McKade Webster was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCHC tournament and had three goals in two games in the Frozen Faceoff, but he only cared about what his scoring did to help the team he captains.
“It just feels good to help the team in any way possible. It does not matter if it is the goals or anything,” Webster said. “There’s a lot of guys in that room that did a lot to get us to this point, to win that trophy. So, whatever it is to get to the team to this point always feels good.”
The Pioneers beat the Mavericks 4-1 to capture their first Frozen Faceoff win since 2018. It was their first time scoring a single goal in their last two appearances.
The lack of Frozen Faceoff semi-final wins and goals was a motivating factor for Webster and the team.
“In my last two years here, we haven’t scored a goal, and we’ve been bounced in the first game,” Webster said. “So, it meant a lot; I wanted to win this one at the start of the year.”
In the first period, play was back-and-forth, with Denver outshooting the Mavericks. However, Brock Bremer gave UNO the lead first with his second goal of the weekend.
Then, in the second period, Webster scored two early goals quickly to give DU the one-goal lead.
Even though Webster scored three goals in the Frozen Faceoff, he could not really articulate what he was doing well.
“I’m not really too sure,” Webster said. “Just putting the puck to the net. Just keep the game simple. It is playoff hockey, so you to try and take your game to the next level as much as you can.”
In the third period, Mikko Matikka, another forward on the all-tournament team, and Jared Wright both struck to put Omaha down three goals and end the game.
Denver’s offensive dominance has been a well-worn talking point this season, but Head Coach Denver Head Coach David Carle said it started in their end when they held UNO to one goal and 16 shots.
“We limited their chances pretty well, especially as the game went on,” Carle said. “There is a high commitment to team first, and that really does start in our own end, and… it does not hinder offense. We still scored at a high rate.”
Going into the season, Denver had to replace multiple key players who aged out or went pro, including multiple pieces from 2022’s championship team. Carle said that getting a young team to where they are today would not have been possible without Webster’s leadership.
“He is making guys better through his communication with them, and the team has followed him into the battle all season long,” Carle said. “It is not just words with him, it is more action, and he is done an incredible job.”
The Pioneers will enter the National Tournament as a one-seed, and Carle says he has already begun planning for the next round of post-season play.
“Already looking at brackets,” Carle said. “You need to win the first one, so that will be our focus, begin preparing and getting ready for that next opponent.”
Denver will play University of Massachusetts in the Springfield Regional.
Maeve Hushman is a Dakota Student Sports Reporter. She can be reached at [email protected].
