No. 4 Pioneers Win 1-0 in Overtime at ASU - University of Denver Athletics

Sunday, November 8

Tempe, Ariz.

12 p.m. MT

University of Denver

7-2-1, 4-0-0

Arizona State

5-5-0, 1-3-0

Team	1	2	3	OT 1	F
Denver	0	0	0	1	1
Arizona St.	0	0	0	0	0

Highlights Game Notes

Johnny Hicks during the Denver Pioneers hockey team's game at Arizona State on November 8, 2026

11/8/2026 5:00:00 PM | #4 Ice Hockey

Box Score Highlights Pregame Notes

Pioneers pick up just their second 1-0 OT win in program history

By: Ron Knabenbauer

TEMPE, Ariz. – Sophomore goaltender Johnny Hicks stopped all 28 shots and freshman defenseman Daxon Rudolph scored the only goal of the game early in overtime to lift the No. 4 Denver Pioneers hockey team to a 1-0 victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils on Sunday afternoon at Mullett Arena.

The Pioneers (7-2-1, 4-0-0 NCHC) stretched their unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1) and have won six consecutive road contests dating back to Feb. 13 of last season. DU won the series opener on Friday evening with a 6-3 victory.

Rudolph netted his first career overtime marker at 1:27 of the 3-on-3 overtime as he took a return pass from senior forward Sam Harris and fired a wrist shot that went far-side and past the glove of ASU goalie Samuel Urban.

The DU defender finished the weekend with three goals after scoring twice on Friday night and Harris recorded three points on the weekend after posting a goal and an assist in the opener. Harris now has 18 points (12g/6a) in 13 career contests against the Sun Devils (5-5-0, 1-3-0 NCHC) and is on a four-game point streak.

Hicks picked up his first shutout of the season and the fourth of his career. He was especially good in the first as Arizona State outshot Denver 12-9 in the period. DU created more chances in the next two periods, outshooting ASU 31-16.

Urban made 40 saves in the Sun Devils' net, two days after stopping 45 shots.

Denver finished 0-for-4 on the power play while Arizona State didn't capitalize on its own man-up opportunity.

This was just the third time and second straight campaign in program history that the Pioneers played a game that finished 1-0 in overtime. DU defeated Minnesota Duluth 1-0 on last season on Jan. 31, the program's first such win in what was also Hicks' first career start. The Pios lost their first 1-0 OT game on Jan. 21, 1966 at Michigan Tech.

UP NEXT: DU returns to Magness Arena to begin a four-game homestand next weekend, starting with a two-game set against Lindenwood on Friday at 7 p.m. MT and Saturday at 6 p.m. MT. The Pioneers then take on St. Thomas in the program's first-ever series on Nov. 20-21.

POSTGAME NOTES

Denver has now won four straight games against ASU in the all-time series and is 6-1-0 in the last seven meetings, with its lone loss coming in overtime.
The Pioneers are now 5-3-0 all-time at Mullett Arena and played their fifth overtime game in the history of the venue. DU improved to 2-3 in OT contests at Mullett Arena, with the Pios also winning on Feb. 7, 2025.
Denver played its second overtime game of the season and earned its first win after tying Boston College 2-2 on Oct. 24.
Daxon Rudolph has scored in three straight games and is on the first three-game point streak of his career (4g/1a).
Sam Harris now has 18 points (12g/6a) in 13 career contests vs. Arizona State.
Harris is on a season-long four-game assist/point streak (1g/5a).
Kristian Epperson had his career-long goal and point streak end at four games (4g/3a).
Goaltender Johnny Hicks remains unbeaten in his college career as he has won 18 straight games and is 21-0-1 in his first 22 decisions dating back to Jan. 24 vs. St. Cloud State.
Hicks recorded an assist on Daxon Rudolph's second goal for his second career point.

GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
No Scoring

2nd Period
No Scoring

3rd Period
1:27 DU (1-0) – After taking the puck up the ice from behind his own net and passing it over to Sam Harris, Daxon Rudolph took the return feed at the left circle and scored with a wrist shot that went far-side and into the cage.

TICKETS: Single-game tickets as well as mini plans and group packages for the DU hockey's championship-defense campaign in 2026-27 are on sale now. Click here for more information.

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