Colorado bests Wyoming in BMHC playoffs

Colorado Buffaloes men’s hockey D2 lines up at the blue line. (Photo by Kainoa Hiatt/Sko Buffs Sports).

In its final home game of the 2025-26 season, Colorado Buffaloes D2 hockey continued its domination of the Big Mountain Hockey Conference.

CU won the BMHC regular season back on Dec. 5, barely halfway into the season. That game in December was a preview of things to come, as Colorado defeated the University of Wyoming Cowboys 11-3.

Facing off against the Cowboys again, this time in the first round of the BMHC tournament on Saturday, CU came out on top 5-1.

“Complete, full 60 minutes. Complete team effort,” Kory Diponio said. “Everyone did their part, and we got the result we wanted.”

Brick Fisher brought his regular-season game to his first tournament appearance, scoring two goals and assisting once to top the Buffs’ point scorers. The offense was not the only highlight for Colorado. The defense held the Cowboys to only 13 shots on net through 60 minutes of play. 

Wyoming came into Saturday's game off a 4-1 win the night before against Colorado State, securing its spot in the tournament. Wyoming went into the tournament as the fourth seed, while CSU was the fifth seed. The game was held in Fort Collins, even though the Rams were the lower seed due to the location being closer to Boulder.

With back-to-back travel days, the Cowboys were tired, but they came into Boulder determined to keep their season alive. CU failed to come out of the gate quickly against the tired Cowboys. The first 10 minutes of the game ticked by without any notable moments.

The tempo finally picked up in the back half of the first as CU began to pepper sophomore goaltender Jesse Easterwood. Easterwood stood tall in net, however, carrying over his performance from the night before. He stoned the first 10 shots he faced, making multiple desperation saves. The Buffs refused to give up, and on what seemed like a simple wrister by Joshua Genin, took a one-goal lead with 6:32 to go.

Barely over a minute later, Wyoming responded. Right off a quick draw, Joe May set up Daxton Thomas, who fired one past Caleb Allen on the fifth shot he faced. The teams went into the first intermission tied at one.

The commanding second-period performances that the Buffs had all season returned for their first playoff game. Their takeover did not come quickly as both teams traded chances. But on a power play opportunity, Diponio finished to take the lead and set off an avalanche of goals. 

Twenty-nine seconds later, Fisher scored his first playoff goal on a one-timer that squeaked through Easterwood’s pads. David Levkus followed suit 20 seconds later and got on the score sheet while cutting across the slot. 

With three goals scored against them in less than a minute, Wyoming coach Bobby Chapman signaled for a timeout. The attempt to slow the game down was unsuccessful as Colorado kept up the pressure.

Fisher looked to put the game out of the Cowboys’ reach as he sprang Genin for a breakaway. In tight, Genin tried for the five-hole, Easterwood dropped down in time, but a trailing Fisher put the rebound in for a four-goal lead.

The lead proved to be too much for the Cowboys. Colorado finished the game strong, only giving up one shot on goal in the third period to punch its ticket to the BMHC final.

The Buffs went into battle on Sunday at 1:45 against the Denver Pioneers. For their first finals appearance since 2024, the Buffs felt well prepared.

“I think we just have to play our game,” Fisher said before Sunday’s matchup. “Play how we played today, and I think we will come out with a W.”

Colorado won the BMHC title over Denver, 3-2. It's the Buffaloes' first conference title since 2017. More to come.