The Denver Pioneers are your 2021-22 NCAA Div 1 men’s hockey champions. Denver scored an impressive 5-1 victory over Minnesota State at TD Garden on Saturday to capture the program’s 9th title.
The win ties Michigan’s NCAA record for most national championships in men’s collegiate hockey history. Ironically the victory also came at the expense of the Wolverines, whom Denver eliminated in the semi-finals earlier this week to reach the championship game.
Minnesota State appeared to be in control, leading 1-0 as the third period began. Using a stingy defense and stellar goaltending, MSU killed off several penalties to keep the Pioneers at bay. The Mavericks outshot Denver 18-8 through two periods of play, but timely saves from Pioneers goaltender Magnus Chrona kept them in the game.
Goals from Ryan Barrow and Mike Benning less than 3 minutes apart to start the final period would give Denver its first lead of the day and the team never looked back from there.
“Once we gave up the first one, I thought we started leaking oil a little bit. Couldn’t stop the bleeding. We started chasing the game,” said Minnesota State coach Mike Hastings.
Massimo Rizzo would make the game 3-1 with 6:26 remaining in the game, before Denver added a pair of empty netters to seal the win.
Minnesota State made the Frozen Four for the first time last year, losing in the semifinals. Advancing to the championship game is the furthest the program has ever made it in the tournament in school history, yet that’s likely of little consolation to a Mavericks team who appeared to be in control of the game for long stretches of play.
The loss also likely marks the end of goaltender Dryden McKay’s outstanding collegiate career as well. The 24 year old netminder set the NCAA career record for shutouts (34) and the single season record for wins this year with 38.
McKay became the first goaltender since Ryan Miller in 2001 to capture the Hobey Baker Award and was a key component in Minnesota State’s remarkable run to the finals.
Following the game, DU senior Ryan Barrow was at a loss for words. “I can’t really put it into words; I am so proud of this group…You come to Denver to win national championships. I came here the year after they won it [in 2017] and it took five years, but we are here now.”
Barrow couldn’t have drawn up a better way to cap off his college career, setting a school record by suiting up for his 168th game with the university in the process. Meanwhile head coach David Carle became the youngest head coach to win a national championship since 1963, and the 4th youngest in NCAA history at only 32 years of age.