LAS VEGAS — Denver has found success in uncomfortable situations, refusing to panic even when the opponent is dominating the game.
Most of the reason for this is the entry of new people into the network of pioneers.
No goalie is better than Johnny Hicks, and he’s the main reason Denver is once again the best team in college hockey.
Kyle Chayzowski hit a shot from the point with 5:52 left, backed by another sensational performance from Hicks, to lead Denver to a 2-1 win over Wisconsin on Saturday for the Pioneers’ third national championship in five years.
The win extended the Pioneers’ record to 11 national titles overall and deprived the Badgers of their seventh championship and first since 2006.
“I’m so happy we were able to do this with this group,” Hicks said, choking back tears. “We’ve been through a lot of adversity, and I’m very proud of this group.”
This was a rare loss for a Big Ten team in the championship game this academic year. The conference is already home to the reigning champions of football (Indiana), men’s basketball (michigan) and women’s basketball (UCLA).
But the National Collegiate Hockey Conference remains the sport’s premier league, claiming eight of the last 10 national champions. It doesn’t have the glamor of the Big Ten or the resources that come with being on the national stage in football, but Denver coach David Carle said a collective effort to achieve greatness in hockey shows what can be accomplished.
“I think we’re a proof of concept that this is still possible,” Carle said. “Do we have advantages compared to other places? I’m not going to sit here and cry that we don’t have things. But we are a small institution. However, we are very committed to our hockey program and making it a great experience for our student-athletes, our fans and our alumni.
“You don’t have to be big to be good at hockey. You have to invest, care and have the right people to do great things. In college athletics, I think a place like Denver should really be celebrated.”
Hicks continued his stellar play by making 29 saves just two days after his personal-high 49 against Michigan. He has not missed a beat in regulation since taking over as the starter, going 16-0-1. Hicks entered the game leading the nation with a 1.20 goals-against average and .957 save percentage.
“Johnny Hicks is incredible,” Denver captain Kent Anderson said. “He’s undefeated. We couldn’t have done any of this without him. Tonight, our group stuck with it, they believed in each other. Hickey was there for us every step of the way. He kept us in it. Just waited for us to score. Finally, we did.”
Hicks was named Most Outstanding Player in Denver’s conference and regional tournaments, also receiving that honor.
“I was just playing on instinct,” Hicks said.
Rieger Lorenz scored the second goal for Denver.
Wisconsin’s goals came from Vasily Zelenov and Daniel Hauser stopped 13 shots.
Zelenov’s blast from the left circle with 6:24 left in the first period gave Wisconsin a 1–0 lead, a lead that lasted until 7:31 of the third.
The second goal never came, not least because of Hicks. Denver couldn’t produce many clean looks and blocked 31 shots.
“In my opinion, we needed to get it down to two,” Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings said. “We couldn’t do it.”
Then Christian Epperson passed to defenseman Garrett Brown at left point. His shot resulted in a rebound opportunity for Lorenz, who easily fired around Hauser and into the open net.
Then it was a matter of finishing the job, which happened when Boston Buckburger delivered a one-timer from the right point that likely would have gone into the net even if Chayzowski hadn’t gotten a stick on the puck.
Denver did not have a single shot on goal for the first eight and a half minutes and finished the first period with only two for the fifth time in the title game. The Pioneers also had two shots on goal in one period against North Dakota in 1963. Minnesota was the most recent team to take so few shots, having done so three years ago against Quinnipiac.
In the second round against Wisconsin’s forecheck, the Pioneers managed only three shots on goal; The Badgers outscored them 21-5 in two periods.
The feeling was similar to Denver’s 4-3 double-overtime win over Michigan in Thursday night’s semifinals. The Wolverines defeated Denver 52–26, but the Pioneers found a way to force overtime and win in extra time.
Wisconsin hoped to match its women’s team in winning the championship. Through two periods, the Badgers were well on their way and were clearly the better team.
Not so much in the third.
“A little surprised right now,” Wisconsin defenseman Ben Dexheimer said. “Will definitely settle in here in the next few days.”
