List of Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey seasons
This is a season-by-season list of records compiled by Denver in men's ice hockey.
Denver has won ten NCAA Men's Division I Ice Hockey Championships in its history, the most ever. Their most recent national championship was in 2024. Denver won the first three NCAA tournaments they participated in (an NCAA record) as well as winning their first seven NCAA tournament games (also a record).
Season-by-season results
[edit][1]
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties
| NCAA D-I Champions | NCAA Frozen Four | Conference regular season champions | Conference Playoff Champions |
| Season | Conference | Regular Season[a] | Conference Tournament Results | National Tournament Results | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conference | Overall | ||||||||||||||||
| GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | 3/SW | Pts* | Finish | GP | W | L | T | % | ||||
| Vern Turner (1949 — 1951) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1949–50 | Independent | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 17 | 4 | 13 | 0 | .235 | ||
| 1950–51 | Independent | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 23 | 11 | 11 | 1 | .500 | ||
| Neil Celley (1951 — 1956) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1951–52 | MCHA | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 18 | T–2nd | 25 | 18 | 6 | 1 | .740 | ||
| 1952–53 | MCHA | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | – | – | – | 15 | 4th | 24 | 17 | 6 | 1 | .729 | ||
| 1953–54 | WIHL | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | – | – | – | 11 | T–4th | 25 | 16 | 9 | 0 | .640 | ||
| 1954–55 | WIHL | 18 | 8 | 9 | 1 | – | – | – | 10½ | T–4th | 30 | 18 | 11 | 1 | .617 | ||
| 1955–56 | WIHL | 16 | 6 | 8 | 2 | – | – | – | 10 | T–5th | 26 | 12 | 11 | 3 | .519 | ||
| Murray Armstrong (1956 — 1977) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1956–57 | WIHL | 18 | 6 | 11 | 1 | – | – | – | 9 | 5th | 28 | 12 | 14 | 2 | .464 | ||
| 1957–58 | WIHL | 22 | 12 | 10 | 0 | – | – | – | 16 | T–1st | 36 | 24 | 10 | 2 | .694 | Won Semifinal 6–2 (Clarkson) Won Championship 6–2 (North Dakota) | |
| 1958–59 | Independent | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 28 | 22 | 5 | 1 | .804 | ||
| 1959–60 | WCHA | 22 | 17 | 4 | 1 | – | – | – | .795 | 1st | 34 | 27 | 4 | 3 | .838 | Won Final series 12–3 (Colorado College) | Won Semifinal 6–4 (Boston University) Won Championship 5–3 (Michigan Tech) |
| 1960–61 | WCHA | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | .944 | 1st | 32 | 30 | 1 | 1 | .953 | Won Final series 17–3 (Michigan Tech) | Won Semifinal 6–1 (Minnesota) Won Championship 12–2 (St. Lawrence) |
| 1961–62 | WCHA | 18 | 11 | 7 | 0 | – | – | – | .611 | 3rd | 30 | 17 | 11 | 2 | .600 | Lost First round 4–8 (Michigan) | |
