Denver hockey traveled to Boston this past weekend for matches against two top-10-ranked opponents: the Boston College Eagles on Friday Oct. 30 at Kelley Rink and the Boston University Terriers on Saturday Oct. 31 at Agganis Arena.
On Oct. 30, Denver lost 4-3 to the Eagles during the final seconds of regulation in a thrilling top-five matchup.
The Pio offense was fittingly dominated by Boston Bruins prospect Danton Heinen (Langley, British Columbia) and freshman forward Dylan Gambrell (Bonney Lake, Washington). Heinen netted two goals for the Pios and Gambrell provided a team high of three assists during the match. Pio goaltender and Florida Panthers prospect, Evan Cowley, secured 30 saves after Denver was outshot 34-24 by Boston College.
At the start of the match, Denver took advantage of the Eagles’ shift change in the 10th minute. Gambrell linked up with junior forward Trevor Moore (Thousand Oaks, California), who quickly found Heinen on the far post drawing a backhand to convert Denver’s first.
The Eagles tied up the first frame off a breakaway by Miles Wood who beat Cowley one-on-one. Boston College maintained momentum early in the second period when senior defenseman Teddy Doherty capitalized on a power play just seconds after Pio junior forward, Emil Romig (Vienna, Austria), was called for interference on the play.
Denver countered the host’s power play with one of their own at 13:46 from a short-side goal scored by Heinen, assisted by linemates Moore and Gambrell. The Eagles took the lead 3-2 with 2:38 into the third when Austin Cangelosi converted off an odd-man rush.
Heinen and Gambrell advanced into the Eagles zone to find Colorado Avalanche prospect, Will Butcher (Sun Prairie, Wisconsin) at the top left faceoff circle, whose distance wrist-shot evened the Pios’ tally. With just 36 seconds remaining in regulation, junior forward Matthew Gaudreau topped the score for the Eagles 4-3.
“We came up a goal short but there were definitely a lot of positives to take out of this game, that’s for sure,” said Montgomery in a post-game interview with Jay Stickney.
On Oct. 31, the Pios fought in another back-and-forth battle where Denver fell 5-4 against the Terriers in overtime. The Terriers took the lead early on scoring 1:58 into the match. Butcher responded to the Terriers lead by launching a wrist-shot outside the left circle to tie the Pios up in the 11th minute, tallying his second of the weekend.
Terrier junior forward, Robbie Ballargeon, scored with two minutes remaining in the first period to put Boston University out front 2-1. Boston University extended their lead 3-1 seven minutes into the second period off a backhanded sniper shot from Brandon Hickey just over Denver goaltender, Tanner Jaillet (Red Deer, Alberta), in which Cowley then replaced Jaillet in net.
Assistant captain for the Pioneers, Gabe Levin (Marina del Rey, California), reduced the Terriers’ lead with his second goal of the year about a minute later. 13:42 into the second period, Boston University’s hero of the night, Ahti Okansen, scored on a power play advantage when Pio senior defenseman, Nolan Zajac (Winnipeg, Minnesota), was whistled for slashing in the 12th minute of play.
Freshman Troy Terry (Denver, Colorado) initiated Denver’s momentum in the third period when the forward netted his first career goal off a rebound from Butcher. In the 12th minute of regulation, Butcher found Ottawa Senators prospect, Quentin Shore (Denver, Colorado), who shocked the crowd with his shorthanded tally to send the Pios and Terriers into overtime with four apiece.
Only 21 seconds into overtime, Boston University secured the win when senior forward Okansen drilled the puck outside the left faceoff dot, past Cowley’s shoulder.
“Both of these losses were good, fast-paced college hockey games and we can learn a lot from how we matched up with the Eagles as well as the Terriers,” said Montgomery.
The Pioneers return to Magness Arena Friday Nov. 6 for a series against rivals Colorado College Tigers. Puck drop is at 7:36 p.m.
