The University of Denver hockey team has announced its 2014–15 schedule in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). The Pioneers will open conference play on Oct. 24 at Minnesota Duluth and will play a total of 24 league games.
The Pioneers will open the home portion of the conference slate on Nov. 7, when they play host to Western Michigan in the first meeting of a two-game set at Magness Arena.
Denver, which captured the inaugural 2014 NCHC Frozen Faceoff Title last season, will play five league teams in home and away series (Minnesota Duluth, North Dakota, St. Cloud State, Miami, Colorado College) while it will face two teams in just one series (vs. Western Michigan, at Omaha).
Next year’s edition of the “Gold Pan” series will begin on Nov. 15, when Colorado College visits the Pioneers in Denver. The teams will play an additional three contests over the remainder of the regular season: Nov. 15 and Feb. 20 at Colorado College and Feb. 21 at Denver.
Following the completion of the regular season, the NCHC Tournament begins with the best-of-three quarterfinal series March 13–15, with the top four seeds hosting the bottom four seeds on campus sites.
First-round series winners advance to the Target Center in Minneapolis for the second annual NCHC Frozen Faceoff with the semifinals March 20 and the third-place game and championship on March 21. The Frozen Faceoff winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The entire 2014-15 Denver Hockey schedule, including non-conference games, is expected to be released next week. Times will be announced closer to the start of the season.
Denver Pioneers 2014–15 NCHC Schedule
Oct. 24–25 at Minnesota Duluth
Nov. 7–8 vs. Western Michigan
Nov. 14 vs. Colorado College
Nov. 15 at Colorado College
Dec. 12–13 vs. North Dakota
Jan. 9–10 at Omaha
Jan. 16–17 vs. St. Cloud State
Jan. 23–24 at Miami
Feb. 13–14 at North Dakota
Feb. 20 at Colorado College
Feb. 21 vs. Colorado College
Feb. 27–28 vs. Miami
March 6–7 at St. Cloud State