| 1962–63 | WCHA | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | – | – | – | .667 | T–1st | 33 | 23 | 9 | 1 | .712 | Won First round series 9–2 (Minnesota) Won Championship 5–4 (North Dakota) |
Won Semifinal 6–2 (Clarkson) Lost Championship 5–6 (North Dakota) |
| 1963–64 | WCHA | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | .750 | 2nd | 31 | 20 | 7 | 4 | .710 | Won First round series 9–6 (Minnesota) Won Championship 6–2 (Michigan) |
Won Semifinal 4–1 (Rensselaer) Lost Championship 3–6 (Michigan) |
| University Division | |||||||||||||||||
| 1964–65 | WCHA | 12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | – | – | – | .375 | 6th | 28 | 18 | 8 | 2 | .679 | ||
| 1965–66 | WCHA | 20 | 10 | 7 | 3 | – | – | – | .575 | 4th | 32 | 18 | 11 | 3 | .609 | Won First round 8–2 (Colorado College) Won Second round 5–4 (North Dakota) |
Lost Semifinal 3–4 (Clarkson) Won Third-place game 4–3 (Boston University) |
| 1966–67 | WCHA | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | .688 | 2nd | 30 | 22 | 8 | 0 | .733 | Won First round 6–3 (Colorado College) Lost Second round 2–3 (North Dakota) |
|
| 1967–68 | WCHA | 18 | 15 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | .833 | 1st | 34 | 28 | 5 | 1 | .838 | Won First round 11–4 (Minnesota–Duluth) Won Second round series 16–3 (Minnesota) |
Won Semifinal 4–1 (Boston College) Won Championship 4–0 (North Dakota) |
| 1968–69 | WCHA | 20 | 14 | 6 | 0 | – | – | – | .700 | 2nd | 32 | 26 | 6 | 0 | .813 | Won regional semifinal 4–1 (Minnesota–Duluth) Won Regional Final 3–1 (Colorado College) |
Won Semifinal 9–2 (Harvard) Won Championship 4–3 (Cornell) |
| 1969–70 | WCHA | 22 | 13 | 8 | 0 | – | – | – | .614 | T–2nd | 32 | 21 | 10 | 1 | .672 | Won regional semifinal 6–2 (Michigan State) Lost Regional Final 2–3 (Wisconsin) |
|
| 1970–71 | WCHA | 22 | 15 | 7 | 0 | – | – | – | .682 | 2nd | 36 | 25 | 10 | 1 | .708 | Won regional semifinal 6–3 (Colorado College) Won Regional Final 9–3 (Minnesota–Duluth) |
Lost Semifinal 2–4 (Boston University) Won Third-place game 1–0 (Harvard) |
| 1971–72 | WCHA | 28 | 19 | 9 | 0 | – | – | – | 54 | 1st | 38 | 27 | 11 | 0 | .711 | Won First round Series 11–4 (Notre Dame) Won Second round Series 11–4 (Michigan State) |
Lost Semifinal 2–7 (Cornell) Lost Third-place game 2–5 (Wisconsin) |
| 1972–73 | WCHA | 28 | 20 | 8 | 0 | – | – | – | 52 | 1st | 39 | 29 | 9 | 1 | .756 | Won First round Series 9–6 (Minnesota–Duluth) Won Second round Series 7–3 (Michigan Tech) |
Won Semifinal 10–4 (Boston College)† Lost Championship 2–4 (Wisconsin)† |
| Division I | |||||||||||||||||
| 1973–74 | WCHA | 28 | 15 | 11 | 2 | – | – | – | 32 | 3rd | 38 | 22 | 13 | 3 | .618 | Won First round Series 8–4 (Minnesota–Duluth) Lost Second round Series 4–5 (Minnesota) |
|
| 1974–75 | WCHA | 32 | 9 | 22 | 1 | – | – | – | 19 | 9th | 36 | 12 | 23 | 1 | .347 | ||
| 1975–76 | WCHA | 32 | 12 | 20 | 0 | – | – | – | 24 | T–7th | 39 | 16 | 23 | 0 | .410 | Lost First round series 10–13 (Michigan Tech) | |
