The Denver hockey team conquered the USA Hockey U-18 team in an exhibition game on Oct. 10 at Magness Arena.
Both teams created scoring opportunities early in the first period, but neither could find the back of the net. Denver’s junior defenseman Alec Whipple received a two-minute minor penalty, but the Crimson and Gold continued to compete against the U-18 squad.
Midway through the first period, senior forward Kieran Cebrian scored from just inside the blue line to give Denver a 1-0 lead, assisted by freshman defenseman Daxon Rudolph and sophomore forward Brendan McMorrow.
However, the U-18 team responded with less than two minutes remaining in the first period. USA’s forward Brock Stevenson scored in the top-left corner, tying the game at 1-1 heading into the second period.
Denver recorded 16 shots on goal, while the USA team had 10 in the first period.
Denver came out strong in the second period, scoring just 16 seconds in. Freshman forward Jack Pridham skated up the left side of the ice and fired a shot into the net for his first goal of the season, giving the Crimson and Gold a 2-1 lead.
Less than six minutes later, senior forward Sam Harris tipped a pass from sophomore forward Kristian Epperson into the net from the crease to extend Denver’s lead to 3-1.
“Prid [Pridham] got us started off hot there at the beginning of second like 14 seconds in. That helped us to build off that,” said Harris.
Denver controlled much of the play early in the period, keeping the puck in the USA team’s defensive zone. USA eventually pushed back, but junior goaltender Tyler Krivtsov made a key save, securing a shot against his body.
Harris later scored again, assisted by sophomore forward Clarke Caswell and freshman defenseman Ryan Lin, giving Denver a 4-1 lead. Denver continued to outshoot USA 25-14 through the two periods.
Denver continued to dominate in the third period, scoring just 51 seconds in. Epperson skated up the right side of the ice and fired an unassisted shot into the net, extending the Crimson and Golds lead to 5-1.
Midway through the period, Epperson assisted sophomore defenseman Eric Jamieson on Denver’s sixth goal of the game. Despite trailing by five goals, the USA team continued to compete aggressively.
With less than three minutes remaining, Pridham scored his second goal of the game, sending a shot through the goalies pads to give Denver a 7-1 lead.
The Crimson and Gold outshot the U-18 team 42-17 to secure the exhibition victory.
Denver will return to Magness Arena on Oct. 16 to face the University of Michigan.
