Zeev Buium and the rest of the Denver Pioneers have a boatload of experience under their belts after winning last year's national championship.
The Frozen Four is set to kick off from St. Louis later this afternoon, and we have some great matchups to look forward to. Starting us off are the defending national champion Denver Pioneers taking on first-time Frozen Four attendees, the Western Michigan Broncos.
Western Michigan is technically the No. 1 seed, but Denver has the experience and the confidence that can set it apart.
Find out why my free betting picks for the Denver vs. Western Michigan game on Thursday, April 10, 2025, favor the Pioneers.
My best bet: Denver moneyline (-135 at FanDuel)
My analysis
The Denver Pioneers are as cool, calm, and collected as they come as they get set for their third Frozen Four in the last four years. This team is loaded with talent, most notably Zeev Buium on the backend, as well as Jack Devine and Aidan Thompson up front. Buium will likely step into the NHL as soon as Denver’s season comes to an end. He is the real deal and is appointment television for college hockey fans.
The Pioneers are scoring 4.00 goals per game thanks to the help of the three aforementioned players and their power play has been hot, converting at 29.1%. Denver has the better special teams, which is what this game could ultimately come down to. Denver has the third-best power play in the entire NCAA.
The Western Michigan Broncos have some big horses as well, like Alex Bump, who has been one of the best players in the country all season. Hampton Slukynsky, the freshman in goal has helped get them here as well, but to me, this game comes down to experience.
Matt Davis will own the blue paint for Denver’s second straight Frozen Four. Everyone remembers the highlight-reel save he made in last year’s national championship on Ryan Leonard. Davis and the Pioneers are only allowing 2.12 goals per game, so it will be difficult for the Broncos to put pucks by him.
Denver’s bench boss, David Carle, is considered the best coach in all of college hockey, which plays into Denver’s favor, considering this is Pat Ferschweiler’s first-ever trip to this stage.
In a game like this, experience goes a very long way, and the Pioneers are far and away the most experienced team in St. Louis.
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Jonny Lazarus has loved hockey for as long as he can remember. After his Division I playing career at UMass-Amherst and Mercyhurst University came to an end in 2020, he transitioned from being a player to working in the media. He might be young in his career, but he has made appearances in numerous places like the NHL, and Bleacher Report, and this season he will be doing color commentary for a selection of UMass-Amherst hockey games.
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