| 1976–77 | WCHA | 32 | 16 | 14 | 2 | – | – | – | 34 | 4th | 40 | 21 | 17 | 2 | .550 | Won First round Series 15–5 (North Dakota) Lost Semifinal Series 8–17 (Michigan) |
|
| Marshall Johnston (1977 — 1981) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1977–78 | WCHA | 32 | 27 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | 54 | 1st | 40 | 33 | 6 | 1 | .838 | Won First round Series 13–8 (Notre Dame) Lost Second round Series 7–9 (Colorado College) |
|
| 1978–79 | WCHA | 32 | 14 | 16 | 2 | – | – | – | 30 | 6th | 43 | 20 | 20 | 3 | .500 | Lost First round series 6–7 (Minnesota–Duluth) | |
| 1979–80 | WCHA | 26 | 8 | 17 | 1 | – | – | – | .327 | 10th | 36 | 13 | 22 | 1 | .375 | ||
| 1980–81 | WCHA | 28 | 15 | 11 | 2 | – | – | – | 32 | 4th | 40 | 23 | 15 | 2 | .600 | Lost First round series 6–10 (Michigan) | |
| Ralph Backstrom (1981 — 1990) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1981–82 | WCHA | 26 | 9 | 15 | 2 | – | – | – | 20 | 4th | 43 | 21 | 19 | 3 | .523 | Won First round series 10–7 (Minnesota–Duluth) Lost Semifinal series 9–5 (North Dakota) |
|
| 1982–83 | WCHA | 26 | 11 | 15 | 0 | – | – | – | 22 | 5th | 37 | 15 | 22 | 0 | .405 | Lost First round series 4–13 (Minnesota–Duluth) | |
| 1983–84 | WCHA | 26 | 8 | 18 | 0 | – | – | – | 16 | 5th | 39 | 14 | 25 | 0 | .359 | Lost First round series 8–13 (Wisconsin) | |
| 1984–85 | WCHA | 34 | 16 | 15 | 3 | – | – | – | 35 | 5th | 39 | 19 | 17 | 3 | .526 | Lost First round series 5–15 (North Dakota) | |
| 1985–86 | WCHA | 34 | 25 | 9 | 0 | – | – | – | 50 | 1st | 48 | 34 | 13 | 1 | .719 | Won First round series 9–6 (Michigan Tech) Won semifinal series 13–7 (Minnesota–Duluth) Won Championship series 6–2 (Minnesota) |
Won Quarterfinal series 7–6 (Cornell) Lost Semifinal 2–5 (Harvard) Lost Third-place game 4–6 (Minnesota) |
| 1986–87 | WCHA | 35 | 16 | 16 | 3 | – | – | – | 35 | T–3rd | 40 | 19 | 18 | 3 | .513 | Lost First round series 4–7 (Colorado College) | |
| 1987–88 | WCHA | 35 | 19 | 14 | 2 | – | – | – | 40 | 3rd | 39 | 20 | 17 | 2 | .538 | Lost First round series 0–2 (Minnesota–Duluth) | |
| 1988–89 | WCHA | 35 | 16 | 17 | 2 | – | – | – | 34 | 5th | 43 | 22 | 19 | 2 | .535 | Won First round series 2–1 (North Dakota) Won Semifinal 2–1 (Minnesota) Lost Championship 4–9 (Northern Michigan) |
|
| 1989–90 | WCHA | 28 | 13 | 15 | 0 | – | – | – | 26 | T–5th | 42 | 18 | 24 | 0 | .429 | Lost First round series 0–2 (Northern Michigan) | |
| Frank Serratore (1990 — 1994) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1990–91 | WCHA | 32 | 5 | 25 | 2 | – | – | – | 12 | 9th | 38 | 6 | 30 | 2 | .184 | ||
| 1991–92 | WCHA | 32 | 8 | 22 | 2 | – | – | – | 18 | 9th | 36 | 9 | 25 | 2 | .278 | ||
| 1992–93 | WCHA | 32 | 15 | 15 | 2 | – | – | – | 32 | 6th | 38 | 19 | 17 | 2 | .526 | Lost First round series 0–2 (Northern Michigan) | |
