Hockey season began on Saturday as the No. 6 Pioneers defeated the University of Alberta 5-4 in an exhibition game at Magness Arena.
Freshman defenseman Patrick Wiercoich scored the game-winning goal, breaking open the tie game with only 1.5 seconds remaining in the third period.
In his unofficial debut as starting goalie, sophomore goaltender Marc Cheverie stopped all 14 of Alberta’s shots in the first period and half of the second period.
“You know you can really see Marc’s experience and the things he gained over last year and the confidence that he’s gained,” said head coach George Gwozdecky. “It didn’t look like that was his second game of his career as a pioneer I mean he certainly was efficient he certainly was poised he didn’t overplay or overreact.”
About halfway into the second period, Denver got its first look at sophomore goaltender Lars Paulgaard. Paulgaard blocked nine of the Golden Bears’ 13 shots.
This was his first game in almost two years.
“I was pretty nervous out there,” Paulgaard said. “I haven’t played a game in like a year and a half. It’s definitely good to be back but I definitely feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve been playing the game. I feel kind of shaky out there, but I feel like I could come back stronger later, I need to get used to the level these guys are playing on.”
Missing from Saturday night’s lineup, however, were senior captain J.P. Testwuide, junior Cody Brookwell and sophomores Dustin Jackson and John Cook for breaking team rules. Testwuide, Jackson and Cook served one-game suspensions while Brookwell will sit out for the next three games.
Denver took a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals by senior Patrick Mullen and sophomore Tyler Bozak only 31 seconds apart.
With six minutes remaining in the second period, Alberta scored, but junior forward Tyler Ruegsegger made it 3-1 just a minute later.
Ruegsegger scored his second goal on a power play after the Golden Bears recoded another goal.
Alberta scored another two goals late in the game, tying it 4-4 with only 19 seconds of play remaining.
With only 1.5 seconds left in the exhibition match, Wiercioch scored the game-winner.
“You can probably see the seed of some pretty good offensive creativity from three lines even that last goal we scored. We hit 19 seconds off that center face off. We had two great scoring chances and the second one went in.”
The official season begins on Saturday in Magness Arena at the US Hockey Hall of Fame Game against NCAA runner-up Notre Dame. The puck drops at 7:07 p.m.
