COLORADO SPRINGS — There was really one thing that needed to be said in the Denver locker room in between the first and second periods.

“Let’s win it for Garrett.”

After seeing their teammate junior defenseman Garrett Brown get stretchered off the ice following a head-first collision on the boards in the final minute of the opening period Saturday night at Ed Robson Arena, the Pioneers (8-3-1, 4-0-0 NCHC) rallied and held on for a 3-2 win over Colorado College (6-5-1, 1-4-1 NCHC).

Then they celebrated with Brown after the game after he was discharged from a local hospital and returned to the rink with his parents.

“Obviously, it was tough. When something like that happens, it’s quiet, even on the ice. In the (locker) room, there wasn’t much talking. We were just saying, ‘We’re gonna go do it for him,’ because he’s our guy and we hope he’s getting healthy wherever he is,” junior defenseman Boston Buckberger said. “It was just great to see him after the game and for us to win it for him was amazing.”

DU coach David Carle said he was encouraged even during the game when he heard Brown was only being taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.

“Initially, it was precautionary, but they thought they’d probably have to keep him overnight, is what I heard. The fact that he’s back is really positive and a big relief for our team and our staff and his parents, who are here,” Carle said. “(The entire medical staff) were able to communicate to me kind of what was going on and I just shared that quickly with the guys. The word precautionary was used, so that’s always a nice thing you can share with the guys. I think that probably gave them some relief. 

“Give them credit for locking in and, yeah, I thought we did have a really nice second period and played the game the right way and the way we needed to.”

After needing nearly the entirety of regulation to get on the scoreboard in Friday night’s game at Magness Arena, DU jumped out to a 1-0 lead less than three minutes after an incredible individual play by Avalanche draft pick Jake Fisher, who weaved his way through multiple Tigers defenders before beating goaltender Kaidan Mbereko.

The Pios added a second goal late in the second period on defenseman Eric Jamieson’s fifth goal already in his young career.

The freshman Calgary Flames draft pick is the only newcomer among the DU defensive corps, effectively replacing star Zeev Buium in the lineup and Carle couldn’t have asked for more from Jamieson.

“He’s a real student of the game. He’s a really bright individual, wonderful academically,” Carle said. “Very inquisitive, the tools are there with the size, the shot, everything. It’s great to see him contribute right away because we lost a pretty good player last year (Zeev Buium) and it’s going to take everybody to try and lift that up and I think our guys are doing a really nice job of not missing a beat.”

For the second straight night, the game-winning goal came off the stick of Buckberger, who scored on a 4-on-3 power play with under five minutes to go. 

Because Friday’s game ended in overtime and CC got a point, DU has not officially clinched a seventh straight Gold Pan trophy, but the Pios need just one point from the next two games between the teams in early February. 

“It was nice to keep the train rolling in the right direction,” Buckberger said. “We knew it wasn’t gonna be a pretty two games and obviously it showed with a couple greasy goals out there and some back-and-forth hockey. We’re both such good teams at transitioning the puck so well. We knew we were just gonna have to capitalize on any chance that we get. Good thing it was in our favor and we got two wins.”

GAME RECAP

No. 4 Denver 3, No. 17 Colorado College 2

What happened: The Pioneers (8-3-1, 4-0-0 NCHC) completed a weekend sweep of their arch rivals thanks to a close victory on Saturday night at Ed Robson Arena. DU opened the scoring just 2:37 in on a goal by Avalanche draft pick Jake Fisher with Boston Buckberger getting the game-winner in the third period after Eric Jamieson scored in the second. Brandon Lisowsky and Wilson Bjorck had the goals for the Tigers.

Star of the night: The biggest highlights came on multiple near misses by CC as it attempted to tie the game late, but DU freshman goaltender Quentin Miller stood tall once again, stopping 38 of 40 shots to improve to 7-2-1 across his 10 starts (nine straight). The Montreal Canadiens draft pick now boasts a 1.58 goals-against average and .942 save percentage.

Quotable: “He’s been unreal. Just a rock back there and the foundation of our team. Just knowing we have the guy back there that can bail us out when we need, make a couple of big saves on some short breaks or 2-on-1s, slot shots, whatever it may be, he just does such a great job being the rock for our team and we know we can build momentum out from him and segue into our (offensive) zone and ultimately capitalize on chances.” — DU junior defenseman Boston Buckberger on Quentin Miller

Up next: DU hits the road for a weekend series against Arizona State next weekend in Tempe. CC remains at home for a two-game set against No. 3 Minnesota Duluth.