Denver tops UND to gain a berth in title game

By ROMAN AUGUSTOVIZ, Star Tribune

Last update: March 21, 2008 - 11:49 PM

Freshman Anthony Maiani's goal for Denver with 1 minute, 20 seconds left was the game-winner as the Pioneers edged North Dakota 3-1 on Friday in the first semifinal of the WCHA Final Five at Xcel Energy Center.

Maiani's backhander, into the far upper corner, came from the right circle and gave Denver a 2-1 lead. Matt Glasser added an empty-net goal with six seconds left.

The Pioneers (25-13-1) will play the Gophers tonight for the Broadmoor Trophy.

"I wanted to get the puck on net for a change, and it went in," Maiani said.

Denver, which finished in third place in the conference, had lost three of four games against WCHA runner-up North Dakota (25-10-4) during the regular season.

This time, though, the Pioneers took a 1-0 lead on Rhett Rakshani's power-play goal at 5:58 of the second period. The Fighting Sioux tied the score 1-1 on defenseman Taylor Chorney's goal at 6:16 of the third period. As Denver goalie Peter Mannino tried to cover up a rebound, Chorney jarred the puck loose with his stick and had an easy tap-in into the left corner.

North Dakota goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux stopped 27 shots, but Mannino was better. He had 32 saves, including 14 in the third period.

"It's the last time for me to be here," Mannino said, "and I want to play hard for the guys. This is the new season, and we are happy with where we are at."

State showcase set

The first State of Minnesota college hockey showcase has been scheduled for Nov. 1 in Duluth. Four Minnesota teams will play there the same day in a doubleheader.

St. Cloud State will face UMD at 4:07 p.m., followed by the Gophers against Minnesota State Mankato at 7:07 p.m. The games will count as WCHA regular-season games.

"We have a long association with hockey in the state of Minnesota," WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod said, "and the fans have been clamoring for an event like this for many, many years."