TAMPA, fla. — The University of Denver played in its 14th NCAA Frozen Four on Thursday, sixth-most all-time. Its 27 NCAA Tournament appearances are seventh-most nationally.
While DU advanced to the national semifinals for the first time in 11 years, the program has been a model of consistency during that time. Denver is the only team to win 20 games in 15 consecutive seasons, and its streak of nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances is second to North Dakota’s 14.
“It’s extremely special to be here,” DU captain Grant Arnold of Centennial said before Thursday’s national semifinal against North Dakota. “It’s been an awesome experience so far. The sun is shining; the ocean is right there.”
Speaking of the ocean, DU coach Jim Montgomery was asked how his Pacific Rim Line would perform near the Atlantic Ocean. Freshman center Dylan Gambrell is from Bonney Lake, Wash., junior winger Trevor Moore is from Thousand Oaks, Calif., and sophomore wing Danton Heinen from Langley, British Columbia.
“Our players were remarking right away they were sweating profusely compared to what we do in Denver and the Midwest,” Montgomery said, tongue in cheek. “That’s going to be our biggest obstacle physically for the Pacific Rim Line. Besides that, they’re going to go over the boards just as much.”
Footnotes. Quinnipiac’s previous appearance in the national title game was in 2013 against ECAC rival Yale, which won 4-0 in Pittsburgh. Quinnipiac has a chance to become the fourth consecutive team, and fifth in the past six years, to win its first NCAA title, following Providence (2015), Union (2014), Yale (2013) and Minnesota Duluth (2011). The other three teams in this year’s Frozen Four have won 19 titles combined — Denver and North Dakota seven apiece and Boston College five. … DU’s morning skate Thursday began in the early afternoon. Because of the 8:30 p.m. EDT start, the Pioneers’ morning skate was pushed back to 12:15 p.m. They were the last of the four times to make final on-ice preparations. Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
