Relive the 10
DU's National Champ10nship takes men's hockey to the top with 10 titles from 1958 to 2024.
By Jordyn Reiland | Web design by Erin Bannon
Standing before a crowd of fans, community members, local dignitaries and his championship winning team at Magness Arena, head coach David Carle uttered the words everyone was thinking.
“We are the indisputable, best program in college hockey,” he remarked. “You could have argued it a couple of months ago, but you can’t argue it anymore.”
The University of Denver hockey team has reached the mountaintop: They are the kings of college hockey. Denver defeated Boston College 2-0 on April 13 for the program’s NCAA record-breaking 10th national championship. This year’s title run had a little bit of everything—leaving fans and the entire hockey program with memories that will last a lifetime.
“Before we won, we were recruiting kids who wanted to come do something special, and now we're recruiting kids who want to come here because we did something special,” Carle said in an interview in his office weeks after the championship.
Although they’ve reached the mountaintop, Carle and the team still have higher peaks in their sights.
“It’s important that we continue to stay diligent in getting the right people and the winning will then continue to follow,” Carle says.
Look back at the moments that made Denver the kings of college hockey.
2024
Denver vs. Boston College, 2-0
Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn.
While Denver’s 2024 championship was largely the tale of 10, it was also the story of goalie Matt Davis. Davis, who was named the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player, made 23 third period saves during DU’s championship win against Boston College and captured what is now affectionately called “the save of the century." BC was shut out for the first time since March 11, 2023, when they lost 1-0 to Merrimack. The Eagles had the second-best offense in the country—DU’s being the first—during the regular season with 4.38 goals per game. Davis finished the NCAA Tournament with 138 saves and just three goals allowed.
Jared Wright scored the first goal for DU in the second period, off a pass from Rieger Lorenz that ricocheted off the near post, bounced off BC goaltender Jacob Fowler's back and into the net. Lorenz then scored the second goal off a pass from Zeev Buium to make it 2-0. Buium, Lorenz, Davis, and their teammates Sean Behrens and Tristan Broz were named to the All-Tournament Team.
This was a record-breaking season for Denver in more ways than one. For the first time in program history, DU reached at least 30 wins in three straight seasons. Denver was one of two teams in college hockey to reach the 30-win threshold this year—the other being Boston College. The team also played its longest NCAA Tournament game ever against UMass on March 28, when they won 2-1 in double overtime. The senior class is also among the winningest group in school history with 103 victories in 149 career games.
“This community means so much to all of us, and we're just so excited to bring that 10th here and raise another banner,” Davis said ahead of the championship celebration. "It’s the best program in college hockey, and there's a reason for that, and I'm just so proud to be part of it.”
2022
Denver vs. Minnesota State, 5-1
TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
DU’s ninth national title was Carle’s first as head coach—just four years after taking the helm. Carle was the youngest head coach to win a national title since 1963 and the fourth youngest ever. The 2022 championship also moved Denver ahead of North Dakota and into a tie with Michigan for the most national championships among all schools.
Minnesota State started the game off strong and led 1-0 until the third period, but it was goalie Magnus Chrona that kept the Pioneers in the game. DU then had five goal scorers in the third period—Ryan Barrow, Mike Benning, Massimo Rizzo, Brett Stapley and Cameron Wright.
"I am so proud of what our team was able to accomplish this year," Carle said. "I owe a lot of what I have in my life to the university. This program is very special; it means the world to me. We are all so proud to be Denver Pioneers today."
2017
Denver vs. Minnesota Duluth, 4-3
United Center, Chicago, Ill.
Denver’s eighth national championship tied North Dakota for second on the NCAA most titles list. Jarid Lukosevicius, who had a hat trick and was named MVP, scored all three goals during the second period—the first two happening just 16 seconds apart. Goalie Tanner Jaillet made 16 of his 38 saves in the third period.
"They were coming strong. They were throwing the kitchen sink at us," Jaillet told the Associated Press. "Our guys had huge blocks, making plays. We were able to weather that storm and obviously come out with the win."
2005
Denver vs. North Dakota, 4-1
Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio
Led by head coach George Gwozdecky, Denver won its seventh national championship and second in a row, as the Pioneers bested rival North Dakota for the third time in a title game in program history with a 4-1 victory. Freshman Paul Stastny scored two goals and had one assist. Goalie Peter Mannino stopped 44 shots and was named the Most Outstanding Player. He, along with Brett Skinner, Gabe Gauthier and Matt Carle, David Carle’s brother, were named to the All-Tournament Team.
2004
Denver vs. Maine, 1-0
FleetCenter, Boston, Mass.
Thanks to a goal from Gabe Gauthier in the first period, Denver ended its title drought by defeating Maine 1-0. Goalie Adam Berkhoel posted a shutout, stopping all 24 shots that came his way. Maine even had a 6-on-3 advantage in the last 1:13 of the game after their goalie, Jimmy Howard, left the net for an extra attacker, and DU's Matt Laatsch and Gauthier were both given separate penalties inside the final three minutes of the game. Berkhoel was named the Most Outstanding Player and joined teammates Ryan Caldwell and Connor James on the All-Tournament Team.
1969
Denver vs. Cornell, 4-3
(Formerly) Broadmoor World Arena, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Winning back-to-back championships, the team’s fifth national title marked the last of legendary head coach Murray Armstrong’s decorated DU career. Denver had a 4-2 lead heading into the second half of the third period when Cornell scored and made it 4-3. The Big Red then pulled its goalie so they could have an extra attacker, but goalie Gerry Powers outdueled future hall of famer Ken Dryden and the Pioneers held off Cornell to win 4-3. Having coached at DU for 18 years, Armstrong was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1974. He died at the age of 94 in 2010.
1968
Denver vs. North Dakota, 4-0
Duluth Arena Auditorium, Duluth, Minn.
Denver, led by goaltender Gerry Powers, shut out North Dakota and bested the Fighting Hawks 4-0 to win the team’s fourth national championship. The team did not score its four goals until the third period. Powers was named the MVP, the first goalie to do so in tournament history. Bob Trembecky tallied two goals for the Pioneers, followed by Allan Genovy and Tom Gilmore—who scored less than 20 seconds apart.
1961
Denver vs. St. Lawrence, 12-2
(Formerly) University of Denver Arena, Denver, Colo.
In a commanding showing against St. Lawrence, Denver won its third national championship 12-2—the team’s third title in four years. The Pioneers’ national title capped off an incredibly successful season, as it marked the team’s 30th win in 32 games and the 25th consecutive victory. All-American center and tournament MVP Bill Masterton had a hat trick for Denver while teammates Grant Munro and Trent Beatty both tallied twice.
1960
Denver vs. Michigan Tech, 5-3
Boston Arena, Boston, Mass.
The team won its second NCAA title 5-3 in a back-and-forth battle with Michigan Tech. Denver scored the first two goals of the game and then gave up the next three to the Huskies. The Pioneers scored three more times, with the game-winning goal coming from senior John MacMillian with 1:03 left in the contest. Along with MacMillian, Bruce Walker and George Konik also scored.
1958
Denver vs. North Dakota, 6-2
(Formerly) Williams Arena, Minneapolis, Minn.
DU won its first national championship against longtime foe North Dakota. Led by Armstrong, the Pioneers were down 1-0 to UND early, but they scored three times in the second period to take the lead and ultimately won 6-2. Murray Massier, who was named the tournament’s MVP, was one of six Denver players that scored in the game.
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