After a strong start to the season where DU men’s hockey placed three home-game wins under their belt, the team fell to the No. 12 Providence College Friars (6-5) and the No. 10 Boston College Eagles (5-1) in two away games over the weekend.
The first matchup on Oct. 22 had Providence hosting in Rhode Island. Though no points were scored in the first period, the Crimson and Gold showed strength in the second, dominating the Eagles on offense. Junior Justin Lee (Waskada, Manitoba) and senior Cole Guttman (Los Angeles, Calif.) tallied the first two points for DU, both players scoring off an attempted shot’s rebound to make the score 2-0 in the fifth minute of the period.
After a goal by Providence’s Max Crozier (Calgary, Alberta), senior Cameron Wright (Newmarket, Ontario) and sophomore Mike Benning (St. Albert, Alberta) added to DU’s lead, placing the Eagles in a 4-1 deficit moving into the third period.
Quickly into the third, Denver’s defense began to falter, Providence’s Nick Poisson (Vancouver, B.C.) scoring 33 seconds into the period. Poisson scored again three minutes later to make the score a close 4-3. In the fifth minute, Jamie Engelbert (Cobourg, Ontario) of the Friars tied the game at four.
After a goal by DU sophomore Carter Savoie (St. Albert, Alberta)—assisted by freshman Sean Behrens (Barrington, Ill.)—to put Denver in the lead once again, Poisson connected for the hat trick and the second tie game of the night. In the 19th minute, Providence’s Brett Berard (East Greenwich, R.I.) connected, sealing the game in the process. The final score was a close 6-5.
Fresh off of the hard-fought loss, DU traveled to Chestnut Hill, Mass. to compete against Boston College on Saturday. Once again, the first period was scoreless, but this time the Eagles controlled the second frame, BC’s Drew Helleson (Farmington, Minn.) and Trevor Kuntar (Buffalo, N.Y.) burying the puck to make the score 2-0 going into the third.
DU’s senior Ryan Barrow (Banff, Alberta) scored the Crimson and Gold’s only goal of the night in the second minute of the period off of a shot attempt by senior Brett Stapley (Campbell River, B.C.). In the fifth minute, Jack McBain (Toronto, Ontario) connected off of his own rebound to make the score 3-1, and after two more Eagle goals, one on an empty net, the game ended 5-1.
The No. 8 University of Denver team will have its first bye week before matching up with the University of North Dakota in a two-game series on Nov. 5-6. Both of the games, like DU’s recent losses, will be away—North Dakota with the home-rink advantage. No longer undefeated, the Crimson and Gold will be defending a 4-2 record.
On Nov. 12, Denver will be welcomed home in another two-game series against Western Michigan in Magness Arena followed by another two home games against Miami the following weekend.