| 1993–94 | WCHA | 32 | 11 | 18 | 3 | – | – | – | 25 | 9th | 38 | 15 | 20 | 3 | .434 | Lost First round series 0–2 (Minnesota) | |
| George Gwozdecky (1994 — 2013) | |||||||||||||||||
| 1994–95 | WCHA | 32 | 18 | 12 | 2 | – | – | – | 38 | T–2nd | 42 | 25 | 15 | 2 | .619 | Won First round series 2–0 (Michigan Tech) Lost Semifinal 4–5 (Wisconsin) Lost Third-place game 4–5 (Minnesota) |
|
| 1995–96 | WCHA | 32 | 17 | 12 | 3 | – | – | – | 37 | 3rd | 39 | 22 | 14 | 3 | .603 | Lost First round series 1–2 (St. Cloud State) | |
| 1996–97 | WCHA | 32 | 17 | 11 | 4 | – | – | – | 38 | T–4th | 41 | 24 | 13 | 4 | .634 | Won First round series 2–0 (Minnesota–Duluth) Lost Quarterfinal 2–5 (Colorado College) |
Won regional quarterfinal 6–3 (Vermont) Lost regional semifinal 3–4 (Boston University) |
| 1997–98 | WCHA | 28 | 8 | 18 | 2 | – | – | – | 18 | 8th | 38 | 11 | 25 | 2 | .316 | Lost First round series 0–2 (Colorado College) | |
| 1998–99 | WCHA | 28 | 15 | 11 | 2 | – | – | – | 32 | 3rd | 41 | 26 | 13 | 2 | .659 | Won First round series 2–0 (Michigan Tech) Won semifinal 3–2 (Colorado College) Won Championship 4–3 (North Dakota) |
Lost regional quarterfinal 3–5 (Michigan) |
| 1999–00 | WCHA | 28 | 9 | 18 | 1 | – | – | – | 19 | 9th | 41 | 16 | 23 | 2 | .415 | Lost First round series 1–2 (North Dakota) | |
| 2000–01 | WCHA | 28 | 14 | 11 | 3 | – | – | – | 31 | 6th | 38 | 19 | 15 | 4 | .553 | Lost First round series 0–2 (Wisconsin) | |
| 2001–02 | WCHA | 28 | 21 | 6 | 1 | – | – | – | 43 | 1st | 41 | 32 | 8 | 1 | .793 | Won First round series 2–0 (Michigan Tech) Won semifinal 3–0 (Colorado College) Won Championship 5–2 (Minnesota) |
Lost regional semifinal 3–5 (Michigan) |
| 2002–03 | WCHA | 28 | 11 | 11 | 6 | – | – | – | 28 | 7th | 41 | 21 | 14 | 6 | .585 | Lost First round series 1–2 (North Dakota) | |
| 2003–04 | WCHA | 28 | 13 | 10 | 5 | – | – | – | 31 | T–4th | 44 | 27 | 12 | 5 | .670 | Lost First round series 0–2 (Colorado College) | Won regional semifinal 3–2 (Miami) Won Regional Final 1–0 (North Dakota) Won Semifinal 5–3 (Minnesota–Duluth) Won Championship 1–0 (Maine) |
| 2004–05 | WCHA | 28 | 19 | 7 | 2 | – | – | – | 40 | T–1st | 43 | 32 | 9 | 2 | .767 | Won First round series 2–0 (Michigan Tech) Won Semifinal 2–1 (North Dakota) Won Championship 1–0 (Colorado College) |
Won regional semifinal 4–3 (Bemidji State) Won Regional Final 4–2 (New Hampshire) Won Semifinal 6–2 (Colorado College) Won Championship 4–1 (North Dakota) |
| 2005–06 | WCHA | 28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | – | – | – | 37 | T–2nd | 39 | 21 | 15 | 3 | .577 | Lost First round series 1–2 (Minnesota–Duluth) | |
| 2006–07 | WCHA | 28 | 13 | 11 | 4 | – | – | – | 30 | 4th | 40 | 21 | 15 | 4 | .575 | Lost First round series 0–2 (Wisconsin) | |
| 2007–08 | WCHA | 28 | 16 | 11 | 1 | – | – | – | 33 | 3rd | 41 | 26 | 14 | 1 | .646 | Won First round series 2–0 (Minnesota–Duluth) Won Semifinal 3–1 (North Dakota) Won Championship 2–1 (Minnesota) |
