The DU hockey program was able to secure its first NCAA tournament victory since 2011, but subsequently fell in the next round.
Similar to basketball’s March Madness, this single elimination tournament differs by beginning with 16 teams instead of 64. DU secured a second seed in their portion of the bracket, first facing third-seeded Boston College (BC).
After exiting the tournament a year ago at the hands of BC, the Pioneers were looking to avenge that 6-2 loss. Senior defenseman Joey LaLeggia (Burnaby, British Columbia) snuck a wrist shot past BC goalie Thatcher Demko only five minutes into the contest. As the two powerhouse schools raced up and down the ice, the next goal scorer was BC prospect Michael Matheson to tie the game.
Before the period ended, Pioneer forward Trevor Moore (Thousand Oaks, California) positioned nearly behind the net and in the corner, slipping a smooth snap shot past Demko as DU regained the lead.
With zero tallies in the second period, a critical third frame of the game emerged. Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin), consistently the calmest Pioneer defenseman, carried the puck into the BC zone and fired and scored on a wrister that gave the Pioneers a two goal cushion.
Junior captain Grant Arnold (Centennial, Colorado) would post his first and second goals of the year as the period wore on, and freshman goalie Tanner Jaillet (Red Deer, Alberta) allowed only one more goal.
DU was headed to the next round after a 5-2 win against an the talented BC squad.
The team’s next opponent would be Providence College, a fourth seed which upset the favored Miami University Ohio Redhawks. Despite winning that game by a score of 7-5, Providence established a gritty mentality against the Pioneers in front of their newly rejuvenated 6’5” goalie, Jon Gillies. DU matched the intensity, outshooting Providence 8-5 in a scoreless first period.
In what would turn out to be a haunting theme for DU, a penalty cost them a goal in the second period with Providence scoring on the power play 14 minutes into the period. With an even shot count of 10-10 in the second, all eyes turned to the final frame of play and DU’s one goal deficit.
The hulking Providence goaltender Gillies nearly earned a shutout in net before LaLeggia’s wrist shot careened off the back boards, on top of the net and finally off the unaware goaltender’s right leg and into the net.
The goal tied the game and provided a spark for a DU team thirsting for scoring chances. A few minutes later, LaLeggia uncharacteristically delivered an illegal and dangerous hit to a Providence forward carrying the puck through the neutral zone. With LaLeggia’s shoulder making clear contact with the forward’s head, the senior defenseman was assessed a five minute major penalty. He also would receive a game misconduct, effectively ending the senior’s night, and as it turns out, career.
DU seemed to be gaining momentum after killing off nearly four minutes of the power play. DU forward Evan Janssen (Green Bay, Wisconsin) picked up a loose puck, skated into the Providence zone shorthanded and rang a shot off the post. This missed opportunity proved costly, as Providence would score moments later on the powerplay with only minutes left in regulation. DU was unable to tie the game, and Providence would add two empty net goals for a 4-1 victory.
The first win was a positive for the team this past weekend, but yet again, a trip to the Frozen Four eluded the Pioneers. The team had been 1-7 in their last seven tournament appearances.
Notable seniors departing the team include LaLeggia, Josiah Didier (Littleton, Colorado), Zac Larraza (Scottsdale, Arizona) and Ty Loney (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), while prospects Danton Heinen (Langley, British Columbia), Butcher, and Quentin Shore (Denver, Colorado) could possibly forgo their final years of eligibility and begin their professional careers with their respective NHL teams.
