Denver hockey continued their inconsistent run in their first home series of the season against Alaska Anchorage. They lost 4-3 in overtime on Oct. 31, then came back the next day and won 6-0 to cap off homecoming weekend.
Denver opened the scoring on Halloween night with freshman forward Reid Varkonyi flipping the puck to junior forward Kieran Cebrian, who was wide open in front of the goal and fired it into the top right corner of the net to give Denver a 1-0 lead at 9:25 of the first period.
Later in the period, junior Eric Pohlkamp was assessed a five minute major penalty and a 10 minute game misconduct for hitting from behind at 12:48. Alaska’s Aiden Westin capitalized from close range to tie the game at 1-1 with 3:08 left in the first period. This was the first power play goal that Denver has conceded this season.
With 7:50 left in the second frame, senior forward Rieger Lorenz was slashed on a breakaway during an Alaska power play and was awarded a penalty shot. He converted the shot to put the Crimson and Gold back in the lead at 2-1.
This was Denver’s first penalty shot since March 12, 2022 and first goal on a penalty shot since Nov. 30, 2002 against Air Force.
A few minutes later, Alaska tied the game at 2-2 on a long-range goal by Joey Potter at 15:20 of the second period.
With both teams battling for the game winning goal in the third period, Potter broke through again, beating freshman goaltender Quentin Miller from close range to put Alaska up 3-2 with 12:55 left in the game.
With time dwindling, Denver pulled Miller in hope of an equalizer. It came with sophomore forward James Reeder knocking the puck into the net after freshman forward Clark Caswell’s shot was saved and freshman forward Kyle Chyzowski’s shot hit the post. This goal tied the game at 3-3 with just 1:20 remaining to send the game to overtime.
Overtime was a three-on-three contest that saw Alaska Dimitry Kebreau scoring the game winning goal with 3:55 left from long range to give Alaska the 4-3 victory. This was Alaska’s first win of the regular season, having conceded five or more goals in every game prior.
Denver went zero for five on power play chances, while Alaska scored on one of their six opportunities.
“It continues to be an issue for us. Needs to be a tool, something that we use to be able to separate ourselves from teams and grow a lead, and unfortunately we weren’t able to do that tonight,” said Head Coach David Carle.
The next night, Denver was on the attack from the start, registering 15 shots in the first period.
The Crimson and Gold broke the scoring 8:05 into the first frame with their first power play goal of the weekend. Chyzowski fired a shot from the right side of the ice which was saved and left loose in front of goal. Freshman forward Kristian Epperson finished it off to put Denver up 1-0.
Later in the period, freshman defenseman Eric Jamieson got the puck at a tough angle on the left side of the ice, but managed to beat goaltender Tyler Krivtsov to put Denver up 2-0 with 6:43 left in the period.
At the end of the period, Alaska’s Judah Makway was sent to the penalty box for five minutes for hitting from behind.
Denver opened the second frame by capitalizing on that power play. Reeder poked the puck through the legs of Krivtsov and it crept over the line to extend Denver’s lead to 3-0 just 3:43 into the second period.
The Crimson and Gold kept their momentum as Epperson received a pass from Caswell in front of the goal and finished to give Denver a 4-0 lead at 11:14 of the second period.
Just after the goal, Alaska’s Ben Anderson was sent to the box for shoving Epperson, immediately giving Denver another power play.
Seconds later, Denver took advantage with a goal from Pohlkamp to take a 5-0 lead with 8:28 left in the second period.
“I’m just trying to get my shots on net and lucky enough, it went in for me,” said Pohlkamp.
Midway through the third period, Reeder got his second goal of the game with yet another scrappy finish in front of the net to put Denver up 6-0 with 11:01 left to play.
“Most of the goals come from the net fronts, [I] kind of just have to get there,” said Reeder.
Denver played cleanly for the rest of the period to close out the 6-0 win. Miller played the whole game, facing 16 shots to get a clean sheet.
Power plays were no longer an issue for Denver, scoring on four of their seven power play opportunities.
“We had a killer instinct in and around the net front,” Carle said. “We had a lot of zone time both nights, we were able to execute and finish tonight.”
Denver will be back on the road next weekend against No. 3 Western Michigan, a rematch from last season’s Frozen Four loss.
“They ended our season last year and they took a trophy from us…So we’re really looking forward to playing them,” said Pohlkamp.
After losing 5-1 to St. Cloud State on Nov. 1, Western Michigan has a record of 5-3.
“For me, [they are the] best team in the country until they’re knocked off that throne,” Carle said. “It’ll be an absolute battle and we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
