After 60 minutes of feisty play, Denver came out victorious with a score of 3-2 against the visiting McGill Redmen, a Canadian university team. The game on Saturday, Oct. 4 was the first of the year for the 2014 Pioneer hockey team. Though only an exhibition contest, it provided some good scoring and very intense play, as well as some insight into the team DU will ice this fall.
At 7:07 p.m., with a packed student section and rocking atmosphere, the puck was dropped at Magness Arena. The high emotions were quickly quelled when two minutes into the game, Cedric McNicoll of McGill scored the contest’s first goal. Shot from a bad angle along the boards, it was definitely one that sophomore Pioneer goalie Evan Cowley certainly would have liked back. Cowley answered well to the soft goal and responded with saves on the other seven shots he faced in the period.
Not to be outdone in front of the home crowd, Denver’s forwards evened up the score at 1-1 when senior Pioneer Ty Loney scored 12 minutes into the period. With both teams heading into the dressing room, it was clearly an evenly matched game with shots favoring McGill by only one (eight to seven).
Even though this wasn’t conference play, the hitting was intense. Five minutes into the second period, McGill’s Guillaume Langelier was assessed a five minute penalty for checking from behind, a serious offense in hockey. He was also given a ten minute misconduct that kicked him out of the game. This represented a turning point in which the game, and the physical aspect in particular, intensified. Denver was able to capitalize once on the five minute powerplay with a goal from junior Gabe Levin, putting them up 2-1.
Another penalty was called on McGill at 13 minutes for slashing. The second period was mostly spent in the McGill zone, with the Pioneers registering a whopping 17 shots. Also in the second period came a change in goal for DU, as freshman Tanner Jaillet was substituted in. Jaillet saved four shots in the period, but was beaten above his glove on a one-time slapshot from McGill defenseman Dominic Poulin.
The teams again left for the dressing rooms tied, but the game didn’t feel very close. The shots were 17-5 in favor of DU; McGill was showing signs of frustration.
The third period saw the Pioneers come out with a jump in their step. After a barrage of shots, Ty Loney collected his second goal of the night with a backhander in close after only two minutes had passed. With the ice clearly tilted in the home team’s favor, McGill began to crack. Two consecutive slashing penalties at six and seven minutes into the period weighed down their attack. Although the Pioneers were unable to capitalize, clearly emotions were mounting and ready to burst.
About midway through the period, Jaillet made a save and froze the puck in DU’s defensive zone. In front of the net, DU’s Joey LaLeggia and McGill’s Jonathan Brunelle exchanged some salty words before a full shoving match was on. Both received roughing penalties and sat for two minutes. A few minutes later in front of the McGill goalie, sophomore Matt Marcinew was called for roughing after he took down a McGill player post-whistle.
Nursing their 3-2 lead, DU was looking to escape with a win, but were being pressed. Attempting to control the puck in the neutral zone, DU junior Quentin Shore was slew-footed in front of the home team’s bench. Obviously enraged by the non-call, the Pioneers responded with some more post-whistle nonsense a few moments later. Sticking up for their teammate, LaLeggia and Zajac received roughing penalties. McGill fared worse, seeing one player assessed a game misconduct.
In the end, DU was awarded a powerplay and was able to control the puck throughout the end of the game. In a hard fought, scrappy victory, DU displayed some key components. The defense played smart throughout and had some nice outlet passes.
While the forwards didn’t have great chemistry (1-8 on powerplay), they showed enough skill to register three crucial goals. Maybe most importantly, some awesome “I’ve got your back” moments took place which the players can build trust from.
The Pioneers look ready for the regular season, which begins on the Oct. 17 against Rensselar Polytechnic Institute in Magness Arena. The puck will drop at 7:37 p.m.
