DU hosted Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) for two home hockey games on Oct. 17 and 18 to open up its season. The Pioneers emerged victorious in both contests.

On Oct.17, more than half the game had expired before the first goal of the night was scored.

A five minute penalty on RPI early in the second period gave Denver a lengthy powerplay, but they were still unable to capitalize on this advantage.
Shortly after, however, junior Quentin Shore broke the tie with a blazing wrist shot from the slot that clanked off the post and into the goal at 12:41 in the game.

Assists were credited to senior Zac Larraza and freshman Danton Heinen on the smooth passing play.

The quick snipe seemed to energize the Pioneers. RPI goalie Jason Kasdorf, a Winnipeg Jets draft pick, had kept DU off the board with some great saves up until that point.

Pioneer defenseman junior Nolan Zajac was responsible for the next tally with another slick wrist shot in the slot, this one 15 minutes into the period and also on the powerplay.

The assists went to Shore and Larraza, both picking up their second points of the night against RPI.

Senior Ty Loney sealed the victory with a late empty netter assisted by sophomore Trevor Moore.

The game finished 3-0, leaving Denver with a shut out the opponent in their opening match. Junior goalie Evan Cowley earned the shutout, while the defense played well in front of him all night.

On Oct. 18 at Magness Arena, the game featured a brand new face, freshman goaltender Tanner Jaillet. This was Jaillet’s first taste of collegiate hockey but it didn’t last long.

It wasn’t his play that landed Jaillet on the bench, but a hard fall that caused him to suffer whiplash and nausea only three minutes into the game.

Cowley stepped in and posted another extremely solid outing, securing the 4-1 win as RPI scored with only 35 seconds remaining.

DU attacked with vengeance offensively, scoring three goals during the first 15 minutes of the first period.

The first goal included a passing play between Pioneer sophomore Will Butcher and Moore, which saw Moore net the first tally.

Mere minutes later, sophomore Matt Marcinew found a puck on his stick close to the net and slid the rebound past the goalkeeper. Larraza also tipped in a shot for his first of two goals on the night.

Larraza’s next tally would come in the second period on a rocket of a shot which found its way past RPI’s backup goalkeeper.

Despite a strong push from RPI, who desperately wanted at least one win this past weekend, the Pioneers find themselves at 2-0 as they enter conference play.

Denver’s next matches are against the University of Minnesota Duluth this coming weekend, Oct. 24 and 25.