Denver Pioneers hockey captures ninth national title in thrilling fashion
Apr 9, 2022, 11:10 PM | Updated: 11:33 pm
Who would’ve thought heading into the third period of the NCAA Men’s Hockey National Championship Game in Boston, trailing 1-0 against mighty Minnesota State, the Denver Pioneers would not only win their ninth national championship, but do so in a laugher?
As heard on 104.3 The Fan, head coach David Carle’s team exploded in the third period, scoring three goals to take control of the game before two empty netters served as the cherry on top of a 5-1 title victory.
Despite the lopsided victory on the scoreboard, one could argue Minnesota State controlled the game for a longer period of time. The Mavericks throttled the Pios high-powered offense through the first two periods behind their physical defense and Hobey Baker winner Dryden McKay in net. Sam Morton’s goal in the first period was the only score heading into the third. If not for outstanding play from Pioneer net minder Magnus Chrona, DU may have faced a deficit too large to overcome.
The third period is when things changed and momentum swung in a hurry towards Denver. Ryan Barrow got DU on the board early into the third period, and minutes later Mike Benning gave the Crimson and Gold their first lead that they’d never look back from. Massimo Rizzo’s goal later in the third gave Denver a two-goal advantage that help until late in the contest when empty netters from Brett Stapley and Cameron Wright sent the student body at The Pioneer into a celebration frenzy.
The goals keep pourin in.@DU_Hockey up 3-1 late third.#PioneerTogether pic.twitter.com/ssYj1Amzae
— Denver Athletics (@DU_Pioneers) April 10, 2022
The championship is the first as a head coach for Carle, whose connection to the program runs deep. When his career was cut short due to a rare, genetic heart issue, then-Denver coach George Gwozdecky honored Carle’s scholarship and allowed the Alaskan to get a jump start on his coaching career.
After graduation and a two-year stint as an assistant with the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers, Carle returned to DU working under Jim Montgomery. In 2017, Carle was on the bench with Montgomery as Denver won their eighth national championship.
When Montgomery left for the NHL’s Dallas Stars in 2018, Carle was elevated to replace him, becoming the youngest Division I head coach in men’s hockey at just 28 -years0-old. In his first season on the bench, Carle led Denver to a Frozen Four appearance; now just three seasons later he comes the fourth head coach in school history to win national championship, joining Montgomery, Gwozdecky and Murray Armstrong.
Carle, 32, is the fourth-youngest head coach to win a men’s hockey national championship.
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