Denver is accustomed to winning frozen championships, having captured 17 National Collegiate skiing titles, but the Pioneers renewed their dominance in another icy venue April 10 when they won the Men's Frozen Four.

Denver won its first national men's ice hockey championship since 1969 by defeating Maine, 1-0, in Boston's FleetCenter in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,597.

With the win, Denver finished its season 27-12-5 and earned its sixth hockey crown. Maine ended its season with a 33-8-3 record.

Gabe Gauthier's goal on a power play at 12:26 into the first period was the only score of the game and enough to give the Pioneers the win. It was Gauthier's 18th goal of the season.

The Black Bears had a power-play goal overturned on replay in the first period.

Denver had 20 shots on goal for the game, compared to Maine's 24. The Pioneers racked up 11 penalties as opposed to eight for the Black Bears. Maine outshot Denver, 6-4, in the opening frame, marking the second-lowest total for shots on goal in a period by two teams in an NCAA title game.

Maine goaltender Jim Howard registered several big stops in the third period to give the Black Bears a chance to tie the game, but Maine was unable to get by Denver goaltender Adam Berkhoel, who finished with 24 saves and registered just the third shutout in NCAA championship history.

Howard left the Maine net with 1:13 remaining to give the Black Bears a three-man advantage for more than a minute, but they couldn't score.

"I can't even remember having to defend a 6-on-3," said Denver coach George Gwozdecky. "You're just trying to get in the shooting lanes, and in that last minute, anything goes."

Maine defeated Boston College, 2-1, to advance to the final, and the Pioneers beat Minnesota-Duluth, 5-3, in their semifinal game.

It was a tough ending for Maine. Two years ago, the Black Bears were less than a minute from the championship when Minnesota tied them with 52 seconds left, then won in overtime. Maine won titles in 1999 and 1993.

Maine and Denver have now each won a game in head-to-head competition in the NCAA tournament. In the schools' only previous meeting, Maine defeated Denver, 4-2, to advance to the Frozen Four at the 1995 East regional.

Denver is now 6-2 in eight NCAA title-game appearances. The Black Bears, who were playing in their fifth title game in the last 11 years, are 2-3 in NCAA championship games.

The all-tournament team included forwards Connor James of Denver, Dustin Penner of Maine and Junior Lessard of Minnesota Duluth; defensemen Prestin Ryan of Maine and Ryan Caldwell of Denver; and Denver goaltender Berkhoel, who also was named the most outstanding performer of the Frozen Four.

Semifinals

Maine 2, Boston College 1

First period: M -- Jon Jankus (Mike Hamilton, Prestin Ryan), 19:28.

Penalties: M -- Mathew Deschamps (holding), 9:46; BC -- Patrick Eaves (roughing), 13:25; BC -- Eaves (roughing), 20:00.

Second period: BC -- Ryan Shannon (Chris Collins), 2:35.

Penalties: M -- Deschamps (roughing), 3:01; M -- Greg Moore (roughing), 3:48; BC -- Eaves (holding), 3:48; M -- Troy Barnes (tripping), 12:15; M -- Ryan (high-sticking), 12:50; BC -- J.D. Forrest (cross-checking), 15:48; M -- Todd Jackson (holding), 18:18.

Third period: M -- Dustin Penner (Mike Hamilton, Mike Lundlin), 1:05.

Penalties: M -- Jeff Mushaluk (holding), 1:33; M -- Michel Leveille (cross-checking), 14:23.

Shots: Maine 10-5-3 -- 18; Boston College 17-16-8 -- 41. Saves: Maine (Jim Howard) 40; Boston College (Matti Kaltainen) 16. Attendance: 18,138. Referee: Derek Shepherd. Assistant referees: Kile Bergren, Dan Curey.

Denver 5, Minnesota-Duluth 3

First period: MD -- Junior Lessard (Tyler Brosz, Evan Schwabe), 1:09 (pp); MD -- Brosz (T.J. Craig).

Penalties: D -- Kevin Ulanski (interference), 0:36; D -- Matt Carle (roughing), 5:34; M -- Matt Laatsch (holding), 7:03; Connor James (holding), 9:44; D -- Lukas Dora (cross-checking), 10:55; M -- Schwabe (tripping), 11:49; M -- Marco Peluso (holding the stick), 14:08; D -- Michael Handza (interference), 19:14.

Second period: D -- Luke Fulghum (Dora, Carle), 11:40; M -- Lessard (Schwabe, Tim Stapleton), 15:35 (pp).

Penalties: M -- Tim Hambly (holding), 4:54; M -- Todd Smith (boarding), 8:35; D -- Dora (kneeing), 14:18.

Third period: D -- James (Brett Skinner, Greg Keith), 2:30; D -- Ryan Caldwell (Fulghum, Dora), 3:04; D -- Dora (Skinner), 8:25; D -- Keith (James), 19:52.

Penalties: None.

Shots: Denver 5-12-13 -- 30; Minn. Duluth 11-12-6 -- 29. Saves: Denver (Adam Berkhoel) 14; Minn. Duluth (Isaac Reichmuth) 25. Attendance: 18,084. Referee: Conrad Hache. Assistant referees: Joe Andrews, Bob Bernard.

Championship game

Denver 1, Maine 0

First period: D -- Gabe Gauthier (Connor James), 12:26 (pp).

Penalties: D -- Max Bull (checking from behind), 3:39; D -- Gauthier (roughing), 5:13; M -- Dustin Penner (holding the stick), 5:13; M -- Mathew Deschamps (obstruction interference), 11:49; D -- Bull (cross-checking), 13:25; M -- Jon Jankus (tripping), 14:24; D -- J.D. Corbin (holding), 17:03.

Second period: No scoring.

Penalties: M -- Todd Jackson (tripping), 6:26; D -- Gauthier (cross-checking), 6:31; M -- Jankus (holding the stick), 6:31; D -- Jeff Drummond (hooking), 8:16; D -- Ryan Caldwell (roughing), 9:47; M -- Mike Hamilton (roughing), 9:47.

Third period: No scoring.

Penalties: D -- Drummond (obstruction holding), 3:24; M -- Prestin Ryan (interference), 8:09; D -- Jon Foster (roughing), 12:15; M -- Deschamps (roughing), 12:15; D -- Matt Laatsch (hooking), 17:51; D -- Gauthier (delay of game), 18:26.

Shots: Denver 4-6-10 -- 20; Maine 6-9-9 -- 24. Saves: Denver (Adam Berkhoel) 24; Maine (Jim Howard) 19. Attendance: 18,597. Referee: Tim Kotyra. Assistant referees: Scott Whittemore, Tom Cronin.

Denver goalie Adam Berkhoel makes a save in the final minute of the Men's Frozen Four final against Maine. Berkhoel, who was named the most outstanding performer of the Frozen Four, registered 24 saves in Denver's 1-0 championship-game victory.

Denver players celebrate the school's first ice hockey title since 1969.