Adequate offense and near-perfect defense returned the University of Denver to champion of the Denver Cup. The Pioneers, who were embarrassed by last year’s last-place finish in the four-team holiday tournament, rode excellent performances from goalies Peter Mannino and Glenn Fisher to capture the Denver Cup crown for the 12th time in 15 years.
Fisher, a senior who entered the game leading the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with a .928 save percentage, made 37 saves in Saturday’s 2-1 championship game victory against Massachusetts-Lowell. The River Hawks’ goal came with 4.3 seconds left and with an extra attacker, well after juniors Tom May and Geoff Paukovich scored the game’s two most important goals for DU.
On Friday, Mannino was perfect against Mercyhurst, as the junior stopped 25 shots in a 3-0 semifinal win and his second consecutive shutout.
“Very indicative of our entire season,” DU assistant coach Derek Lalonde said of the two wins. “Great goaltending, very good on our penalty kill and some timely goals. To avenge last year, the guys are very happy. This was a definite point of emphasis when the guys went on break before Christmas.”
DU improved to 24-5-1 in the Denver Cup and put last year’s losses to lowly Princeton and Ferris State to rest. The Pioneers also beat UMass-Lowell of Hockey East 2-1 in the 2001 Denver Cup title game.
Denver (14-6-2) returns to WCHA action Friday to begin a two-game series against defending NCAA champion Wisconsin. The Pioneers (8-4-2 WCHA) beat the Badgers 2-0 and 4-3 (overtime) this season in Madison, Wis.
DU was clinging to a 1-0 lead going into the third period, despite being outshot 24-13. The River Hawks held a 16-8 advantage in shots and controlled things in the second period, but Fisher made a handful of excellent saves and center Ryan Dingle slid through the crease and blocked a sure goal with his chest on the lone shot Fisher couldn’t handle.
The Pioneers also got lucky to keep the River Hawks off the board. Early in the period, defenseman Andrew Thomas pounced on a loose puck beside Fisher in the crease. Thomas appeared to smother the puck with his glove, which could have resulted in a penalty shot if officials saw it that way.
May, suspended for the first 16 games of the season, got his first goal and third point of the season with a top-shelf wrist shot from the right circle.
“You don’t have to be a hockey expert to realize that Glenn Fisher was the difference in that period,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said during the second intermission. “We got a big goal and the lead we wanted, but sometimes you’re thankful during an intermission and that was the case for us.”
Paukovich scored his second goal of the tournament at 12:43 of the third period to give DU some breathing room.
Brown won the consolation game 3-2 in overtime over Mercyhurst. Sean Dersch scored the game-winner 1:22 into overtime.
Brown tied UMass-Lowell 1-1 in Friday’s semifinal, but the River Hawks advanced by winning an unofficial shootout 3-2.
Mercyhurst goalie Jordan Wakefield made a remarkable 102 saves in the tournament. He faced 51 shots against DU and 57 against Brown.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