Lost regional semifinal 2–6 (Wisconsin) |
| 2008–09 | WCHA | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | – | – | – | 36 | 2nd | 40 | 23 | 12 | 5 | .638 | Won First round series 2–0 (Alaska–Anchorage) Won Semifinal 3–0 (Wisconsin) Lost Championship 0–4 (Minnesota–Duluth) |
Lost regional semifinal 2–4 (Miami) |
| 2009–10 | WCHA | 28 | 19 | 5 | 4 | – | – | – | 42 | 1st | 41 | 27 | 10 | 4 | .707 | Won First round series 2–0 (Michigan Tech) Lost Semifinal 3–4 (North Dakota) Lost Third-place game 3–6 (Wisconsin) |
Lost regional semifinal 1–2 (RIT) |
| 2010–11 | WCHA | 28 | 17 | 8 | 3 | – | – | – | 37 | 2nd | 42 | 25 | 12 | 5 | .655 | Won First round series 2–0 (Alaska–Anchorage) Won Semifinal 6–2 (Bemidji State) Lost Championship 2–3 (North Dakota) |
Won regional semifinal 3–2 (Western Michigan) Lost Regional Final 1–6 (North Dakota) |
| 2011–12 | WCHA | 28 | 16 | 8 | 4 | – | – | – | 36 | 4th | 43 | 25 | 14 | 4 | .628 | Won First round series 2–1 (Wisconsin) Won Semifinal 4–3 (Minnesota–Duluth) Lost Championship 0–4 (North Dakota) |
Lost regional semifinal 1–2 (Ferris State) |
| 2012–13 | WCHA | 28 | 14 | 9 | 5 | – | – | – | 33 | T–4th | 39 | 20 | 14 | 5 | .577 | Lost First round series 1–2 (Colorado College) | Lost regional semifinal 2–5 (New Hampshire) |
| Jim Montgomery (2013 — 2018) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2013–14 | NCHC | 24 | 10 | 13 | 3 | – | – | 2 | 35 | 6th | 42 | 20 | 16 | 6 | .548 | Won First round series 2–1 (Omaha) Won Semifinal 4–3 (Western Michigan) Won Championship 4–3 (Miami) |
Lost regional semifinal 2–6 (Boston College) |
| 2014–15 | NCHC | 24 | 13 | 10 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 41 | 4th | 40 | 24 | 14 | 2 | .625 | Won First round series 2–0 (Minnesota–Duluth) Lost Semifinal 3–6 (Miami) Won Third-place game 5–1 (North Dakota) |
Won regional semifinal 5–2 (Boston College) Lost Regional Final 1–4 (Providence) |
| 2015–16 | NCHC | 24 | 17 | 5 | 2 | – | – | 0 | 53 | T–2nd | 41 | 25 | 10 | 6 | .683 | Won First round series 2–0 (Omaha) Lost Semifinal 2–4 (St. Cloud State) Won Third-place game 4–1 (North Dakota) |
Won regional semifinal 7–2 (Boston University) Won Regional Final 6–3 (Ferris State) Lost Semifinal 2–4 (North Dakota) |
| 2016–17 | NCHC | 24 | 18 | 3 | 3 | – | – | 2 | 59 | 1st | 44 | 33 | 7 | 4 | .795 | Won First round series 2–0 (Colorado College) Lost Semifinal 0–1 (North Dakota) Won Third-place game 5–1 (Western Michigan) |
Won regional semifinal 5–2 (Michigan Tech) Won Regional Final 6–3 (Penn State) Won Semifinal 6–1 (Notre Dame) Won Championship 3–2 (Minnesota–Duluth) |
| 2017–18 | NCHC | 24 | 12 | 6 | 6 | – | – | 4 | 46 | 2nd | 41 | 23 | 10 | 8 | .659 | Won First round series 2–1 (Colorado College) Won Semifinal 3–1 (Minnesota–Duluth) Won Championship 4–1 (St. Cloud State) |
Won regional semifinal 5–1 (Penn State) Lost Regional Final 1–5 (Ohio State) |
