The Denver Pioneers are Vegas-bound after flattening Western Michigan 6-2 on Sunday afternoon at Blue Arena in Loveland, turning a hyped regional showdown into a Colorado clinic. Denver jumped all over the Broncos early and never really gave them a way back, securing a third straight Frozen Four appearance in what is now a full-on dynasty run under eighth-year head coach David Carle.
Early Punches Put Denver In Control
Western Michigan barely had time to get comfortable before junior Sam Harris broke the ice a little over two minutes in. Freshman Kyle Chyzowski followed a few minutes later, and suddenly Denver was up 2-0 before the first media timeout, with the crowd in Loveland sounding a lot more like a home rink than a neutral site.
The Broncos briefly settled in when Zach Bookman cut the lead in half, but Denver just hit the gas again. Odd-man rushes led to goals from Samu Salminen and Brendan McMorrow, stretching the advantage and turning the opening period into a rout-in-progress. In the second, Western Michigan's Theo Wallberg tried to spark life with another goal, only for Kieran Cebrian to answer and restore a three-goal cushion. By the time the third period rolled out, the Pios were essentially managing the clock on a 6-2 regional win, an effort that looked as convincing as the score suggests, according to the Denver Gazette.
Carle's Run Joins Program Lore
Carle now has Denver headed to its third consecutive Frozen Four and the program's fourth in five seasons, a stretch that would be impressive for any veteran coach, let alone one only eight years into the job. This run has firmly planted him in the conversation with the program's greats and underscored Denver's staying power on the national stage.
Per the University of Denver, Carle's tenure already includes multiple Frozen Four trips and two recent national championships, a résumé that now grows again with this latest ticket to college hockey's biggest weekend.
What’s Next
The Pioneers will take a 15-game unbeaten streak into the Frozen Four, a heater that stretches back into late January, according to the Denver Gazette. Up next is the winner of Michigan versus Minnesota Duluth from the Albany regional final later Sunday, with the national semifinals set for next month in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena.
Bracket details out of Albany are laid out by College Hockey News, while the Frozen Four dates and Vegas site information are listed by the NCAA.
Loveland As Host
Sunday's regional action played out at Blue FCU Arena in Loveland, part of The Ranch Events Complex. The building is the home of the Colorado Eagles and is no stranger to big-game energy, regularly hosting major hockey and entertainment events. Venue details are listed by The Ranch Events Complex.
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