Denver completed an award hat trick Friday, Jarid Lukosevicius followed that up with the first one in an NCAA championship game since his coach did the trick 24 years ago on Saturday, but the real story of the Pioneers’ eighth national championship was stationed between the pipes.

Tanner Jaillet, who won the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s top goaltender Friday, made 38 saves, including 16 in the third period, when Minnesota-Duluth threw everything it had at the Pioneers. Denver endured and emerged with a 3-2 victory, making Jim Montgomery only the fourth man in history to win an NCAA championship as a both a player (at Maine in 1993) and now as a coach. The list also includes the man he replaced four seasons ago, George Gwozdecky.

Denver overcame the loss of defenseman Tariq Hammond to a gruesome lower right-leg injury early in the third period.

“Tariq Hammond is a warrior,” Montgomery said. “He’s our biggest, most physical defenseman and he was matching up against their top two lines. We were playing really well until his injury. The next 6 minutes we were just holding on.”

The Bulldogs sensed an opening after the Pioneers’ heartiest blue liner went out, and they took advantage when Riley Tufte scored with 5:21 to make it a 3-2 game.

“We did a pretty good job spending more time in their offensive zone,” UMD coach Scott Sandelin said. “We gave ourselves a chance to get back in the game, we just came up short.”

That was in large part due to the calm play of Jaillet.

“Thank God we have a Mike Richter Award winner,” Montgomery said. “He was incredible in the third period.”

Added Jaillet, “They were coming strong. Obviously they were throwing the kitchen sink at us. Our guys had some huge blocks, we were able to weather the storm.”

Captain Will Butcher, who captured the Hobey Baker Award on Friday, said the Pioneers had no choice but to stay the course.

“It’s terrible seeing a brother go off like that. He’s battled the whole year. It was tough,” Butcher said. “We knew they were going to come with a push. We just stuck with it, we might not have played our best period but we had TJ (Jaillet) back there making saves.”

Hammond made a triumphant return to the ice, helped by teammates, after the game to celebrate Denver’s 33rd and most important victory of the season.

“When I saw him come back out, I was overcome by emotion,” Montgomery said. “But I’m not surprised. He’s a warrior.

“He’ll wear a letter next year for sure, and probably be our captain. He kept saying “We did it, we did it.’ … (He) probably (has) a broken ankle. It just showed the character of the individuals we recruit.”

 

Lukosevicius’ flurry began shortly into the second period. Michael Davies‘ shot from the high slot hit the shaft of Lukosevicius’ stick and went high over Hunter Miska 4:44 into the second period.

Just 16 seconds later, Lukosevicius sent a pass from Troy Terry past Miska from the top of the blue paint. Terry had controlled the puck around the left circle until he found a lane to the net and then sent a pass to Lukosevicius’ tape. The tallies marked the quickest pair in NCAA championship game history.

The Bulldogs climbed right back into the game 2:16 later. Thirty-two seconds after Matt Marcinew took a hooking penalty, Alex Iafallo deflected a pass from Joey Anderson past Jaillet at 7:16.

But Lukosevicius restored the Pioneers’ two-goal lead 5:07 later after Terry and Dylan Gambrell started the sequence by controlling the puck deep in the UMD zone. With Gambrell clogging the slot, Terry’s shot bounced out to Lukosevicius at the right dot, and the sophomore wasted no time burying it.

“Gams and Troy did an unbelievable job,” Lukosevicius said. “I wouldn’t have scored any of those goals if it wasn’t for those two. I just stayed in front of the net.”

Terry, he of World Junior Championship lore, added another chapter to an incredible year.

“Ever since the NCHC playoffs started he’s been our most dominant player all over the ice,” Montgomery said. “That opportunity to win gold at World Juniors gave him an idea how to mentally prepare for big stages.”

DU outshot UMD 9-0 to start the game, but the Bulldogs had a 10-4 shots edge the rest of the first period, foreshadowing the furious finish.

“There’s no better moment than this,” Montgomery said.

One more honor

Four Pioneers were selected to the all-tournament team – Jaillet, Lukosevicius, Terry and Butcher, with Lukosevicius being named the Most Outstanding Player. Bulldogs defenseman Neal Pionk and Iafallo also made the team.

The world according to Luko

One of the more light-hearted Pioneers was on display for all of the world to see after the game. Lukosevicius admitted this was his first press conference, but he didn’t disappoint.

When asked about his last hat trick, he responded, “Midget hockey. I didn’t get one in junior, I wasn’t that good. I don’t know what Monty saw in me.”

On whether he knew his coach had been the most recent player to score a hat trick in an NCAA championship game, “I didn’t know it before. I guess it’s my turn to start balding.”

Player vs. coach

Montgomery was asked about the difference between winning an NCAA title as a player vs. as a coach.

“When your adrenaline is going as a player it’s more euphoric. As a coach it’s an incredible feeling. You’re more proud of your student athletes, how they’ve grown, how they’ve seized the moment.”

Notable

Terry became just the third American player ever to win an NCAA title and World Junior Championship gold medal in the same year, joining Boston College’s Chris Kreider in 2010 and Denver’s Matt Carle in 2004. … The Pioneers will hold a victory party Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Magness Arena.