The University of Denver Pioneers tallied five third-period goals to earn a stunning comeback win over the Minnesota State Mavericks and claim the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey national championship on Saturday at TD Garden in Boston.
Denver’s eventual 5-1 victory marked the ninth title in program history, the third of which has been claimed in Boston. Prior to Sunday, Denver’s most recent national title came in 2017 when the Pioneers took down St. Cloud State in St. Paul, Minn.
The Pioneers, members of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, faced a one-goal deficit entering the third period. Senior forward Ryan Barrow tied the game at 4:46 before sophomore defenseman Mike Benning netted the eventual game-winner at 7:33 of the final frame.
Freshman forward Massimo Rizzo provided some much-needed insurance as he netted a one-timer on the Denver rush before a pair Pioneers finished on empty-netters. Denver scored four goals in a matter of eight shots on Minnesota State’s Hobey Baker-winning goaltender Dryden McKay.
Minnesota State got on the board in the first period, taking a 1-0 advantage on Sam Morton’s power-play goal at 13:59 of the opening frame.
TD Garden hosted the Frozen Four starting Thursday when Denver defeated the Michigan Wolverines and Minnesota State defeated rival Minnesota.
