Statement made.

David Carle’s Denver Pioneers (6-3-1) went on the road for their first NCHC series of the season and came away with a pair of impressive victories over defending national champions Western Michigan (5-5-0), capped off by Saturday’s 6-3 win at Lawson Ice Arena in Kalamazoo, Mich.

DU exploded in the first period, scoring three goals to take a comfortable lead that the Broncos could never recover from.

Freshman forward Kristian Epperson scored less than two minutes into the game before senior Rieger Lorenz doubled the advantage with a short-handed goal midway through the opening period.

After Sam Harris scored late in the first period, defenseman Eric Pohlkamp scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season just over a minute into the second period to quickly give the Pios a 4-0 lead.

James Reeder and Kieran Cebrian also scored goals.

Freshman Quentin Miller continues to look like the program’s new top goaltender by making his eighth start of the season and sixth consecutive. He stopped a career-high 41 shots, despite the three goals allowed, and improved to 5-2-1 on the season.

DU returns home for a rivalry weekend against Colorado College next time out. The Pios and Tigers will face off Friday evening at Magness Arena, with Saturday night’s game taking place at Ed Robson Arena in Colorado Springs.