# 1968–69 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey season

The 1968–69 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey team represented University of Denver in college ice hockey. In its 13th year under head coach Murray Armstrong the team compiled a 26–6–0 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the eighth time. The Pioneers defeated Cornell 4–3 in the championship game at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This was Denver's second consecutive championship and fifth in eleven years. Senior goaltender Gerry Powers tied the all-time NCAA career record of 76 wins in the championship match against the record-holder Ken Dryden.

## Season

Denver was hoping to be the first team to defend its National Title since the 1961 Denver squad. With only three players leaving (due to graduation) Murray Armstrong's team had a good chance to repeat. Unfortunately, the team stumbles out of the gate, losing both games in its opening series at North Dakota. The Pioneers returned to Colorado for a home-and-home series against a weak Colorado College team before going back on the road. In Houghton Denver lost its third road game to Michigan Tech before finally managing a win the following night to pull their record back to even. Denver then took two games against still-building Minnesota–Duluth and ended the first part of its schedule against two national teams with the Broadmoor World Tournament. The Pioneers were able to defeat a non-olympic US Team handily before tying the Czech Team two days later (though the game was called for Denver).
The Pioneers began the new year with a series against Colgate and dominated the eastern team in both contests. After earning a road split with Michigan Denver returned to Colorado and didn't have to leave the state for the remainder of the year. Denver went 12–2 down the stretch, playing only 1 road game at Colorado College but its loss to Michigan Tech on February 1 cost the Pioneers their chance to win the Conference championship.
Denver finished as the top western seed for the WCHA Tournament and after dropping the league's poorest team (UMD) in the first game they were given a gift from Colorado College who had knocked off North Dakota in the regional semifinal. Denver's defense continued its strong play and earned the Pioneers their second consecutive WCHA title and a trip to the 1969 NCAA Tournament.
Despite having finished second in the WCHA, Denver possessed a better record and the defending national champions were given the top western seed, placing them in the semifinal against Harvard. Denver easily dispatched the Crimson 9–2, leaving only the 27–1 Cornell Big Red standing in their way. Cornell was both the top offensive and defensive team in 1968–69 and were led by the NCAA's all-time wins leader Ken Dryden. Denver, however, was able to reply with Gerry Powers, who had only one fewer wins than the future Hall of famer. The two titans clashed in one of the more anticipated national championships in history and early on it was apparent that Denver had come to play when Tom Gilmore deflected the puck past Dryden less than three minutes in. Cornell tied the game a little over 10 minutes later and the two teams ended the first ties 1-all. Both goalies continued to stymie the opposition until a Cornell penalty allowed Denver to pull ahead once more but this time it only took the Big Red two minutes to tie the game for a third time. Denver's withering attack continued to pressure Dryden and two more pucks got past the Cornell netminder to give Denver a late 2-goal edge. The drama of the contest was not finished, however, and after coincidental minors left the teams at 4-on-4, Cornell scored with the extra space then pulled Dryden to effectively give their team a power play in the final minute but Powers stood firm and allowed Denver to keep their lead and win the championship.
Keith Magnuson led the team's offence from the blueline in the title game and his three assists won him the tournament MOP. He was joined by teammates Tom Miller, Bob Trembecky and Gerry Powers on the All-Tournament first team. Powers joined a very select group of goaltenders who won consecutive national titles and was the last to do so until Hunter Shepard in 2019. Magnuson and George Morrison were named to both the AHCA All-American West Team and All-WCHA First Team while Powers and Miller made the Conference Second Team. Morrison, for leading Denver in both goals and points, won the WCHA Sophomore of the Year Award.

## Standings

1968–69 Western Collegiate Hockey Association standingsvte :
| | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall |
| | GP | W | L | T | PCT | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| Michigan Tech†* | 20 | 14 | 5 | 1 | .725 | 86 | 56 | 32 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 144 | 95 |
| Denver* | 20 | 14 | 6 | 0 | .700 | 94 | 50 | 32 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 160 | 71 |
| North Dakota | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | .682 | 97 | 89 | 29 | 18 | 10 | 1 | 130 | 125 |
| Michigan | 18 | 10 | 8 | 0 | .556 | 75 | 63 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 124 | 101 |
| Minnesota | 22 | 11 | 9 | 2 | .545 | 74 | 60 | 29 | 13 | 13 | 3 | 113 | 96 |
| Michigan State | 18 | 7 | 10 | 1 | .417 | 51 | 57 | 28 | 11 | 16 | 1 | 91 | 123 |
| Colorado College | 18 | 4 | 14 | 0 | .222 | 47 | 94 | 28 | 12 | 16 | 0 | 105 | 121 |
| Minnesota–Duluth | 22 | 3 | 19 | 0 | .136 | 64 | 119 | 29 | 6 | 23 | 0 | 91 | 147 |
| Championship: Michigan Tech, Denver † indicates conference regular season champion * indicates conference tournament champion |||||||||||||||

