The Gold Pan series typically is all about the rivalry. The University of Denver and Colorado College hockey teams play for the Pan. But much more is at stake for the Pioneers in this weekend’s home-and-home series that begins Friday at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs.
DU needs only a tie to reclaim the Gold Pan but can’t afford to lose either game. CC is 5-21-1 and 50th among 59 teams in the national PairWise Rankings (PWR). DU is ninth but could fall out of the NCAA Tournament at-large-bid territory if it doesn’t get two wins.
“That’s the overriding thing,” acting DU head coach David Carle said. “But the message earlier in the week was, it’s our first chance at winning a trophy. Hopefully there’ll be more to come, but that plays into how we do this weekend. … Our focus in practice, even with ‘Monty’ not here, is that we’re really happy with the pace of practice, energy and execution.”
Second-year DU coach Jim Montgomery has been on bereavement leave since the death of his dad, Jim Sr., last Friday. Montgomery returns to DU’s bench Friday.
College hockey preview
No. 9 Denver (16-10-2, 9-8-1 National Collegiate Hockey Conference) at Colorado College (5-21-1, 1-16-1)
• What: Two-game NCHC home-and-home series
• When: Friday (7:35 p.m. at Broadmoor World Arena) and Saturday (7 p.m. at Magness Arena)
• TV/radio: CBSSN (Friday only)/105.5 FM, 1240 AM
• Notes: DU’s leading goal scorer, sophomore wing Trevor Moore, will serve a one-game suspension imposed by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference for his clip on a North Dakota player last Saturday in Grand Forks, N.D. Moore has 15 goals and is second among the Pioneers with 29 points. Senior Zac Larraza will replace Moore on the top line with senior center Danny Doremus and freshman wing Danton Heinen. … DU is 2-0 against CC this season, outscoring the rebuilding Tigers 11-1. The Pioneers won 8-1 in Denver on Nov. 14 and 3-0 in Colorado Springs on Feb. 6.
Air Force (13-17-3, 12-10-2 Atlantic Hockey Association) at Niagara (3-24-3, 3-18-2)
• What: Two-game AHA series
• When: Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m.
• Where: Dwyer Arena, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
• TV/radio: None/1300 AM
