LOVELAND — The University of Denver Pioneers turned Blue Arena into a no-fly zone for Cornell on Friday night, cruising to a 5-0 shutout and punching their ticket to the Loveland regional final. The No. 2 Pioneers took control from the opening draw and never really let Cornell breathe, keeping coach David Carle just one win away from a third straight Frozen Four appearance as a packed house watched Denver smother the Big Red attack.
Jake Fisher broke the ice a little more than six minutes into the first period, and Kieran Cebrian doubled the cushion before the opening frame was done. In the second, Sam Harris jumped on a Cornell turnover and buried it, and early in the third, freshman Clarke Caswell batted a Cale Ashcroft feed out of the air and into the net to make it 5-0. Freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks stopped all 24 shots he saw for his first NCAA Tournament victory and his third shutout of the season, extending Denver's unbeaten streak to 14 games, including 10 straight wins, according to the Denver Gazette.
Up Next: Western Michigan In The Regional Final
Denver now turns its attention to top-seeded Western Michigan, with the two set to clash Sunday in the Loveland regional final for a spot in the Frozen Four. The local championship is slated for an afternoon window, setting up a high-stakes matinee that pairs Denver's current hot streak against one of the tournament's top overall seeds. The matchup figures to be a serious tactical test for the Pioneers as they try to keep their season rolling, as reported by College Hockey News.
Carle's Streak And Denver's Role As Host
Friday's shutout also highlighted just how steady David Carle's program has become. One more win on Sunday would send Denver back to the Frozen Four for the third consecutive year under his watch. The Pioneers are hosting an NCAA regional at Blue Arena for the first time since 2022, a familiar setup that has once again provided a home-ice lift in the postseason, per the Denver Gazette.
Where It Happened
The game unfolded at Blue Arena at The Ranch Events Complex in Loveland, the 6,800-seat building that doubles as the home of the Colorado Eagles and the NCAA West regional site. Venue details, including maps and directions, are available from the facility's website; see The Ranch Events Complex for more information.
Sunday's regional final will decide who heads to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas next month, and Denver's current heater means the Pioneers will hit the ice with both momentum and a friendly crowd behind them. Fans and local media will be watching closely to see whether Denver can finish the job and skate out of Loveland with another trip to college hockey's biggest stage.
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