This time, overtime brought jubilation, not heartbreak.

Denver found itself in the exact same position as it did a year ago — in a 3-3 tie after the first overtime period of the NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship game. 

This time, though, the Pioneers were at home, feeling the energy from a packed and loud Magness Arena, and not at a half-empty Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.

After losing to Western Michigan just 20 seconds into double overtime a year ago, DU was the team that found the game-winner a little over 80 minutes in as freshman Kristian Epperson scored the game-winning goal to take down Minnesota Duluth 4-3 and clinch the Pios’ fourth National Cup — and first on home ice. 

“It’s been a great turnaround,” Pios coach David Carle said. “Just really grateful and thankful for our fans sticking with us and showing the support. We don’t go on this run without them.”

There was a point this season where a night like this didn’t seem possible. In late January, DU was on the NCAA Tournament bubble after winning just one game in an eight-game stretch and had a losing record at home.

Since? It’s a 13-game unbeaten run and a 10-game home winning streak, the longest the program has had since the 1960s. 

The NCHC moved the entire tournament on campus this season and DU reaped the benefits as the No. 2 seed, hosting and defeating No. 3 seed Western Michigan in overtime last Saturday before taking down No. 4 seed Minnesota Duluth to win the National Cup.

DU took a 3-0 lead a little over 13 minutes into the game as Rieger Lorenz, Clarke Caswell and Boston Buckberger all scored during an early barrage by the Pios attack.

The Bulldogs pulled one goal back before the end of the first period and then used two power-play goals in the second period to equalize the game at three goals apiece after 40 minutes of play.

“Good teams don’t go away,” Carle said. “I didn’t see any dip in confidence or belief on their bench that they weren’t gonna win the hockey game. I would say the same for our bench.”

A scoreless, but tight third period sent the game to overtime for a second straight weekend at a rocking Magness Arena.

Both teams had chances in the first overtime period, but neither could find the back of the net as both goaltenders stood tall all night long.

Epperson’s game-winner officially came 1:54 into second overtime and it came via a pass from Caswell.

“It’s great for our freshmen to gain that experience,” Carle said. “We lean on a lot of them in key roles and key minutes.”

Freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after stopping 41 shots in Saturday’s championship game, extending his stellar streak in net and preserving his unbeaten record (12-0-1) that has coincided with DU’s run as a team.

“There’s not much more to say,” Carle said. “He’s just been excellent for us. Can’t do it without him. His reads, his poise, his confidence, timely saves, timely whistles, it’s all kinda working for him right now.”

It’s the fourth time DU has won the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, a conference record, and the program’s first since 2024, when the Pios went on to win the national championship in St. Paul afterward.

Carle’s team is seeking a third straight trip to the Frozen Four and will get the chance to do so in front of its home fans next weekend in Loveland, with the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament set for Friday and Sunday at Blue Arena. 

“As fun as this was, it only gets more fun from here,” Carle said. “It gets more tight, more detailed, more intense. 

“One of these four teams (DU, UMD, North Dakota and Western Michigan) is gonna win the national championship. There’s just not a conference tournament in the country that prepares you for single-elimination hockey like ours.”

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GAME RECAP

No. 4 Denver 4, No. 6 Minnesota Duluth 3 (2OT)

What happened: The Pioneers won the NCHC Frozen Faceoff for a fourth time and their first since 2024. DU took a 3-0 lead in the first period, but the Bulldogs chipped away and had the game tied by the end of the third period. Freshman Kristian Epperson scored the game-winner 1:54 into second overtime on a beautiful pass from fellow freshman Clarke Caswell.

Star of the night: Freshman goaltender Johnny Hicks continued his stellar run since becoming DU’s starter at the end of January, maintaining his unbeaten record with 41 saves in the championship game, earning tournament Most Outstanding Player honors in the process. 

Quotable: “Obviously, we’ve played a lot of games in Magness. I think we saved the best for last here. Me and (senior captain) Kent (Anderson) have been through a lot in our four years here and I think we’ve become better people, better players. Taking that last loop around was super emotional for the both of us and happy I could do it with him.” — DU senior forward Rieger Lorenz on getting a win in his last game at Magness Arena 

Up next: The Pios are awaiting the official announcement that they are heading to Loveland for the first round of the NCAA Tournament next Friday at Blue Arena. DU will be the No. 2 seed in the region against an opponent TBA. 

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NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team

Most Outstanding Player: Johnny Hicks, Denver 

Forward: Rieger Lorenz, Denver

Forward: Max Plante, Minnesota Duluth 

Forward: Zam Plante, Minnesota Duluth

Defenseman: Boston Buckberger, Denver

Defenseman: Eric Pohlkamp, Denver

Goaltender: Hicks