DENVER – The No. 4 University of Denver hockey team rallied with four goal in the third period to force overtime but lost 6-5 to the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game on Saturday night at Ball Arena.
 
"It was a really entertaining game, obviously for the fans," said Denver Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle. "I thought the energy, atmosphere in the building was excellent. I just want to thank them all for coming out and supporting the event. It's a special opportunity to be able to play here at Ball Arena. I'm appreciative of our administration and people at Kroenke [Sports and Entertainment] for making this game happen as well and giving our players this wonderful experience.
 
"Didn't get the result we wanted tonight, but we played well in a lot of ways. Obviously, we had the puck a lot. Our resiliency in the third period was displayed in a big-time way. We've done that a few times this year, and unfortunately, you know, they made one more play than we did at the end. But I think we can leave with our heads held high, turn the page, and get ready for NCHC play next week."
 
Senior Samu Salminen scored twice while defensemen Boston Buckberger and Eric Pohlkamp also tallied in the third frame as DU was attempting to comeback from a 3-1 deficit after the first 40 minutes of play. The Gophers also scored twice in the third period.
 
Buckberger joined Salminen with a two-goal night, while sophomore forward James Reeder recorded three assists and freshman forward Clarke Caswell had two helpers. Denver goaltender Quentin Miller made 19 saves.
 
Tied 1-1 after the first period following Buckberger's power-play tally with 23 seconds left in the frame, Minesota recorded two goals in the second from Brody Lamb and Brodie Ziemer. Lamb finished with a three-point night by also registering two assists and Ziemer also registered a helper in the contest.
 
Tate Pritchard opened the scoring for UM 1:48 into the contest and Jimmy Clarke and LJ Mooney tallied in the third period. Javon Moore netted the game-winner with 35.6 seconds remaining in the 3-on-3 overtime period after streaking down the left side of the ice.
 
Gophers goalie Luca Di Pasquo finished with 47 saves, as Denver outshot Minnesota 52-25 overall and by a 25-5 margin in the first period
 
UM scored on both of its power-play chances, while DU went 1-for-2 on its man advantages.
 
The Pioneers were hosting this year's U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game in front of a crowd of 12,228. DU was playing its second regular-season game at Ball Arena after hosting Colorado College at the home of the NHL Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 27, 2023.
 
UP NEXT: Denver continues a three-game homestay next weekend when it hosts the Miami RedHawks at Magness Arena on Friday and Saturday night. Both games begin at 7 p.m. MT.
 
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• Denver's 25 shots on goal in the first period were its most in a single frame this season. The Pios had 22 shots in the third period on Oct. 10 at Air Force.
• DU was hosting the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game for the third time in its history and is now 2-2-0 all-time in four total contests its participated in.
• The Pioneers and Gophers were playing their second USHHOF Game against one another in their history after the teams previously met on Oct. 9, 2004 in St. Paul, Minnesota.
• Denver and Minnesota were playing for the first time since March 1-2, 2013 and the Gophers were visiting the Mile High City for the first time since Feb 10-11, 2012.
• DU is now 73-94-12 all-time against UM and had its five-game home winning streak against the Gophers come to an end. The teams used to be members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Conference,
• Samu Salminen scored his first multi-goal game of the season and third of his career. It was his third multi-point outing of the season and he is on a three-game point streak (3g/4a).
• Boston Buckberger recorded his first career multi-goal game and has tallied in four of the past five contests, totaling five goals in that time.
• Eric Pohlkamp has seven goals in the past eight games.
• Sam Harris is now on a six-game point streak (3g/4a).
• Denver is now 1-3-1 in overtime this season.

 
GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
1:48 UM (0-1) – Tate Pritchard buried the puck into an open net after Javon Moore's initial shot rebounded right to him.
19:37 (1-1) – PPG, Boston Buckberger scored on a one-timer at the right circle off passes from Clarke Caswell and Kristian Eppeson.
 
2nd Period
11:05 UM (1-2) – Brody Lamb scored on a wrist shot from the slot.
18:52 UM (1-3) – Brody Ziemer tallied from the right side.
 
3rd Period
4:11 DU (2-3) – Samu Salminen knocked in his rebound at the right post during a scramble in the crease.
5:49 UM (2-4) – Jimmy Clark scored into an open net after the puck slid across the low slot.
6:46 DU (3-4) – Samu Salminen redirected James Reeder's shot five-hole while stationed at the top of the crease.
11:48 DU (4-4) – Eric Pohlkamp dug out a loose puck and tallied on a wrist shot from the left circle.
16:38 UM (4-5) – PPG, LJ Mooney scored from the left side after the puck took a fortunate bounce to him off a skate in the slot.
19:37 DU (5-5) – Boston Buckberger's shot went high, far-side from the right circle after receiving a feed from Clarke Caswell.
 
Overtime
4:25 UM (5-6) – Javon Moore tallied with a wrist shot from the left circle on a rush up the ice.
 
 
QUOTABLES
Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle
On if it's tough to preach the process after a loss: "Is it a challenge? No, I don't think so. Is it frustrating? Yes, but it's a part of the game. We generated a lot of good looks in the first and third. In the second, we got a little bit away from what we wanted to do, but I'm proud of our guys, for everyone to get back to it. Again, it was an entertaining game in the last 30 minutes: 3-1 goes to 3-2. They score a minute and thirty seconds later. We score to make it 4-2. We score another goal to make it 4-3 and ultimately tie it. They scored; we go 6-on-5. Pucks were going in tonight. There were times where we gave them some of their stuff a little bit too easy—that hasn't been us for most of the year. I'm proud. I'm happy about the resiliency and the offensive development we've been seeing. And I think most nights have been pretty sound and solid defensively and in the blue paint."
 
On playing at Ball Arena: "You're appreciative. We talked about it before the game. A lot of people put in a lot of time and effort to make this happen. It's an exempt game, so it's a game that you have to bid on. That takes time and effort from the administration. Setting up a building like this, working with Kroenke Sports and Entertainment group, getting the Avs on board. It's a big lift to be able to actually secure an event and then not do it in your home building. A lot of times these are in the home building. It's a wonderful opportunity to be able to get all these guys – like Boston (Buckberger) said, they aspire to play in the NHL, to be in an NHL locker room. They had the opportunity to do that tonight and get a little taste of it. And obviously, our fans were treated to a wonderful game and unfortunately go home a little bit disappointed, as we will. But it's all onto the next one, Miami coming to town, [a] really good team."
 
Senior Defenseman Kent Anderson
On not scoring early despite the high shot count: "I'm just proud of our group for sticking with it for the full 60 minutes. You know, obviously didn't get the end result we wanted. But, you know, we're getting lots of looks, and we were able to crawl back there at the end."
 
On the comeback attempt: "It's all about sticking to our process. You know, period to period, we want to keep building and stick to our game plan. Obviously, pucks don't go in all the time, even if you want them to, but that's hockey."
 
Junior Defenseman Boston Buckberger
On his second goal that tied the game: "I just knew that they'd have a lot of bodies in the lanes, 6-on-5, everyone collapsed. I think that I just wanted to get the puck to the net more than that—I mean, pick my spot—and our guys did a great job on that front having a good screen, and ultimately it went in. So, it was good."
 
On playing at Ball Arena: "I mean, it's amazing. You look around, you look up, and (it's a) 18,000-19,000 seat arena. You don't get to do that that every day. And obviously it's all of our dreams to play in the NHL. So to play in a rink like this is just unbelievable, and I think that we really enjoyed it. Obviously, like DC (David Carle) said, we didn't get the result, but it's obviously a great experience for all of us, and we can just keep building off it our future games here."
 
 
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