| David Carle (2018 — Present) | |||||||||||||||||
| 2018–19 | NCHC | 24 | 11 | 10 | 3 | – | – | 3 | 39 | 4th | 41 | 24 | 12 | 5 | .646 | Won First round series, 2–0 (North Dakota) Lost Semifinal, 3–1 (Minnesota–Duluth) Won Third-place game, 6–1 (Colorado College) |
Won Regional Semifinal, 2–0 (Ohio State) Won Regional Final, 3–0 (American International) Lost National semifinal, 3–4 (OT) (Massachusetts) |
| 2019–20 | NCHC | 24 | 11 | 8 | 5 | – | – | 4 | 42 | 3rd | 36 | 21 | 9 | 6 | .667 | Tournament Cancelled | |
| 2020–21 | NCHC | 22 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .470 | 5th | 34 | 10 | 13 | 1 | .438 | Won Quarterfinal, 5–4 (Omaha) Lost Semifinal, 1–2 (OT) (North Dakota) |
|
| 2021–22 | NCHC | 24 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 53 | T–1st | 41 | 31 | 9 | 1 | .768 | Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Miami) Lost Semifinal, 0–2 (Minnesota Duluth) |
Won Regional Semifinal, 3–2 (Massachusetts Lowell) Won Regional Final, 2–1 (Minnesota Duluth) Won Semifinal, 3–2 (OT) (Michigan) Won Championship, 5–1 (Minnesota State) |
| 2022–23 | NCHC | 24 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 56 | 1st | 40 | 30 | 10 | 0 | .750 | Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Miami) Lost Semifinal, 0–1 (Colorado College) |
Lost Regional Semifinal, 0–2 (Cornell) |
| 2023–24 | NCHC | 24 | 15 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 45 | 2nd | 44 | 32 | 9 | 3 | .761 | Won Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Minnesota Duluth) Won Semifinal, 5–4 (OT) (St. Cloud State) Won Final, 4–1 (Omaha) |
Won Regional Semifinal, 2–1 (OT) (UMass) Won Regional Final, 2–1 ( Cornell) Won National Semifinal, 2–1 (OT) (Boston University) Won National Championship, 2–0 (Boston College) |
| Totals | GP | W | L | T | % | Championships | |||||||||||
| Regular Season | 2529 | 1440 | 921 | 168 | .603 | 12 MCHA / WIHL / WCHA Championships, 3 NCHC Championships | |||||||||||
| Conference Post-season | 184 | 108 | 70 | 6 | .603 | 14 WCHA Tournament Championships, 3 NCHC Tournament Championships | |||||||||||
| NCAA Post-season | 69 | 44 | 25 | 0 | .638 | 30 NCAA Tournament Appearances (1 vacated) | |||||||||||
| Regular Season and Post-season Record | 2782 | 1592 | 1016 | 174 | .604 | 10 NCAA Division I National Championships | |||||||||||
* Winning percentage is used when conference schedules are unbalanced.
† Denver's participation in the 1973 NCAA tournament was later vacated due to recruiting violations.[2]
bold and italic are program records
Footnotes
[edit]- ^ Code explanation; GP—Games Played, W—Wins, L—Losses, T—Tied games, OTW—Overtime Wins, OTL—Overtime Loses, 3/SW—Win in 3 on 3 overtime or shootout, Pts—Points*
References
[edit]- ^ "Denver Hockey Media Guide 2020-21" (PDF). Denver Pioneers. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "Division I Men's Ice Hockey Championship History". NCAA. Retrieved March 28, 2015.