BOSTON – The University of Denver hockey team scored five goals in the third period to rally past Minnesota State and win the 2022 NCAA Men’s Hockey National Championship, 5-1, Saturday night at TD Garden. With the title, the Pioneers earned their ninth National Championship in program history, tying Michigan for the most in men’s college hockey history. It is DU’s first crown since 2017 and fourth since 2004.

The top-seeded and third-ranked Pioneers (31-9-1) snapped fellow No. 1 seed and top-ranked Minnesota State’s 18-game winning streak on Saturday. The Mavericks (38-6-0), who were playing in their first national title game, had not lost since January 14.

Denver’s win also gives the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) five National Champions in the last six NCAA Tournaments, with DU and Minnesota Duluth (2018-19) each winning twice and North Dakota winning once (2016). The NCHC also now owns five of the eight national titles awarded since the conference began play, with an NCHC team in the championship game each of the last six tournaments.

The Pioneers struggled to generate much offense for the first 40 minutes of the game, putting only eight shots on goal, but junior goalie Magnus Chrona kept DU in the game with several stellar stops. Trailing only 1-0 in the third period thanks to Chrona, Denver finally broke through 4:46 into the final frame. Sophomore defenseman Mike Benning, who was named Most Outstanding Player of the Frozen Four, fired a shot from near the half-wall in the right circle that was saved by Hobey Baker winner Dryden McKay, but DU senior Ryan Barrow swooped in and knocked in the rebound at the near post to tie the game.

Less than three minutes later, Benning put the Pioneers ahead for good. Seconds after a power play had expired, freshman blue liner Shai Buium sent a pass from the point to Benning, who blasted a one-timer for his 15th goal of the season. The 15 goals finish second nationally among defensemen.

Denver then doubled the lead with 6:26 to play when a pair of freshmen combined on a picture-perfect one-timer. Defenseman Justin Lee poked the puck free to start an odd-man rush, with NCHC Rookie of the Year Carter Mazur carrying the puck into the zone, before dishing to classmate Massimo Rizzo, who made it a 3-1 game going top shelf.

Trailing by two, the Mavericks pulled McKay with more than three minutes to play. Senior Brett Stapley intercepted a pass in neutral ice and quickly shot at the empty net to seal the victory and make it 4-1 with 2:32 to go. Fifth-year senior transfer Cameron Wright padded the lead with an empty-net goal of his own off a back-hander 32 ticks later.

While Denver won by four, the game was hardly a blowout. Sam Morton gave the Mavericks a 1-0 lead with 6:01 left in the first frame on the power play. It was Denver’s first and only penalty of the Frozen Four. Brendan Furry fired the initial shot, which was saved by Chrona, but Lucas Sowder grabbed the rebound and quickly passed to Morton, who buried the puck in the back of the net from the right circle.

Chrona first came up large with 1:45 to go in the opening period, denying a point-blank one-timer to keep it a one-goal game after 20 minutes. Minnesota State outshot DU, 8-3, in the first frame.

Denver earned its second power play of the night in the second period when MSU was whistled for too many men on the ice, but again failed to capitalize. The Mavericks had the best scoring chance during the power play on a short-handed breakaway, but Chrona turned it aside.

Wright had a golden chance to tie the game midway through the middle period on a 3-on-2 rush, but his shot went just wide and hit the side of the net. Chrona was clutch again early in the third period, denying the Mavericks on a point-blank, 2-on-1 chance to keep DU in the game. The Pioneers then turned the momentum from there, striking five times to win the championship.

Denver outshot Minnesota State, 12-10, in the third period, but MSU still held a 28-20 advantage in shots in the game. The Pioneers also finished 0-for-3 on the power play, while the Mavericks converted on their lone chance.

Denver improved to 9-3 in National Championship Games all-time, while NCHC teams moved to 5-1 in national title games in the conference’s short history. With the win, Denver coach David Carle becomes the fourth-youngest head coach to win the National Championship in men’s college hockey history.

Along with Benning being named Most Outstanding Player of the Frozen Four, Chrona, Barrow and sophomore forward Carter Savoie, who scored the overtime winner Thursday against Michigan, were also all named to the Frozen Four All-Tournament Team.

NOTES

• Denver won the program’s ninth national title Saturday, tying for the most in men’s college hockey history, along with Michigan, who they beat in the Frozen Four Semifinals on Thursday. It’s DU’s first title since 2017 and fourth since 2004.
• Denver improved to 9-3 all-time in National Championship Games, appearing in its 12th in program history.
• The NCHC won its fifth national title in conference history, all since 2016 (North Dakota in 2016, Denver in 2017, Minnesota Duluth in 2018-2019 and now Denver again). This was also the sixth straight National Championship Game featuring an NCHC team.
• Denver head coach David Carle becomes the fourth-youngest head coach to win the men’s college hockey National Championship. He’s the youngest head coach to win the title since North Dakota’s Barry Thorndycraft in 1963 (29 years, 4 months old).

FROZEN FOUR ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
G: Magnus Chrona, Denver
D: Mike Benning, Denver (MOP)
D: Jack McNeely, Minnesota State
F: Carter Savoie, Denver
F: Ryan Barrow, Denver
F: Sam Morton, Minnesota State

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