DENVER – The No. 4-ranked University of Denver hockey team secured a 2-1 win on Saturday night at Magness Arena to wrap up the first of two series this season against the No. 10 Colorado College Tigers.
 
Junior forward Aidan Thompson scored the equalizer 2:35 into the middle stanza, and sophomore defenseman Cale Ashcroft registered his second game-winning goal of the season at 5:28 of the third period.  Freshman forward Hagen Burrows and sophomore defender Eric Pohlkamp had assists on Ashcroft's marker.
 
"It was a great bounce back," said Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle. "Love the maturity, love the dig in. The guys played great; they played for each other, which is what we challenged them to do. It was not an easy game; they are a good hockey team on the other side there. Just proud of the effort. Good to get a win going into the break here."
 
Senior goaltender Matt Davis led a strong defensive push for the Pioneers (14-4-0, 4-4-0 NCHC), making 20-of-21 saves that the Tigers (10-5-1, 4-3-1 NCHC) sent his way. The only puck to get past him was one that he didn't see as Ty Gallagher's shot midway through the opening stanza was the result of a screen.
 
After Thompson's scored unassisted off his own rebound late in the second period, the two rival teams stayed tied for almost 23 minutes throughout the second and third periods until Ashcroft buried his shot from the right circle off a pass from Burrows.
 
A five-minute major and game misconduct was given to CC's Tyler Dunbar in the second period for a hit from behind on Denver freshman James Reeder, but the Pioneers weren't able to capitalize on the extended man advantage. Neither team scored on the power play.
 
Tigers goalminder Kaiden Mbereko saved 22-of-24 shots in the loss.
 
The Gold Pan series is now tied at 1-1 after CC won 5-4 on Friday night in Colorado Springs. Denver has taken the Gold Pan for five consecutive seasons, and Colorado College needs to outright win the regular-season finale series on March 7-8 to take the trophy.
 
UP NEXT: The Pioneers are at the halfway point of their season and now head out for their two-week Holiday Break. DU hosts UNLV in an exhibition on Saturday, Dec. 28 at Magness Arena before resuming the regular season on Jan. 3-4 at No. 5 Maine.
 
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Saturday's game marked the 343rd  all-time meeting between Colorado College and DU, tying Michigan and Michigan State for the most-played rivalry in college hockey history.
• The Pioneers are now 15-3-0 in the last 18 games against Colorado College and have won 11 straight games vs. the Tigers in Denver and 10 in a row at Magness Arena (Jan. 27, 2023 at Ball Arena).
• This weekend marked the second consecutive season that both Denver and CC were ranked in the top 10. Last season during their March matchup, they held the same ranking as they do presently.
• Cale Ashcroft scored his second goal of the season, with both being game-winners—his first of his career.
• Aidan Thompson tied his career high of 11 goals that was previously set last season.  
• Jack Devine and Buium both dropped their assist streak. Buium had a season-long five-game streak (0g/7a) while Devine's eight-game run (1g/10a) tied a career long.
• With the win, the Pioneers complete the first half of the season with a .777 winning percentage, tying the program's best mark at the mid-point of the regular season in the last 20 years (also 2022-23, 2007-08).
• Eric Pohlkamp appeared in his 50th career game
• The Pioneers are now 3-1-0 in their 75th Anniversary sweaters this season. Both teams wore throwback uniforms and will wear the same combination in Saturday's game.
• Defenseman Zeev Buium, head coach David Carle, equipment manager Nick Meldrum and director of hockey operations Travis Culhane are heading to USA Hockey's World Junior Training Camp on Sunday in Plymouth, Michigan, to prepare for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship that begins on Dec. 26.

 
GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
9:49 CC (0-1) – Ty Gallagher went top right corner with a shot while Matt Davis was screened in front.
 
2nd Period
2:35 DU (1-1) – Aidan Thompson took a loose puck after a CC player whiffed at it at the blue line and then scored off his own rebound after his initial shot was blocked in front.
 
3rd Period
5:28 DU (2-1) – Hagen Burrows fed the puck from below the goal line to Cale Ashcroft, who fired the puck into the top corner from the high right circle.
 
 
QUOTABLES
Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle
On Cale Ashcroft's game-winning goal: "It was like a workman-like shift, we had a lot of those tonight... Second period was good, we were able to possess more pucks in the offensive zone. The guys laid it on the line, guys were blocking shots, putting their body on the line as well. Proud of the group, really happy for them that we got the win tonight."
 
On going into the break with a win: "It gives a blueprint, an identity for what we need to do. Not every game is going to be a 5-2 victory. We are going to find ways to win, different ways and be committed to that. To limit them to the shot count that we did, playing a real tight-checking game is a good growth and maturity for our team."
 
Sophomore Defenseman Cale Ashcroft
On Game winning goal: "It was a great feeling. Especially going into the Christmas break, you want to end on a win, so it was a great feeling. Boys worked really hard tonight. Great feeling to get that win."
 
On how yesterday's loss motivated the team for tonight's game: "We really tried to stick together as a team and stick to the process we know works here. There was a really big emphasizes on just getting pucks in deep and stick to what we do here."
 
On strategies used in the game: "We did a really good job near the end to just manage the puck well. We were not trying to do anything pretty, just making the hard, simple play. Which was the right decision most times."
 
Junior Forward Aidan Thompson
On changes from last night: "I think we just had a lot more energy; maybe that was the home crowd or being pumped up after a loss. We just had a lot more energy that fed and helped us to score more."
 
On if the momentum changed after his goal: "I'm not sure if it was the specific difference maker, but I would say it definitely helped. Any time we get a point on the board, it's always good, so guys fed off of it. It was a good turning point."
 
On playing a strong defensive third period: "We just saw the finish line. When you're almost there, it just gives a little extra energy, and that helped us push through at the end." 
 

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