COLORADO SPRINGS — In a classy move Friday night in Denver, Colorado College declined to embarrass the University of Denver by parading around Magness Arena with the MacNaughton Cup and Gold Pan. But in the regular-season finale for both NCAA Tournament-bound teams Saturday at the World Arena, the Tigers couldn’t help themselves.
They beat the Pioneers 3-1 in a chippy game to sweep the two-game series, then strutted around the ice with the trophies that signify the Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season championship and WCHA Front Range supremacy.
CC clinched the trophies by winning 5-2 on Friday, and besides playing for pride and perhaps NCAA Tournament seeding, Game 2 didn’t mean much for either team.
Or did it? “We didn’t want to accept the trophies with a loss,” CC’s Chad Rau said.
If nothing else, the result proves that CC is a legitimate threat to make it to the April 10-12 Frozen Four at the Pepsi Center, and offensively challenged DU is heading in the wrong direction.
The Pioneers (22-13-1) are 6-9-1 in 2008. They have scored just five goals in their past four games and haven’t played well in front of senior goalie Peter Mannino.
“We’re shooting the puck, at times, hoping,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “(CC is) shooting the puck, knowing. I don’t think Pete had a chance on any of the goals tonight.”
Mannino was pulled 2:37 into the second period after CC went ahead 3-0 behind goals from Mike Testwuide (power play), Matt Overman and Bill Sweatt. CC backup goalie Drew O’Connell made 27 saves in his first start since Jan. 18.
“Nothing but a win is acceptable against Denver, and we knew if we didn’t win it wouldn’t be the celebration it is,” Testwuide said. “Some of the fans would have left, so it was a great victory for us.”
Testwuide, a sophomore, improves to 6-1-1 against his older brother, DU junior defenseman J.P. Testwuide. “It’s working out pretty well,” Mike said.
Both teams begin the first round of the WCHA playoffs Friday at home. The No. 1-seeded Tigers (26-9-1) host No. 10 Alaska-Anchorage (7-19-8) in a best-of-three, consecutive-night series. The No. 3 Pioneers host No. 8 Minnesota-Duluth (13-15-6). At stake is a berth to the WCHA Final Five, March 14-16 in St. Paul, Minn. DU and CC have failed to get to St. Paul the past two seasons, losing in the first round.
“For both programs, it’s a big deal,” CC coach Scott Owens said of the Final Five. “That’s the showcase of our league.”
The NCAA Tournament begins March 28, with CC guaranteed to play in the World Arena-hosted West Regional. The Tigers are tied with Michigan for No. 1 in the PairWise Rankings, and the top four PairWise teams get No. 1 regional seeds. DU remained a solid sixth in the PairWise.
DU Recap
Three stars
1. Drew O’Connell.
CC backup goalie was terrific.
2. Chad Rau.
Had an assist, giving him 19 points in 12 career games against DU.
3. Marc Cheverie.
Freshman goalie came off the bench and kept DU in it.
What you might have missed
Former forward Brock Trotter still leads DU in scoring with 31 points. The Pioneers are 4-7-1 since Trotter left the program in January.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
