Denver’s depth was tested Friday night. The No. 8 Pioneers aced the exam on a snowy New Year’s Eve.

Five players scored goals, topped by senior Cameron Wright‘s three, and Magnus Chrona made 18 saves as DU (12-5) routed Alaska Fairbanks, 7-2. Denver continued its hot streak at home, improving to 8-0. That mark tied the 1958-59 team for third best in program history. It also was Denver’s eighth win in its past nine games.

And for good measure the Pioneers scored at least five goals for the 10th time in 17 starts this season.  As it was, DU entered the game leading Division I in scoring at 4.5 goals per game.

Denver accomplished this without the services of two of its top three scorers – sophomore Carter Savoie (22 points) and freshman Massimo Rizzo (21) – who were in Covid protocol.

In their absence Bobby Brink moved into the team’s scoring lead with his four-point night, and Wright upped his goal tally to 10, just two fewer than Savoie’s team high. Brett Stapley and Brink each recorded their seventh, giving DU seven players with that amount or more. Brink and Stapley each struck on the power play, part of Denver’s 2-for-6 showing when up a man.

Wright struck 30 seconds into the game, then again with 12:02 and 1:43 to go in the game.

Defenseman Justin Lee and center McKade Webster each scored their second of the season. Both added an assist, as did Stapley, to give the trio multi-point nights. Captain Cole Guttman added three assists and sophomore Carter King had a pair.

Alaska scored the final goal of the second period – by Brady Risk – at which point it trailed 4-1. The Nanooks (4-13) then scored the game’s final goal when Matt Koethe struck with 17 seconds to go.

©First Line Editorial 2021