DU hockey fans celebrate while watching their team in the national championship game Saturday, April 13, 2024, at the Crimson and Gold Tavern in Denver.
Kevin J. Beatty/Denverite
Jared Wright and Rieger Lorenz scored in the second period, Matt Davis made 35 saves, and Denver defeated No. 1 overall seed Boston College 2-0 on Saturday night for the first time in program history. He won his 10th U.S. Championship.
Third-seeded Denver (32-9-3), which finished the season with nine consecutive wins, surpassed Michigan State (9 wins) to win the most titles in history. Boston College is tied for fourth place with Boston University (5 schools) and behind the University of Wisconsin (6 schools).
After the win, fans flooded the streets near the school, especially the intersection of University Boulevard and Evans Street. At least one sofa was set ablaze.
Davis made 23 saves in the third period for his third shutout of the season. The junior made his 26th consecutive start, the longest of his career, and stopped 68 of the 69 shots he faced in the Frozen Four. Davis made 33 saves in the Pioneers' 2-1 overtime victory over Boston College in the semifinals.
Denver won a faceoff in its own defensive zone and immediately pushed up the left side. Lorenz passed the shot to Wright, which bounced off the near post, bounced off the back of Boston University goaltender Jacob Fowler over the bar, and slid inside the far post to give the Reds the lead with 10:18 left in the second period. did.
About six minutes later, Lorenz made it 2-0. Ze'ev Bouium drew two defenders, slipped between them and passed to Lorenz, who placed a wrist shot into the back of the net. Lorenz (16 goals, 14 assists) became the 10th Denver player to score 30 or more points this season.
The Pioneers have outscored their opponents 82-39 in the second period this season.
Boston College (34-6-1), which set the program's single-season winning record, ended its 15-game winning streak and suffered its first shutout loss since losing 1-0 to Merrimack on March 11, 2023. . The Eagles came into the game having outscored his five opponents in the NCAA Tournament, 29-8.
In the only regular season matchup in October, Denver defeated Boston College 4-3.
The Pioneers won at least 30 games for the third straight season.
Denverite visual journalist Kevin J. Beaty contributed reporting.
