MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – The No. 5 University of Denver hockey team had four different goal scorers and freshman netminder Quentin Miller stopped every shot he faced as the Pioneers won 4-0 over the Lindenwood Lions at Centene Community Ice Center on Saturday night.
 
"Obviously a great response from us to start the game and then carry it throughout the game," said Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle. "It was not an easy game again tonight. I thought their goaltender played very well, made it hard on us certainly throughout the evening, and we had a lot of great looks—shot count, 49 we put on goal. So there's a lot to like, but outside of the goal scoring, our second and third effort, our ability to skate, just our overall intensity was there I thought for the totality of the night."
 
All four of DU's classes found the back of the net in the series finale, as senior Samu Salminen, junior Sam Harris, sophomore Jake Fisher and freshman Clarke Caswell all netted markers.  Harris also added an assist in the contest for the Pioneers (2-1-1), who earned a weekend split after falling 4-3 to the Lions (3-3-0) on Friday.
 
Sophomore forward Hagen Burrows recorded his second straight multi-point outing with two assists, and junior defenseman Eric Pohlkamp recorded a pair of helpers as well.
 
Miller stopped all 19 shots he faced for his first career win and shutout. The last Denver goalie to post a clean sheet in their first collegiate victory was Freddie Halyk against Air Force on Oct. 28, 2023 (24 saves).
 
Denver finished with a 49-19 edge in shots on goal over Lindenwood, which included being up by a 20-8 margin in the first period and outshooting LU 19-4 in the second. Total shot attempts was 89-46 in favor of the Pios.
 
Lions goalie Klayton Knapp finished with 45 saves in the loss.
 
Caswell opened the scoring for DU just 1:16 into the contest on a redirection off a pass by junior defenseman Garrett Brown, and the Pioneers led 2-0 after the second period after Fisher hit twine off a rush with just seven seconds remaining before the intermission. Harris tallied his second of the season at 9:39 of the third and Salminen scored on a breakaway 2:10 later off passes from Burrows and freshman Brady Milburn.
 
Neither team scored on the power play, as each squad went 0-for-3 on the night.
 
UP NEXT: The Pioneers continue their season-long, four-game road swing next weekend as they play at Boston College on Friday before taking on Northeastern on Saturday.
 
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• The Pioneers are now 1-1-1 on the road this season and are halfway through a season-long, four-game road swing (1-1-0).
• Denver improved to 5-1-0 all-time against Lindenwood and 1-1-0 versus the Lions in Maryland Heights, Missouri.
• Denver is now 15-2-1 in its last 18 non-conference games dating back to the start of last season.
• Clarke Caswell scored his second career goal and stretched season and collegiate-opening point streak to four games (2g/3a).
• Caswell recorded his first career game-winning goal.
• Hagen Burrows (2g/3a) and Jake Fisher (2g/2a) are both on career-long three-game point streaks.
• Samu Salminen (2g/1a) is also on a three-game point streak (2g/1a).
• James Reeder (seven) and Kieran Cebrian (five) both had career highs in shots.
• DU's 19 shots on goal in the first period were its most in an opening frame this season.
• The Pios only allowed four shots on goal in the second period, a season-best for a single stanza.
• Denver's goal 1:17 into the game was its fastest to start a contest this season and the fastest since Jack Devine tallied 16 seconds after the opening faceoff on the March 9, 2024 at Colorado College.  Last season's fastest tally to start a game was 1:29 by Boston Buckberger on March 21 vs. Arizona State in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semifinals.
• Denver remained perfect on the penalty kill this season, as the team has nullified all 11 opponent power-play opportunities.

 
GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
1:17 DU (1-0) – Clarke Caswell chipped Garrett Brown's centering pass up and over the LU goalie from the low slot.
 
2nd Period
19:53 DU (2-0) – Eric Pohlkamp flipped the puck out of Denver's defensive zone and Jake Fisher fought off a Lions' player for it before scoring off a wrister from the slot on a give-and-go with Hagen Burrows.
 
3rd Period
9:39 DU (3-0) – Sam Harris knocked the puck into the open net at the right side after taking a cross-feed from Boston Buckberger.
11:49 DU (4-0) – Samu Salminen took passes from Hagen Burrows and Brady Milburn and found twine on a wrister during a breakaway.
 
 
QUOTABLES
Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle
On eliminating the odd-man rushes: "I thought we were more connected within how we were forechecking and our rush defense there. They (Lindenwood) are pretty dynamic off the rush and make some plays to the weak side. You know, it's a great team for us to play because of how hard they play and the intensity and energy required to have success against them. They keep you honest with their work rate. Again congratulations to them on the victory last night. I know it's a big win for their program, and we look forward to having them back in our building next season and wish them the best of luck the rest of the season."
 
On the line of Kieran Cebrian, Brendan McMorrow and Reid Varkonyi: "They were our best line last night from an analytical perspective, effort perspective, chance generation. Those three guys when they were together, a lot of good things happened. So I loved how they started each period for us, and certainly the start of the game, setting the tone for the intensity and the energy that is required. You can tell Brendan's (McMorrow) offensive timing continues to grow in his second game. Those guys were starting to find a little bit of chemistry. You know, Jake Fisher, obviously scores a huge goal for us. Didn't play a lot early, but he worked his way win through again his effort and execution as the game wore on. All four centermen did a much better job at the dot tonight, which allowed us to start with the puck which is a wonderful thing."
 
Next weekend's games at Boston College and Northeastern: "Huge matchup. Obviously both teams are out to a solid start this season. We played them both a year ago. This is the third or fourth year in a row we're playing Boston College. Obviously Northeastern was at our building last year. Teams we are kind of familiar with, a little more with Boston College. We know they're going to give us everything that we can handle. Both teams played a single game this weekend. I know with Northeastern we're their only game next weekend on Saturday, so we'll have them on the back-to-back and they'll have us on short rest. It will be a great challenge. If we have the effort we did tonight, we have the chance against anybody. That's the biggest thing—it's not necessarily the outside noise or such, it's our guys in the room that show each other the shades of what we can become this year."
 
Sophomore Forward Hagen Burrows
On the win: "I thought we responded well and got back to our identity. Tried to play a little more physical, harder, work a little bit more and it showed here tonight."
 
On his four-point weekend: "Got to give credit to my linemates, Samu [Salminen] and [Jake] Fisher. I thought we worked well off each other, generated chances, getting to the paint when we can. Overall, I thought our line had a good weekend, and it's good to build some chemistry moving forward."
 
On his confidence in the early season: "Going into the year, I wanted to take a step for our team and help a little more than last year. [I'm] playing with some guys who also want to take a step and right now we're confident, we're attacking and we're playing off each other really well. So it's good jam right now."

 
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