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent$^#$ | Site | Decision | Result | Record |
| Exhibition |||||||
| November 8 | vs. DU Hilltoppers* | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | - | W 4–0 | |
| November 10 | vs. DU Hilltoppers* | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | - | W 12–4 | |
| Regular Season |||||||
| November 15 | at North Dakota | Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Powers | L 3–4 | 0–1 (0–1) |
| November 16 | at North Dakota | Winter Sports Building • Grand Forks, North Dakota | Powers | L 5–7 | 0–2 (0–2) |
| November 22 | vs. Colorado College | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 7–0 | 1–2 (1–2) |
| November 23 | at Colorado College | Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Powers | W 4–2 | 2–2 (2–2) |
| November 30 | vs. DU Hilltoppers* | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado (Exhibition) | - | W 11–2 | 2–2 (2–2) |
| December 6 | at Michigan Tech | Dee Stadium • Houghton, Michigan | Powers | L 1–3 | 2–3 (2–3) |
| December 7 | at Michigan Tech | Dee Stadium • Houghton, Michigan | Powers | W 5–1 | 3–3 (3–3) |
| December 20 | at Minnesota–Duluth | Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota | Powers | W 4–3 | 4–3 (4–3) |
| December 21 | at Minnesota–Duluth | Duluth Arena Auditorium • Duluth, Minnesota | Powers | W 7–4 | 5–3 (5–3) |
| December 27 | vs. US National Team* | Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Broadmoor World Tournament) | Powers | W 6–0 | 6–3 (5–3) |
| December 29 | vs. Czech National Team* | Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Broadmoor World Tournament) | Powers | W 2–2† | 7–3 (5–3) |
| January 3 | vs. Colgate* | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 9–1 | 8–3 (5–3) |
| January 4 | vs. Colgate* | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 13–3 | 9–3 (5–3) |
| January 10 | at Michigan | Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan | Powers | L 4–5 $^{OT}$ | 9–4 (5–4) |
| January 11 | at Michigan | Weinberg Coliseum • Ann Arbor, Michigan | Powers | W 5–3 | 10–4 (6–4) |
| January 17 | vs. Minnesota–Duluth | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 8–2 | 11–4 (7–4) |
| January 18 | vs. Minnesota–Duluth | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 8–2 | 12–4 (8–4) |
| January 24 | vs. Colorado College | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 6–0 | 13–4 (9–4) |
| January 25 | at Colorado College | Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado | Powers | W 2–1 | 14–4 (10–4) |
| January 31 | vs. Michigan Tech | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 3–0 | 15–4 (11–4) |
| February 1 | vs. Michigan Tech | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | L 2–4 | 15–5 (11–5) |
| February 4 | vs. North Dakota | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 6–0 | 16–5 (12–5) |
| February 7 | vs. North Dakota | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 4–3 | 17–5 (13–5) |
| February 14 | vs. Michigan State | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 9–4 | 18–5 (14–5) |
| February 15 | vs. Michigan State | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | L 1–2 | 18–6 (14–6) |
| February 21 | vs. Canadian National Team* | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 5–3 | 19–6 (14–6) |
| February 22 | vs. Canadian National Team* | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 3–2 | 20–6 (14–6) |
| February 18 | vs. Alberta* | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 5–1 | 21–6 (14–6) |
| March 1 | vs. Alberta* | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado | Powers | W 3–2 | 22–6 (14–6) |
| WCHA Tournament |||||||
| March 6 | vs. Minnesota–Duluth* | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado (WCHA First Round) | Powers | W 4–1 | 23–6 (14–6) |
| March 8 | vs. Colorado College* | DU Arena • Denver, Colorado (WCHA Second Round) | Powers | W 3–1 | 24–6 (14–6) |
| NCAA Tournament |||||||
| March 13 | vs. Harvard* | Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (National Semifinal) | Powers | W 9–2 | 25–6 (14–6) |
| March 15 | vs. Cornell* | Broadmoor World Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (National championship) | Powers | W 4–3 | 26–6 (14–6) |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. Source: |||||||
† game called 1–0 for Denver.

