DU Hockey Hopes To Change Losing Ways In The NCAA Tournament

DENVER (CBS4) - The University of Denver hockey team is back in the NCAA Tournament for the eighth straight season, but this year the Pioneers are hoping to stick around for a little longer than they have in the past.

DU is the No. 2 seed in the Providence region and will take on Boston College, the same team that eliminated them in the first round last year. DU has been one-and-done six of the last seven years.

The Pioneers have won just one NCAA Tournament game since winning it all back in 2005, and it's something they hope to change this time around.

"We just have a lot bigger expectations. We do know that we have the team to win it all from top to bottom," defenseman Joey LaLeggia said.

LaLeggia said it was an accomplishment to just get in the tourney last year.

"We really weren't supposed to, especially finishing sixth in conference. But this year we come with a lot higher expectations. And I know that all throughout my career we've lost in the first game of the national tournament every year, and I don't want to let that happen again this year."

The Pioneers and Boston College Eagles faceoff this Saturday at 1 p.m. Track the game at denverpioneers.com.