturday at the Broadmoor World Arena.
 
An early goal and 30-save shutout from Alex Leclerc helped the Tigers complete the weekend sweep and take the Gold Pan trophy for the first time in five years. The Pioneers' loss solidified their fourth-place finish in the NCHC standings and matchup with North Dakota in the first round of the NCHC playoffs to be played on March 15-17 at Magness Arena. 
 
"They did a really good job all night long," Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach David Carle said. "We struggled to generate second and third effort chances, especially in the first and second periods."
 
Colorado College took an early lead for the second straight night. Trevor Gooch created the scoring play, carrying the puck around the net before finding Grant Cruikshank on the backdoor at 1:45 of the first period.  Denver twice failed to convert on power plays, its second futile attempt concluding with a breakaway for Ben Israel as he stepped out of the penalty box. Devin Cooley denied Israel on the chance to hold the Tigers' lead to 1-0 at the first intermission.
 
Colin Staub appeared to tie the game for the Pioneers at 5:53 of the second, however his goal was immediately waived off as it was determined he used his glove to direct the airborne puck into the net. Following the disallowed goal, neither team generated any prime scoring chances until 7:22 of the third period when Erik Middendorf was stopped on a one-on-one with Cooley. Denver rallied from the save and began generating more chances on the opposite end of the ice, culminating with Jarid Lukosevicius' hitting the post on a play at the netfront. Unable to find the back of the net, Denver was shutout for the first time this season.
 
Denver went 0/2 on the power play and 2/2 on the penalty kill.
 
DU-CC GIVING CHALLENGE:
Get in on the action of our ongoing rivalry with the Gold Pan Giving Challenge - our annual challenge to get more alumni donors than CC. Make your gift anytime from March 1-17 and help us beat CC! Click here to join the challenge!

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