## Roster and scoring statistics

| No. | Name | Year | Position | Hometown | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | PIM |
| 16 | George Morrison | Sophomore | LW | Toronto, ON | 32 | 40 | 18 | 58 | 12 |
| 8 | Tom Miller | Senior | F | Kitchener, ON | 30 | 13 | 33 | 46 | 14 |
| 13 | Don Thiessen | Junior | F | Saskatoon, SK | – | – | – | 35 | - |
| 15 | Bob Trembecky | Senior | C | Drumheller, AB | 32 | 13 | 22 | 35 | - |
| 2 | Keith Magnuson | Senior | D | Saskatoon, SK | 32 | 7 | 27 | 34 | 48 |
| 14 | Lynn Powis | Sophomore | C | Saskatoon, SK | 30 | 17 | 12 | 29 | 21 |
| 9 | Al Genovy | Junior | C | Flin Flon, MB | 30 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 19 |
| 12 | Tom Gilmore | Junior | F | Flin Flon, MB | 31 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 28 |
| 4 | Randy Ward | Senior | D | Calgary, AB | – | – | – | 19 | – |
| 17 | Craig Patrick | Junior | RW | Detroit, MI | 17 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 6 |
| 6 | Dale Zeman | Senior | D | Saskatoon, SK | – | 2 | 11 | 13 | 54 |
| 3 | Tim Gould | Senior | D | Saskatoon, SK | 32 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 32 |
| 7 | Gerry Jonasson | Junior | F | Winnipeg, MB | – | – | – | 11 | – |
| 19 | Bill Pettinger | Sophomore | D | Edmonton, AB | 22 | – | – | 10 | – |
| 11 | Rich Blanche | Junior | F | Hamilton, ON | – | – | – | 7 | – |
| 5 | Ed Hamilton | Junior | D | Winnipeg, MB | – | – | – | 5 | – |
| - | John Saville | Sophomore | D | Weston, ON | – | – | – | 3 | – |
| 18 | Terry Leifson | Senior | F | Leinan, SK | – | – | – | 0 | – |
| - | Dan Helm | Sophomore | D | Saskatoon, SK | – | – | – | 0 | – |
| 1 | Frank Daly | Senior | G | Reading, MA | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 1 | Gerry Powers | Senior | G | Brampton, ON | 32 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | | | | | | | | | |

## Goaltending statistics

| No. | Name | Games | Minutes | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals Against | Saves | Shut Outs | SV % | GAA |
| 1 | Gerry Powers | 32 | – | 26 | 6 | 0 | – | – | 5 | .915 | 2.23 |
| 1 | Frank Daly | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 1.000 | 0.00 |
| Total | | 32 | – | 26 | 6 | 0 | – | – | 5 | – | – |

## 1969 championship game
### (W1) Denver vs. (E1) Cornell

Scoring summary :
| Period | Team | Goal | Assist(s) | Time | Score |
| 1st | DEN | Tom Gilmore | Powis and Magnuson | 2:41 | 1–0 DEN |
| 1st | COR | Dan Lodboa | Pattison | 13:09 | 1–1 |
| 2nd | DEN | George Morrison - PP | Miller and Magnuson | 30:25 | 2–1 DEN |
| 2nd | COR | Brian Cornell | Tufford | 33:31 | 2–2 |
| 3rd | DEN | Bob Trembecky - PP | Magnuson and Patrick | 44:17 | 3–2 DEN |
| 3rd | DEN | Tom Miller - GW | Zeman | 51:50 | 4–2 DEN |
| 3rd | COR | Gordon Lowe | Giullani | 58:40 | 4–3 DEN |
Shots by period :
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | T |
| Cornell | 12 | 9 | 15 | 36 |
| Denver | 9 | 9 | 7 | 25 |
Goaltenders :
| Team | Name | Saves | Goals against | Time on ice |
| COR | Ken Dryden | 21 | 4 | |
| DEN | Gerry Powers | 33 | 3 | |

## Players drafted in the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | NHL team |
| 6 | 68 | Lynn Powis | Montreal Canadiens |