Last week, I saw something we haven’t seen a lot of in Denver this season: snow. This wasn’t just a dusting or one of those mucky Spring storms either—this was inches of the pretty stuff. Whenever I looked outside, the world was a peaceful snow globe. Flakes fell in swirls, covering sidewalks and streets. I called Friday a wonderland in my recent Instagram post. I was thrilled; it was beautiful outside and there was hockey to watch. The Avalanche were playing a couple division rivals that weekend, Paralympic hockey was starting, and the Pioneers were beginning their conference playoff run.
Starting March 6th, Denver hosted Miami for the best-of-three first round of the 2026 NCHC playoffs. Friday’s game was a shutout, even if it didn’t feel like one for a little while. I was nervous while the Pioneers led with a single goal, but I finally exhaled after the first of two empty netters in the third period. Game One went to the Pioneers: 3-0. This was a great start, and I hoped it would set the tone for the rest of the weekend.
Saturday’s game was a different story; Miami had life, and the officiating crew made… certain decisions, several of which the home crowd didn’t like. Miami scored the only goal of the first period in less than two minutes. During the first intermission, I started getting flashbacks to the games against ASU a weekend prior. We might have been playing a best-of-three series against Miami, but like in golf, loyal fans want the win in as few attempts as possible. The more rest between games and the fewer chances for players to get injured, the better.
In the first few weekdays of March, I thought I had finally moved past my post-conference burnout. I felt creative and productive, but then distractions and difficulties stole my attention and energy; I was still writing, but with less enthusiasm. I feared my team was similarly struggling. The Pioneers needed to reset in the locker room during the first intermission, and I hoped they would use that break wisely.
Much to my relief, in the middle frame of Saturday’s game, the Pioneers tried to wear out the goal horn. In the second period, 4 different players scored on the RedHawks, and going into the second intermission, the Pioneers led 4-1. DU added two more goals in the third period, interrupted by one last gasp of effort from Miami. The final score: 6-2. With this sweep, the #2 seed Pioneers advanced to the next round of the NCHC playoffs and will host Western Michigan on March 14th. The winner of that game will advance to the conference championship on the 21st. Let’s go Pios!
On Sunday, I thought about this blog post, but I didn’t write it. I prioritized rest, my hobbies, and watching the Paralympics while celebrating the thrills of DU’s clean sweep of Miami and the shootout victories of the Avalanche. On Monday, I got back to writing, feeling refreshed. I’m currently preparing to query an almost-polished novel, I’m starting a new novel, and I’m working on a couple short stories.
Hockey is proof that even a few minutes of rest can be a gamechanger. Don’t forget to take an intermission when you need one.
