The Seventh Period reviews the weekend that was for Denver’s top-ranked hockey program. And what a weekend it was.

First Period

Denver has established this. It knows how to throw a party. Just ask the more than 170 alumni, spanning six of the program’s seven decades about that. My takeaway from the weekend was Saturday’s first intermission, during which the alumni and DU’s eight national title trophies took over the Magness Arena ice – all wearing what I can say without reservation are some of the sweetest throwback jerseys I’ve ever seen anywhere in any league. I spoke with numerous alumni throughout the game, and every one spoke about the camaraderie through the generations of DU hockey. Hopefully, the trophies have been returned to their case outside the DU locker room.

Second Period

I was tempted – strongly tempted – to name DU equipment guru Nick Meldrum the first star of the game Saturday. DU’s jerseys, which I’m told replicas of could be for sale in December, were just that good. After the game, Meldrum said not even DU’s players had seen them until they came into the locker room late Saturday afternoon. Their response? Like Christmas morning.

Third Period

Of course Meldrum wasn’t the first star. That would be sophomore goaltender Michael Corson, who not only started his first NCAA game, but got a win – and a 16-save shutout. He subsequently was selected the NCHC’s goalie of the week on Monday. Assistant captain Michael Davies said the team wanted to win the game not only for the alumni but for the well-liked Corson, who has just kept his head down and worked during his year-plus on campus. Corson said after the game he had no idea he was starting until the team convened for meetings and stretching Saturday morning.

Fourth Period

Corson had plenty of help, however, from the defense on out. The top-ranked Pioneers did what I like to call “Harlem Globetrottering” at times, so thoroughly did they control play both nights. Not only was their skill advantage apparent, but their speed was too much for the Purple Eagles, who first tried to trap them on Friday (and lost 6-2) before deciding to pressure the puck more Saturday (and losing 4-0). When it was all said and done, DU had an aggregate 10-2 advantage, and, aside from the final 15 minutes of the first period Friday, was in control the entire way. The Pioneers also brought it to the tune of a 95-32 cumulative shots on goal edge.

Fifth Period

I tend to put a little more stock in the USA Today / USA Hockey Magazine poll than the USCHO.com poll because more coaches are involved in the voting for the former, while the latter relies more heavily on its writers, many of whom have strong regional biases (disclaimer, I worked for USCHO.com as an editor for one year and got that sense from that experience). So when USAT/USAH has DU as a unanimous No. 1, that tells me something. Two calls early this week with Division I coaches on unrelated matters confirmed this. Both offered up how strong they think Denver is, and neither had any doubt that the Pioneers will be playing into April.

Sixth Period

The Pioneers begin NCHC play this weekend, and they begin it with a trip to Duluth, Minn., to take on the two-time defending national champion UMD Bulldogs. Trips to the Great White North have not been as tough on DU as you might think, however. Denver split last season’s matchups, getting a shutout from Devin Cooley in Game 2, and they swept UMD in two one-goal games the season before. Stylistically, the Bulldogs seem to bring out the best in DU. That’s a scary thought given what we’ve observed thus far from the Pioneers.

Seventh period

A win Friday and the Pioneers will match the best start in their 70-year history, 9-0. That came in 2001-02, when the George Gwozdecky-run machine was approaching its top gear. Three reasons I see for this season’s strong start – 1. Balance. DU can get – and does get – scoring from every line. 2. Goaltending. Cooley’s injury hurt, but all freshman Magnus Chrona (7-0, .925, 1.86 GAA) and Corson (1-0, 1.000, 0.00) have done is pitch three shutouts and allow 13 goals – TOTAL – in eight games. 3. Special teams. When your penalty kill works 97.1 percent of the time and you can score about once a game on the power play (22 percent), you’re not beating yourself.

©First Line Editorial 2019