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University of Denver Athletics

Heikkinen, Jaakko

Men's Ice Hockey

Game Preview: No. 4 Denver vs. No. 1 North Dakota

Who: No. 4 Denver (0-1-0, 0-1-0-0) vs. No. 1 North Dakota (1-0-0, 1-0-0-0)
What: Game 2
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
The Pioneers allowed back-to-back power-play goals in the third period to squander a one-goal lead and fall to No. 3 Minnesota Duluth 2-1 in their season opener. Carter Savoie scored Denver's lone goal – a deflection on Bo Hanson's shot at 4:00 of the second period.

Series History
DU lost the season series to North Dakota last year with a 0-3-1 marker, bringing their all-time record to 128-149-16 against the Fighting Hawks. Ryan Barrow is Denver's leading scorer against North Dakota with one goal, four assists and a +4 rating in 12 games.

Last Meeting
The then-No. 5 Pioneers were swept in Grand Forks by the then-top-ranked Fighting Hawks, falling 4-1 and 3-1 on Feb. 14 & 15. Brett Edwards & Bobby Brink scored for Denver during the weekend. The Pioneers outshot the Fighting Hawks on both nights with a 27-23 advantage on Saturday before Jacob Bernard-Docker's empty-netter with 12 seconds left squashed Denver's hopes of a late game-tying goal.

What's Next
The Pioneers will play their first set of back-to-back games in the Pod when they take on St. Cloud State on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 7:05 p.m. MT. The game will air on Altitude, NCHC.TV and 104.3 The Fan.
 
Snap Shots
  • Denver returns 63% of its goal scoring and 60% 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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Players Mentioned

Ryan Barrow

#18 Ryan Barrow

Forward
6' 2"
Junior
Langley Rivermen - BCHL
Slava Demin

#17 Slava Demin

Defenseman
6' 2"
Sophomore
Wenatchee Wild - BCHL
Cole Guttman

#19 Cole Guttman

Forward
5' 9"
Sophomore
Dubuque Fighting Saints - USHL
Kyle Mayhew

#27 Kyle Mayhew

Defenseman
5' 7"
Sophomore
Fairbanks Ice Dogs - NAHL
Griffin Mendel

#4 Griffin Mendel

Defenseman
6' 4"
Junior
Penticton Vees - BCHL
Brett Stapley

#7 Brett Stapley

Forward
5' 10"
Sophomore
Vernon Vipers - BCHL
Bobby Brink

#24 Bobby Brink

Forward
5' 8"
Freshman
Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Magnus Chrona

#30 Magnus Chrona

Goaltender
6' 6"
Freshman
SkellefteĂĄ AIK J20 (SuperElit)
Justin Lee

#32 Justin Lee

Defenseman
6' 0"
Freshman
Fargo Force (USHL)
Brett Edwards

#28 Brett Edwards

Forward
5' 11"
Freshman
Drumheller Dragons (AJHL)

Players Mentioned

Ryan Barrow

#18 Ryan Barrow

6' 2"
Junior
Langley Rivermen - BCHL
Forward
Slava Demin

#17 Slava Demin

6' 2"
Sophomore
Wenatchee Wild - BCHL
Defenseman
Cole Guttman

#19 Cole Guttman

5' 9"
Sophomore
Dubuque Fighting Saints - USHL
Forward
Kyle Mayhew

#27 Kyle Mayhew

5' 7"
Sophomore
Fairbanks Ice Dogs - NAHL
Defenseman
Griffin Mendel

#4 Griffin Mendel

6' 4"
Junior
Penticton Vees - BCHL
Defenseman
Brett Stapley

#7 Brett Stapley

5' 10"
Sophomore
Vernon Vipers - BCHL
Forward
Bobby Brink

#24 Bobby Brink

5' 8"
Freshman
Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Forward
Magnus Chrona

#30 Magnus Chrona

6' 6"
Freshman
SkellefteĂĄ AIK J20 (SuperElit)
Goaltender
Justin Lee

#32 Justin Lee

6' 0"
Freshman
Fargo Force (USHL)
Defenseman
Brett Edwards

#28 Brett Edwards

5' 11"
Freshman
Drumheller Dragons (AJHL)
Forward