Based on rankings, it was an upset. But the University of Denver would rather think of its 3-1 victory over No. 10 Union on Friday night as just a good effort by a short-handed squad.
The No. 15 Pioneers (9-7-3) won the nonleague game without standout sophomore wings Jason Zucker and Beau Bennett and bruising senior defenseman John Ryder. Bennett and Ryder are on the injured list, along with goalies Sam Brittain and Adam Murray, and Zucker is captain of the U.S. World Junior team in Alberta, Canada.
The Dutchmen (9-4-5), who complete their Front Range visit tonight at No. 5 Colorado College, are the defending Eastern College Athletic Conference champions and 2011 NCAA Tournament participants who beat Michigan 6-3 on Nov. 27 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
So it was considered a good win for the Pioneers, who were 2-4 in their previous six games.
Freshman goalie Juho Olkinuora, who was recruited last summer on an emergency basis, was the hero with 42 saves.
“I’m starting to get rid of the nervousness,” said Olkinuora, who improved to 4-5-2 in his ninth consecutive start. “I’m starting to feel more comfortable.”
DU took a 3-1 lead into the third period after a scoreless middle frame. Three of the four first-period goals came on the power play. Union took three penalties within the first 10 minutes, and junior center Drew Shore (wrist shot) and freshman defenseman Joey LaLeggia (slap shot) scored at 5:33 and 7:55.
“We simplified our game tonight, for what we were trying to accomplish,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “For the most part, I think we did a pretty good job.”
Union freshman goalie Colin Stevens was pulled after allowing two goals on just four shots.
Junior center Shawn Ostrow made it 3-0 when he tapped in a feed from Chris Knowlton, who drove around the net before throwing the puck atop the crease.
Union got on the board when center Jeremy Welsh produced his team-leading 13th goal on the power play at 14:45.
The Pioneers visit Air Force tonight. The Falcons upset CC 2-1 on Friday.
“No disrespect to CC, but it doesn’t surprise me,” Gwozdecky said. “Air Force is always tremendously conditioned, and very strong. (Coach) Frank (Serratore) and his staff have done a wonderful job. It’s going to be a huge challenge.
“As I’ve said, we’re the underdog going into these two games. We were the underdog going into (Friday’s) game and the big underdog going into (tonight’s) game. It’s a little bit unusual for us, but if we do some of the things we did tonight, at least we’ll give ourselves a chance.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
