When they talk about it, it seems deadpan. When they display it, it is like Peter Pan, only seen in dreams. When they play for it, they put Colorado College in the frying pan.
And when they win it, they acknowledge it with “Rocky Mountain High” so the rowdy students in sections 15-17 in the lower bowl can howl in joy one last time.
The DU Pioneers remained the gold standard in the Gold Pan rivalry, securing the trophy for the sixth consecutive season with a 4-1 victory on Friday night at Magness Arena.
It represented No. 7 DU’s 12th straight home win in the rivalry as they matched No. 20 CC’s physicality with skill and a master class in defense. The Tigers wore black and yellow but clearly wanted a black-and-blue game. They were whistled for four first-period penalties, setting the tone for a bruising affair.
The rivalry has been lopsided. But the intensity and the games have not been, decided by a combined two goals in the first two matchups this season.
With CC whipped into a frenzy after an opportunistic goal, Sam Harris shoved DU ahead 2-1 with a beautiful wrister with 9:19 remaining. James Reeder followed with a deflection into the net, allowing the Pios to exhale. The two teams face off in Colorado Springs on Saturday, but DU secured the pan because a tie in the series reverts back to the current holder of the trophy.
Just 92 seconds in, “Bad Boys” reverberated throughout the arena as CC was whistled for roughing. Several of these players were teammates in juniors, making it more personal. There was pushing in front of the net, shoving on the side of the net, but when the Tigers’ Gleb Veremyev applied a chock hold, the line was drawn.
“If you played with them in the past it makes you want to beat them in the future,” said DU star defensman Zeev Buium, whose team split the first two games with CC this season. “At the end of the day there are no friends out there.”
On the power play moments later, Eric Pohlkamp played give-and-go as Samu Salminen swatted the puck past Kaiden Mbereko with 17:03 remaining in the first period. The Tigers knotted the score on only their 16th power play goal of the season four minutes into the final period. Both schools showcased strong penalty-killing units, but DU’s shutout disappeared when Brent Link redirected Philippe Blais-Savoie’s blast off Matt Davis’ right shoulder.
DU proved the aggressor early, delivering 13 shots on goal to the Tigers’ four. Mbereko kept CC within arms reach with his wrist, glove saving a potential goal midway through the opening stanza.
Missed opportunities defined a more rhythmic second period as DU clung to a 1-0 lead with the teams ripping off 12 shots apiece. Mbereko stoned Carter King on a breakaway, and goalie Davis, who drew Friday’s loudest cheers when introduced on senior night, benefited from positioning and luck as CC’s Gavin Lindberg slammed a puck off the pipe.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
