Who: No. 4 Denver (0-0-0-0) vs. No. 3 Minnesota Duluth (0-0-0-0)
What: Game 1 of the 2020-21 season
Where: Omaha, Neb. (Baxter, Arena)
When: 6:35 p.m. MT (Pioneer Pregame 6 p.m. MT on ESPN Denver 1600)
Game Coverage
TV: Altitude TV/NCHC.TV
Radio: ESPN Denver 1600
Last Time Out
Denver defeated Colorado College 5-1 in Magness Arena in the 2019-20 regular season finale. The season was cancelled on March 12, one day before the start of the NCHC first-round playoff series vs. Colorado College. At the time, Denver was 5th in the Pairwise rankings and set to make its 13th straight appearance in the NCAA tournament.
Series History
DU leads the all-time series 126-83-13, but the Pioneers have won just one of the last eight meetings. Denver is 4-2-0 in neutral site match-ups, including wins in the 2018 NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semifinal (3-1) and the 2017 NCAA Championship game (3-2).
Last Meeting
Minnesota Duluth used a three-goal third period to pull away from Denver in the final regular season meeting last season, skating to a 4-1 win.
Emilio Pettersen scored the lone goal for the Pioneers on the power play.
What's Next
The Pioneers journey in the pod will continue on Friday, December 4
th, when Denver takes on No. 1 North Dakota. Faceoff is set for 6:35 p.m. MT, and will be broadcast on NCHC.TV, Altitude TV and ESPN Denver 1600.
Snap Shots
- Denver returns 63% of its goal scoring and 40% of its point production from last season. Juniors Cole Guttman and Brett Stapley eclipsed the 25-point mark last season: Stapley (5-25-30), Guttman (14-14-28)
- Bobby Brink was one of two unanimous selections for the NCHC All-Rookie team and was a finalist for NCHC Rookie of the Year. He finished second in NCHC rookie scoring with 11 goals and 13 assists in 28 games
- Magnus Chrona was named to the NCHC All-Rookie Team and was a finalist for NCHC Goalie of the Year with a 16-6-4 record in the regular season. He ranked 3rd among NCAA freshmen, 2nd among NCHC goalies in GAA (2.15) (3rd among NCAA freshmen) and led NCHC goalies in save percentage (.920)
- Denver has four defensemen with more than 25 games played: Griffin Mendel (110), Slava Demin (75), Kyle Mayhew (53), Justin Lee (31)
- Magnus Chrona was picked to the Preseason All-NCHC Team
- DU was picked second in the NCHC preseason poll
- Denver added three grad transfers for 2020-21: Bo Hanson (St. Lawrence), Steven Jandric (Alaska Fairbanks) & Corbin Kaczperski (Yale)
- DU started six of its first seven seasons in December, first dropping the puck on Dec. 19, 1949 vs. Saskatchewan. 1953 marks the last year the Pioneers started a season in December
VIRTUAL SEASON TICKET:
Activate exclusive virtual benefits for the 2020-21 season! Denver Athletics & Recreation is committed to making the best out of an unprecedented situation and, if we are not able to be together in person at Magness Arena, then we will do our very best to bring Denver Hockey to you! When you opt-in to be a Virtual Season Ticket Holder you gain access to exclusive season-long benefits including:
- 5280 TOGETHER limited-edition commemorative poster
- Access to individual home game tickets based upon availability and guidelines set forth by the NCAA, DU, and local and state health officials
- Exclusive invitation to the weekly coaches "chalk talk"
- Complimentary NCHC.TV & Pioneer Vision subscriptions
- Official tailgate package delivered to your home
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.
DONATE: Fans interested in making a donation to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom, in the classroom and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
-5280 TOGETHER-
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